Richard Burton: Wild Genius

1 x 60'

Channel
BBC2
BBC Cymru Wales
TX
12th November 2025
    • Director/Producer:
      Adrian Sibley
    • Executive Producer:
      Siân Price
    • Director of Photography:
      Aled Jenkins
    • Editor:
      Jules Cornell
    • Production Manager:
      Jess Rosenwald
    • Associate Producer:
      Sally Weale
    • Archive Producers:
      Dafydd O’Connor & Andy Beckett
    • Dubbing:
      David Shell
    • Online & Grade:
      Gelert
    • Sound:
      Richard Gott, Russ James, Igor Marlot
    • Original Music:
      John Hardy, Lennert Busch, Tic Ashfield
    • Head of Production:
      Louise Binding
    • Production Coordinator:
      Jemma Evans
    • Additional Camera:
      Jess Balfour

From humble beginnings Richard Burton became a Hollywood movie star.

But did he squander his talent for fame, fortune, womanising and alcohol? Unseen archive, revealing interviews with his family and Burton’s own words from his private diaries shine a light on the many sides to this 7-time Oscar nominee whose tumultuous life and scandalous love affair with Elizabeth Taylor captivated the world.

”The film underscores Burton’s important role in Welsh culture….and doesn’t shy away from his relationship with alcohol, his complicated feelings about acting and masculinity, and his plunge into celebrity’s destructive glare alongside Elizabeth Taylor

The Times

”An excellent documentary

The Sunday Telegraph

”A fascinating story, deftly told

The Telegraph

”Splendid bio-doc

Radio Times

”A handsome documentary

The Guardian

”Must-see documentary

The Mail

”A new lens on a Welsh legend

Western Mail

”An extraordinary story

TV Times