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W.

W. Empire pod UK.com. Hello and me.

welcome to Empire with me Anita Arnan and me William Drimble you having breakfast got any cornflakes do have any kind of coffee

no posse measly this time no musi no granola, just checking because we just want to make sure

whether we can identify any of this. I have had breakfast and a very nice almond crust on

I don't get those in Delhi. Public demeanour. Do not laugh special guests yet. You've not been introduced and you'll only encourage him.

Listen, we are delighted today is going to be a really very

fascinating episode of Empire. Most people listening to this, most people in Britain, and indeed, you know, in the world will know the name of Samuel Johnson, famous essayist playwright, lexicographer, biographer, critic, man about town.

They call him arguably the most distinguished man of letters that England has ever produced.

So people know about Samuel Johnson, but what they don't know perhaps is about one

man who figured large in Johnson's life and he is the man we are talking about today, isn't he

William? Who will we talking about?

Absolutely is. Francis Barber who I'm ashamed to say having taken an interest in Johnson

all my life and having very recently when I was in the Hebrides last week read the journal of his journey

with Boswell to Hebrides I had no idea existed although having now read and

researched him for this thing.

Of course we know the probable picture of him by Reynolds,

which is enormously familiar,

and he's like this sort of unspoken presence

...