Stephen Sondheim’s close friends Martin Milnes and Peter E. Jones have announced further details of their forthcoming podcast Loving You: The Untold Sondheim, an intimate portrait of the legendary composer’s life and passions.
The series will include the first official recordings of two previously unknown Sondheim songs, both performed by Martin Milnes. No Sad Songs For Me, written in 1950 for the Williams College revue Where To From Here, pays tribute to Sondheim’s favourite film star Margaret Sullavan. The podcast will also feature an excerpt from The Party Of The Stars, a 1951 composition further honouring Sullavan.
Guest contributors include Dame Julie Andrews, Jamie Bernstein, Dame Judi Dench, Mia Farrow, Ronan Farrow, Maria Friedman, Adam Guettel, John Kander, James Lapine, Patti LuPone, Maltby & Shire, Bernadette Peters, Jonathan Tunick, John Weidman and Maury Yeston. Family reflections come from Sondheim’s half-brother Walter E. Sondheim, while BAFTA-winner Alistair McGowan portrays Stephen Sondheim.
Newly announced guests include Andre Bishop, Ted Chapin, Marianne Elliott and Jeremy Sams. They join original cast members Christine Baranski, Len Cariou, Laurence Guittard, Donna McKechnie, Julia McKenzie, Millicent Martin, Ann Morrison and Kurt Peterson.
West End performers Bruce Graham, Chloe Hopcroft, Lauren Jones, Nic Myers, Kitt Pakapom and Shane O’Riordan will perform songs from Sondheim’s personal list of “Songs I Wish I’d Written (At Least In Part)”. Musical recordings are produced by Chris Traves, with Musical Direction by Gareth Valentine and piano by Sam Young.
The podcast also reunites the participants of Sondheim’s 1990 Oxford University Masterclass for their first-ever interviews, recalling a pivotal period of mentorship. Contributors include Leslie Arden, Michael Bland, Patrick Dineen, Ed Hardy, Paul James, Stephen Keeling, Paul Leigh, James McConnel, Ben Mason and Denise Wharmby.
Special appearances include Celsa De Azanza, Sondheim’s housekeeper of more than 30 years, and his long-time chef Mary Pat Walsh. A cameo by Sondheim’s secretary of 35 years, Steven Clar, recorded shortly before his passing in September 2025, is also featured.
The cast includes Daniel Cane as Young Steve, Eddie Andrews as Young Peter Jones and Charlotte Page as Katharine Hepburn.
Loving You: The Untold Sondheim is written, devised, directed and co-produced by Martin Milnes. Co-producer Peter E. Jones composed the original score, and Jason Caffrey of Creative Kin Ltd serves as Executive Producer.
The podcast will be available on all streaming platforms, including Apple, Spotify and Amazon.
