Phil Spector, the legendary record producer currently on trial for murder in the US, has granted the BBC his first extensive interview in 35 years, for a one-off film.
The BBC2 Arena film, the Agony and Ecstasy of Phil Spector, will be culled from more than 50 hours of interviews conducted by director Vikram Jayanti during the course of the ongoing trial.
The reclusive eccentric, lauded as a musical genius for his Wall of Sound technique that resulted in a string of 1960s hits, was granted bail and is conducting the interviews at his castle-like Los Angeles home.
The film is part of a BBC2 autumn season that includes documentaries from Louis Theroux and Stephen Fry, as well as a major season to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the partition of India.
Mr Jayanti, who has made feature-length documentaries about Muhammad Ali and James Ellroy, said the final shape would depend on the trial's outcome. Spector is accused of killing actress Lana Clarkson in a late-night shooting in 2003.
"Our interviews have covered an awful lot of ground, including the trial. The position the defence has taken is that she killed herself. I'm sort of trying to stay out of issues of guilt or innocence," he said.
"I'm more interested in this strange collision between an artistic genius and the criminal justice system."
The film explores Spector's musical legacy, which also included the Beatles album Let It Be and much of the 70s solo work of John Lennon and George Harrison.
Despite his eccentric behaviour, off-the-wall hairstyle and huge musical influence, he has never given a substantial interview.
"He hasn't let anyone film him for a documentary in 35 years. But he doesn't treat me as a supplicant. We are talking very frankly," said Jayanti.
Producer Anthony Wall said Spector agreed to make the film partly due to the reputation of Arena, which last year hosted Martin Scorsese's Bob Dylan documentary No Direction Home.
In the programme Spector also deconstructs his hits, describes his competitiveness with Beach Boys songwriter Brian Wilson, and explains the roots of his unshakable belief that his early 1960s productions would leave a lasting legacy.
"I want to get past the history of it all because I'm not terribly interested in archaeology. I'm interested in who he is now and what's going on in his head."
Other highlights include Louis Theroux undergoing liposuction in a look at the LA plastic surgery industry, and Fry following up last year's Secret Life of a Manic Depressive with a personal look at Aids.
BBC2 controller Roly Keating said the looming BBC budget cuts would probably mean more repeats as the corporation invested more in landmark programmes that could be screened more than once.
He promised another new series, Earth - the Biography, would do for geology what Andrew Marr's highly acclaimed recent series did for UK postwar history.
Meanwhile, BBC Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas yesterday unveiled details of the station's 40th anniversary programming this autumn. Speaking at a Broadcasting Press Guild lunch, she said Paul Whitehouse and Harry Enfield had promised to bring DJs Smashie and Nicey out of retirement for a Pick of the Pops special.
Screen gems
Earth - The Biography
Chronicles Earth's development with cutting-edge science and visuals to highlight "the major events that have shaped our planet's history and allowed life to flourish" for 4.6bn years.
The Restaurant
Chef Raymond Blanc mentors nine couples who dream of opening a restaurant. The prize is the chance to run a restaurant "financially backed and personally supported by Raymond himself".
India with Sanjeev Bhaskar
Billed as a "wryly observant and sometimes emotional portrait of today's India", part of a season to mark the 60th anniversary of the independence of India and Pakistan.
Saira Khan's Pakistan Adventure
Follows the former Apprentice candidate's return to her family roots.
Capturing Mary
David Walliams and Dame Maggie Smith in one of two new Stephen Poliakoff films.
Oz and James's Big Wine Adventure
Oz Clarke and James May travel through the wine regions of America.
