LEGENDARY Southsea entertainer Peter Sellers is the subject of a fascinating documentary that will be presented by his daughter Sarah on BBC Radio Solent on Saturday at 2pm.

The new documentary will see her looking back at his extraordinary career – including recently rediscovered recordings, found during the making of this programme, which have been unheard since their original broadcast.

She finds out why her father gave up a career as a drummer and decided to embark into a very different form of show business.

Although well-known as a ‘goon’ and his many appearances as Inspector Clouseau from the Pink Panther films, little is said about his time in the gang show and even his substantial collection of popular record releases.

Sarah said: “I hope with this documentary it shows the variety of my father’s work. He was involved in so many different areas of entertainment and I would hate for any of them to be forgotten.

When I see my father performing, I don’t think of him as doing impersonations. He really becomes a character, and he was very sensitive to what made people tick. He had a unique ability to really become someone. He did it from the inside out, rather than the outside in.”

2015 would have been the year that Peter Sellers celebrated his 90th birthday, and July marks 35 years since his sad passing.

Peter was born in Southsea in a flat above a corner shop (now a Chinese restaurant). His parents were travelling music-hall entertainers and when their baby was only a few days old they took him onto the stage of The Kings Theatre, where his cries were met by a round of applause and raucous laughter. It was a life that would go on to hear much more appreciation from audiences, with numerous stage, radio, TV and of course film projects.

Sarah hears stories from many old colleagues who worked with her dad, including the actors and writers who worked alongside him, and even the producer who punched him, although both remained good friends. She discovers the internal BBC memos that show how many departments fought over the opportunity to get him on their shows. There are also interviews with old friends who have never spoken publicly about their happy times with Peter before.

Many documentaries have been made about Peter Sellers, but for the first time Sarah is able to present a potted history of her dad’s diverse and substantial career and influence on the world of comedy.