Francis Bacon: A Brush With ViolenceJanuary 28, 2017

Francis Bacon was the loudest, rudest, drunkest, most sought-after British artist of the 20th century. Twenty-five years after his death, his canvases regularly exceed £40million at auction. Bacon's appeal is rooted in his notoriety - a candid image he presented of himself as Roaring Boy, Lord of Misrule and Conveyor of Artistic Violence. This was true enough, but only part of the truth. He carefully cultivated the facade, protecting the complex and haunted man behind the myth. In this unique, compelling film, those who knew him speak freely, some for the first time, to reveal the many mysteries of Francis Bacon.

Francis Bacon: A Brush With Violence was broadcast on BBC2 at Tuesday 14 February 2017, 13:16. This episode was initially placed on Saturday 28 January 2017.