Famous voices for ‘I Have a Dream’ speech on Radio 4

Famous figures including the Dalai Lama, Doreen Lawrence and Northern Ireland politician John Hume will recite sections of Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech in a broadcast marking 50 years since the civil rights leader first delivered it.

The broadcast, on BBC Radio 4 and the World Service, will mix recordings of the original speech and excerpts spoken by guests. Other names taking part include Nelson Mandela’s granddaughter Ndileka and Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban for going to school.

There will also be contributions from Congressman John Lewis, who was then a civil rights activist and spoke on that day, singer Joan Baez and writer Maya Angelou.

The broadcast will air at 9am on Wednesday and then at 2.30pm on the World Service.