Adele - a podcast by BBC Radio 4

Singer-songwriter Adele Adkins is one of the world's best-selling artists, with sales of over 100 million records. Better known simply as Adele, she’s also won nine Brit Awards, a Golden Globe and fifteen Grammys - not to mention an Oscar in 2013 for her singing in the Bond film Skyfall.

This week she released her first new single in six years, offering her fans a first glimpse of her so-called ‘divorce album’ entitled ’30’, due for release next month.The 33 year old currently lives with her son in Los Angeles, rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous. She’s come a long way from the working class upbringing with her single mother who once smuggled the toddler into a gig, hidden inside her coat. So how did this ‘ordinary girl’ from North London conquer the popular music world? Mark Coles looks at her life and extraordinary career.

Presenter: Mark ColesProducer: Nick Holland
Researcher: Bethan Head

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