Listen: BBC podcast says it uncovered Banksy’s voice

A trailer for the Radio 4 series and BBC Sounds podcast The Banksy Story claims it may include a recording of the graffiti artist’s voice – first broadcast in the UK.

Host James Peak, in an interview aired on NPR in 2005, claims that the show “gets very close to the world of Banksy and the people in it.”

There’s also an interview with a former member of Banksy’s team who claims the artist asked her to get on all fours and “pretend to snort a bunch of cocaine and let me take some pictures.” .

READ MORE: Banksy invites Frankie Boyle to give a tour of the show in Glasgow

The clip is from NPR’s All Things Considered news program and aired in March of that year, just days after Banksy hung his own work in New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Although it has not been confirmed whether this is Banksy or not, James Peak seems pleased with the find.

He says: “Is that Banksy’s real voice? I don’t know… but if he is, it’s the first time we’ve ever heard him!”

In the three-minute NPR clip, “Banksy” describes himself as a “painter and decorator.”

READ MORE: Why Banksy’s legacy should challenge Glasgow’s antiquated attitude towards graffiti

The host says, “We assume you are who you say you are, but how can we be sure?” The person posing as Banksy replies, “Oh, you have no guarantee of that at all. ”

While the legality of Banksy’s work is now less debated, the artist is now well established around the world. However, by 2005 it was clear that his actions would have serious consequences.

But he says he has his work hung in famous galleries because: “You don’t want to be stuck in the same industry your whole life, do you?”

Of his work, he adds, “I mean, I thought some of these were pretty good, so I thought, put them in a gallery.”

“Otherwise they would just stay at home and no one would see them.

“If you were waiting for other people to do what you’re doing, you’d be waiting forever.

“You might as well cut out the middleman and just stick it in yourself.”

The NPR host questions “Banksy” about what he’s doing and tells him it’s illegal, but the interviewee replies the thrill is a lot of fun.

“You can’t make an omelette,” he replies [without breaking eggs]But he says he’s not interested in being arrested “very often.”

He adds: “It’s about going on for as long as possible. So yes, you have to think about these things.”

“That’s the thing: Senseless vandalism requires a lot more thought than most people can imagine.”

The Banksy Story series is available on BBC Radio 4.