The result is a moving but unsentimental portrait of the man who changed British healthcare. Nye is currently playing at the National Theatre until May 11.

Younger audience members "may know next to nothing about" Bevan, known as Nye, "the honourable member for Ebbw Vale, the left-wing orator who oversaw the creation of the National Health Service ...

Nye preaches to the choir, feeding the ever-liberal National Theatre audience exactly what it craves. To be fair, it’s one hell of a sermon, expertly delivered by Sheen at his absolute best.