Desert Island Discs

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Martin Clunes Sep 18, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the actor Martin Clunes.

He became a household name in the 1990s in the comedy "Men Behaving Badly" and, in the years since, has performed at The National Theatre, presented a number of natural history documentaries and become the gruff GP in the comedy drama "Doc Martin."

His prominent ears are among his trademarks and he reveals that early in his career he turned down an opportunity to have them pinned back. He said: "I just didn't fancy it - maybe I hadn't noticed them".

Record: Sailing - Rod Stewart Book: Puckoon by Spike Milligan Luxury: An electric guitar

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Danny Baker Jul 31, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the broadcaster and writer Danny Baker.

He is a Sony Gold award winning broadcaster with one of the most recognisable voices on our airwaves and his numerous radio and TV shows have brought him legions of fans. As a writer, he has put words in the mouths of Jeremy Clarkson, Ricky Gervais, Chris Evans and even the legendary George Burns.

Despite the successes, he says he's never plotted his next career move: "No plan - certainly no plan - you've only got to look at the incredible way this is all botched together and yet I don't feel that's somehow lucky when you look around at some of the half-wits and boss-eyed bozos who people this business - and they're running departments. All of this is an ant-hill that somebody's kicked over, and I happen to be one of the more bumptious ants."

Record: I've Grown Accustomed to her Face Book: The Most of S J Perelman Luxury: My blue suede shoes

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Heather Rabbatts Jul 24, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the businesswoman Heather Rabbatts.

Born in Jamaica and raised in Britain, her early years were unpromising and she left school with just a few O levels. But after evening classes, she studied law and became a barrister before making her name as the youngest council chief in the country.

She's at home in the toughest business environments - from Millwall Football Club to the Royal Opera House - and says: "I definitely like being in charge and I've always felt that I can gather everyone's spirits and energies to take that jump into the unknown together."

Record: Que Sera Sera by Corinne Bailey Rae Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Luxury: A solar powered digital photo album

Producer: Isabel Sargent.

Michael McIntyre Jul 17, 2011

Show notes

Michael McIntyre interviewed by Kirsty Young for Desert Island Discs.

In less than five years he's gone from being an unknown stand-up with debts of more than £30,000 to become one of the most successful comedians in the business - with awards, chart topping DVDs and sell-out arena shows under his belt.

He says: "I was on the circuit for years, I did get more and more in debt - it really did drag on and I just couldn't get a break. But when my chance came, I'd envisaged it so many times, I wasn't even nervous. I knew I could do it."

Record: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered - Ella Fitzgerald Book: The Complete Prose of Woody Allen. Luxury: A pen

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

John Graham Jul 10, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the crossword compiler John Graham.

Now aged 90, he works under the name Araucaria and, for more than fifty years, has infuriated, intrigued and entertained with fiendish clues and mind-twisting anagrams.

Like his father and grandfather he became a vicar but, when divorce forced him to leave the church, crosswords provided an unlikely source of revenue.

Of the skills needed to dream up cryptic clues, he says: "So much of it is something that goes on unconsciously. You see the word, you play with it in your mind, you don't actually think about the punters at all at that stage, you try and do it for yourself. I hope that it equips one for life in the sense that it makes one think more clearly and that can only be good."

Record: Haydn - The Heavens are Telling Book: The complete works of Saki. Luxury: A telescope

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Tony Robinson Jul 03, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the actor and broadcaster Tony Robinson.

His Baldrick to Rowan Atkinson's Blackadder turned idiocy into an art form and the series went on to become one of our best-loved comedies. The role changed his life but, he says, when he first saw the script he didn't think much of it: "It was only about eight lines of dialogue and none of them were funny - but it was with these incredible people. On the one hand, I thought what a lousy part and on the other hand I thought, I'd love to work with these people".

Record: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down - The Band Book: Middlemarch - George Eliot Luxury: A luxury bed and mattress.

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Dame Harriet Walter Jun 26, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the actress Dame Harriet Walter.

She has been a stalwart of the stage for more than three decades - winning great acclaim for her work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the National Theatre. Performing ran in the family - her uncle is the actor Christopher Lee and she remembers how, as a child, he would make her shriek by putting on his famous 'Mummy' walk to scare her. She turned down a place at Oxford because she knew she wanted to act - only to find that the drama schools weren't keen on her... she was turned down five times before securing a place.

She says she has never thought about making clever career choices, but, in the year in which she has been made a dame, turned sixty and married for the first time, she says it has all turned out better than she ever expected.

Record: My Baby Just Cares for Me - Nina Simone. Book: The complete works of Isabella Bird. Luxury: A flute

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Len Goodman Jun 19, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the international dance judge, Len Goodman.

He became a star of Strictly Come Dancing and the US show Dancing with the Stars, after a forty year career as a ballroom dancer and judge. Born in London's east end, as a kid he was a barrow-boy, selling fruit and veg on his grandfather's stall. He went on to work on the docks as a welder. But come Saturday night he would don his best threads and head for the Embassy ballroom in Welling.

He was in his sixties when he found international fame and it was, he says, perfect timing. "If it had happened when I was thirty, I'd have been one these people that would be seen rolling out of nightclubs drunk, with a couple of dolly-birds on my arm. The pilot was on my sixtieth birthday and I think it was the perfect age because I was sensible by then, my feet were planted firmly on the ground."

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Andrea Levy Jun 12, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the writer Andrea Levy.

Born in London to Jamaican parents, she has spent much of her career describing the experiences of Caribbean immigrants and cementing the role they have played in British life. Her books have found both a large and appreciative audience as well as critical success - Small Island was named Whitbread Book of the Year, while Long Song, was shortlisted for the Man-Booker Prize. Her achievements are all the more extraordinary because she says she didn't read her first novel until she was 23 years old. She says: "The reason I write is because I am exploring my heritage - and there's still a lot of that story untold."

Producer: Isabel Sargent.

Alfie Boe Jun 05, 2011

Show notes

Kirsty Young's castaway is the singer Alfie Boe.

He is one of our most popular tenors and, highly unusually, is a sell-out success in both opera houses and musical theatre. The youngest of nine children, he left school to work as a mechanic - before being plucked off the shop-floor for stardom. However, while he's at home on the stage, you won't necessarily find him in the stalls: "I like good singers, I don't necessarily like one genre of music, I just like good singers, good voices and good songs," he says, adding: "I never go to the opera.... it's just not my world."

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

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