Listen Again: Fenella on Desert Island Discs in 1967

 

As it's Fenella Fielding's 90th birthday today, I thought I would delve back into the Desert Island Discs archive for Fenella's show, originally recorded way back in 1967. It's now fifty years since Fenella was a castaway so what better reason to glory in the delights of her favourite records and some tales from her fascinating life and career?

This Desert Island Discs was recorded at the height of Fenella's Sixties fame with many brilliant stage performances, not to mention her starring role in the classic Carry On Screaming, behind her. Fenella is truly superb on radio, her terrific vocal talents really coming into their own. I listened to her episode yesterday, thanks to the brilliant Desert Island Discs archive, which I urge you to explore. 

I think after fifty years it's time for Fenella to make a return to the programme. As I've witnessed myself recently, Fenella is still very much a force to be reckoned with, with a great deal of energy going into her memoir shows at the Phoenix Artist Club. I would love it if Kirsty Young was to invite Fenella back to Desert Island Discs for more fun and games. 

If you agree, you can let the BBC know what you think. Their Desert Island Discs website has a page which allows you to nominate a castaway. Perhaps fan power can see Ms Fielding back on that entertaining desert island! If you want to suggest Fenella as a castaway, visit the website here 

And you can listen to Fenella's show here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Barbara Windsor's Desert Island Discs Archive

One of my favourite radio programmes has always been Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4. I find it a fascinating listen. 

For over seventy years now a famous "castaway" is asked to choose several pieces of music that mean a lot to them. The premise is that they must choose music they would want to have with them if they were ever washed up on a desert island.

The choices of music, together with the conversation in between, is often deeply interesting, revealing and thoroughly entertaining. As this show has been running for so many years, it has of course meant that several Carry On actors have featured as guests. The BBC now have a wonderful archive of past shows available to listen to online. 

Only the other day I listened to Barbara Windsor's two shows. Barbara appeared most recently on the programme way back in 1990 and talked to Sue Lawley about her career to date, her upbringing in the East End and some of the stormier aspects of her private life. It's a fascinating listen and Barbara's musical choices are all great, even including an excerpt of Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Tony Hancock from Hancock's Half Hour. Barbara speaks movingly about Kenneth in particular and two years after his death, obviously missed him terribly.

Also available in the archive is an excerpt from Barbara's earlier appearance on the show from way back in 1970. Sadly only a partial recording is available but it's still interesting to hear a much younger Miss Windsor nattering away with Roy Plomley. Both programmes are definitely worth hearing.

 

 
 You can listen to them both here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Kenneth Connor's Desert Island Discs

 

One of my favourite radio programmes has always been Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4. I find it a fascinating listen. 

For over seventy years now a famous "castaway" is asked to choose several pieces of music that mean a lot to them. The premise is that they must choose music they would want to have with them if they were ever washed up on a desert island.

The choices of music, together with the conversation in between, is often deeply interesting, revealing and thoroughly entertaining. As this show has been running for so many years, it has of course meant that several Carry On actors have featured as guests. The BBC now have a wonderful archive of past shows available to listen to online.  

It has frustrated me for some time that Kenneth Connor's programme has not been available to listen to again online, however all that has changed now. Kenneth was Roy Plomley's castaway on 22 June 1964, over fifty years ago. It is fascinating to hear Kenneth as himself, rather than one of his many wonderful comedy voices or performances. He comes across as a very serious, thoughtful and intelligent man and the entire programme is a delight. 

You can listen to Kenneth Connor's Desert Island Discs here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also on Facebook

 

Fenella's Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4 Extra

 

This morning the wonderful BBC Radio 4 Extra is broadcasting Fenella Fielding's episode of Desert Island Discs, originally recorded way back in 1967. It's now almost fifty years since Fenella was a castaway so what better reason to glory in the delights of her favourite records and some tales from her fascinating life and career?

This Desert Island Discs was recorded at the height of Fenella's Sixties fame with many brilliant stage performances, not to mention her starring role in the classic Carry On Screaming, behind her. Fenella is truly superb on radio, her terrific vocal talents really coming into their own. I listened to her episode yesterday, thanks to the brilliant Desert Island Discs archive, which I urge you to explore. 

I think after fifty years it's time for Fenella to make a return to the programme. As I've witnessed myself recently, Fenella is still very much a force to be reckoned with, with a great deal of energy going into her memoir shows at the Phoenix Artist Club. I would love it if Kirsty Young was to invite Fenella back to Desert Island Discs in 2017 for more fun and games. 

If you agree, you can let the BBC know what you think. Their Desert Island Discs website has a page which allows you to nominate a castaway. Perhaps fan power can see Ms Fielding back on that entertaining desert island! If you want to suggest Fenella as a castaway, visit the website here 

And you can listen to Fenella's show on BBC Radio 4 Extra here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Barbara Windsor's Desert Island Discs Archive

One of my favourite radio programmes has always been Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4. I find it a fascinating listen. 

For over seventy years now a famous "castaway" is asked to choose several pieces of music that mean a lot to them. The premise is that they must choose music they would want to have with them if they were ever washed up on a desert island.

The choices of music, together with the conversation in between, is often deeply interesting, revealing and thoroughly entertaining. As this show has been running for so many years, it has of course meant that several Carry On actors have featured as guests. The BBC now have a wonderful archive of past shows available to listen to online. 

Only the other day I listened to Barbara Windsor's two shows. Barbara appeared most recently on the programme way back in 1990 and talked to Sue Lawley about her career to date, her upbringing in the East End and some of the stormier aspects of her private life. It's a fascinating listen and Barbara's musical choices are all great, even including an excerpt of Kenneth Williams, Hattie Jacques and Tony Hancock from Hancock's Half Hour. Barbara speaks movingly about Kenneth in particular and two years after his death, obviously missed him terribly.

Also available in the archive is an excerpt from Barbara's earlier appearance on the show from way back in 1970. Sadly only a partial recording is available but it's still interesting to hear a much younger Miss Windsor nattering away with Roy Plomley. Both programmes are definitely worth hearing.

 

 
 You can listen to them both here

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

From the Archive: Kenneth Connor on Desert Island Discs

One of my favourite radio programmes has always been Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4. I find it a fascinating listen. 

For over seventy years now a famous "castaway" is asked to choose several pieces of music that mean a lot to them. The premise is that they must choose music they would want to have with them if they were ever washed up on a desert island.

The choices of music, together with the conversation in between, is often deeply interesting, revealing and thoroughly entertaining. As this show has been running for so many years, it has of course meant that several Carry On actors have featured as guests. The BBC now have a wonderful archive of past shows available to listen to online. 

One of my recent discoveries is Kenneth Connor's show from 1964. Kenneth is always one of the most underrated of all the Carry On regulars and he seldom gave interviews as himself. This, therefore, is a very rare and important interview where we learn a bit more about Kenneth the man. You can listen to it here.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Clicking on the adverts helps to keep this blog going.

Kenneth Connor on Desert Island Discs

One of my favourite radio programmes has always been Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4. I find it a fascinating listen. 

For over seventy years now a famous "castaway" is asked to choose several pieces of music that mean a lot to them. The premise is that they must choose music they would want to have with them if they were ever washed up on a desert island.

The choices of music, together with the conversation in between, is often deeply interesting, revealing and thoroughly entertaining. As this show has been running for so many years, it has of course meant that several Carry On actors have featured as guests. The BBC now have a wonderful archive of past shows available to listen to online. 

One of my recent discoveries is Kenneth Connor's show from 1964. Kenneth is always one of the most underrated of all the Carry On regulars and he seldom gave interviews as himself. This, therefore, is a very rare and important interview where we learn a bit more about Kenneth the man. You can listen to it here.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Clicking on the adverts helps to keep this blog going.

Carry On Castaways

One of my favourite radio programmes has always been Desert Island Discs on BBC Radio 4. I find it a fascinating listen. 

For over seventy years now a famous "castaway" is asked to choose several pieces of music that mean a lot to them. The premise is that they must choose music they would want to have with them if they were ever washed up on a desert island.

The choices of music, together with the conversation in between, is often deeply interesting, revealing and thoroughly entertaining. As this show has been running for so many years, it has of course meant that several Carry On actors have featured as guests. The BBC now have a wonderful archive of past shows available to listen to online.

So far I have listened to both Kenneth Williams' terrific appearances, once in 1961 and then much later again in 1987. Kenneth Connor's programme is also available, dating way back to 1964. Carry On Screaming legend Fenella Fielding was featured in 1967 and both of June Whitfield's programmes are available, one from 1973 and a later one from 1990. You can listen to the fabulous Frankie Howerd, who appeared in 1982 as well as Barbara Windsor who has made two appearances, in 1970 and then again in 1990.

Sadly neither recordings for Sid James nor Hattie Jacques have been added to the archive just yet, but keep your eyes peeled as they bound to feature at some point. 

I think it is a fascinating treasure trove of interviews and well worth a listen.

You can follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan and also Facebook

Clicking on the adverts helps to keep this blog going.