Friday 17 April 2015

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.


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