Entertainment For Lively Minds
Desert Island Discs Recommended
Posted by jimmyshoes01 on 21 November 2011 - 2:35pm.
I am tucking in to the DID archives and have loaded plenty up on the iPod for the gym and journeys to and from work.
I have gone for the ones that I know would appeal to me: actors, musicians and comedians pretty much covers it.
Favourites so far have been Michael Caine, Steve Coogan, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Ian McKellan, Bob Monkhouse and David Attenborough.
To take me off the beaten path, can you suggest any one that has surprised you or whose work you have been introduced to through their DID or that had a really interesting life story to tell (and told it well)?
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Do not
download Gordon Ramsay's.
Not only does he rehash his delusional football career at Rangers, but he also picks some of the most insipid records imaginable.
Nigel Slater
Always liked him. Listened to the DID podcast on the way to work and was amazed at his childhood stories. Got to the end and realised I didn't remember huge chunks of my journey (a 90 mile drive, so a scary thought). Great radio.
Don't listen to...
... Colin Montgomerie's - a big-headed cocksphincter if ever there was one - favourite record - Simply The Best. Ian McMillan's was my favourite.
Ditto Ian McMillan
Mind you, I'd happily listen to him reading the Argos catalogue
Betty Driver (RIP)
Victoria Wood
Mark Gatiss
Elmore Leonard
John Barry
all ones that I've enjoyed recently
Big thumb's up for Betty Driver.
That one was magnificent. "I have several gentleman callers." What a minx she was...
agreed
on Betty fantastic broadcast
Elmore Leonard
My favourite crime writer by some distance - his characters are so cool. What did he choose?
I think...
...he means James Elroy.
Didn't Ellroy...
... just pick Beethoven for all 8?
That's a big *just* though! :-)
Good spot sir!
... totally unnecessary use of the word "just". I was wrong anyway - he picked 5 Beethoven, 2 Bruckner and one Sibelius.
Did you hear Harriet Walter?
She was on quite recently; touching, gracious and wise.
Maggie Aderin Pocock
from 7th March 2010. I'd never heard of her but she's a Cosmologist and comes across with such great enthusiasm that I was sorely tempted to go out and but myself a telescope. I've listened to this one two or three times.
Another "good" one was Paul Abbott from 11 Feb 2007( writer of Shameless ). Heartbreaking and affirming all at the same time. I kept wondering what was going to happen next as he told his life story.
Kathy Burke
My absolute favourite. She was warm, frank and funny.
Betty Driver and Johnny Vegas were also good. I knew nothing about Betty's fascinating pre-Corrie life - the Arthur Lowe incident, for example.
Bobby Robson
had some good tales and came across very well. Can't remember any music he played mind.
Stephen King
Really seemed to get into the spirit of DID. His description of the aftermath of his terrible road accident is fascinating, and he comes across as a thoroughly nice man.
Agreed.
He's always struck me as a top bloke. I was a huge fan in my teens and he's one of those public figures I feel I know a little bit. It was a great DID - listened to it last night.
Thanks for this thread, everyone, btw. I have a good 10-15 hours of DIDs to listen to thanks to you lot!
Hear Hear
As luck would have it my walk to work takes 35 minutes. Armando Ianucci kept me company this morning, and saw me from door to door with perfect timing. I have a choice of another 5 to choose from for the walk home where I will no doubt download many more.
2 more
Both Tony Adams and Heston Blumenthal were very enjoyable.
A recent one
Baron Adebowale of Thornes
I had never heard of him but it was an excellent episode -- him and for the tunes.
I listened to this on the way home today
To set context: It was (and I apologize Frazer, but it's the only appropriate word) fucking torrid few days.
It was just the best podcast I've heard in a long, long time. As Jed says, both him and the music. Apparently, you just HAVE to have the Stranglers according to the good Baron.
The interview itself was a masterclass of common sense and principle and humanity. As I said, it was a long drive; more than once I found myself questioning giving it all up to go do something meaningful - and I can't say that happens often. Or at all.
It was, in reflection, a podcast for the season. My heart was genuinely warmed.
a few more
Dennis Healy - surely the ideal guest - ie. 89 years old so has whole life to look back on.
Having said that:
Neil Tennant
Bill Bailey
Bill Nighy
Morrissey
Andy Kershaw
Ian Rankin
Debbie Harry
also good.
Bill Nighy
- most definitely.
Deliciously dry and studiously refusing to pander to Sue Lawley.
Dr Gwen Adshead is a cracker.
She's in charge at Broadmoor and is the person responsible for looking after Peter Sutcliffe. She was magnificent, download that one.
To my shame
I have never listened to Desert Island Discs. I'm not using the acronymn because I've not earnt the right.
Another Kathy Burke recommendation
Also Martin Sheen, Emma Thompson, Paul Whitehouse, Richard Briers, Oliver Postgate, Jo Brand and Armando Iannucci.
Another couple
Clarissa Dickson Wright - by turns evocative, moving & hilarious - unflinchingly honest when describing the nature and aftermath of her alcoholism. Came across as a thoroughly good egg.
Tony Iveson - WW2 pilot with a classic "old school" approach to life, neither stuck-up nor emotionally incontinent. When describing being shot down over the middle of the North Sea, Kirsty asked him if he was afraid he was going to die: he replied along the lines of "I had other things on my mind at that moment".
I really enjoyed
Kristin Scott-Thomas's programme. She had put some thought into her musical choices and was very engaging too.
John Bird
Big Issue editor. His is excellent.
Anthony Julius
I thought was fabulous
I enjoyed Antonia Fraser
Martin Shaw split our family. Mum thought he was a pretentious cock. I thought it was interesting, but he comes over as a bit of a luvvy
David McVicar was an unexpected delight, never having heard of him.
Chairman Humph
Ian Rankin
Clive Stafford Smith was excellent as well.
I prefer the Young years to the Lawley years. Lovely voice, and a wonderful interviewing style
Martin Shaw
I caught Martin Shaw's appearance by accident. He struck me as a very humble, decent man, entirely the opposite of what I expected for some reason.
Kenny Everett and Jack Rosenthal's are both riveting, in my opinion.
John Peel
simply for the joy of listening to his voice again
DID
The Tony Iveson edition that Douglas mentions above was a legendary piece of radio. I think they repeated an unedited version of it. I have a book 'Desert Island Discs: Roy Plomley with Derek Drescher' that lists all the guests and their choices, from 1942 to 1983. I recall Michael Caine on it Christmas before last, he told of the best way to roast potatoes.
I cooked dinner last night
listening to the Humphrey Lyttelton broadcast. Splendid stuff.
New
I have no time for rugby and his music selection is rubbish but Laurence Dallaglio 's story is very moving. He comes across as a decent chap.
Debbie Harry and Duncan Bannatyne are also worth a listen for different reasons
I just wish
That you could get hold of the pre 1990's editions to listen to. The list of castaways is absolutely amazing.
Lang Lang
The Chinese pianists's story is an amazing one and I second the Dallaglio recommendation above. I am slowly ploughing through the lot sequentially.
My second favorite podcast after
Word podcast is DID - can I recommend if it hasn't already been recommended J P Donleavy? A fascinating very funny man.
My picks.
Martin Sheen
Paul Whitehouse
Nick Hornby
Stephen King
Morrissey, if only as proof positive that he's a total nobber
Philip Pullman
Jon Snow
Dr Gwen Adshead
All great radio. Incidentally, Kirsty knocks Sue Lawley's socks off as an interviewer. A different league.
Tom Jones
It was pretty interesting but the best bit happens at 19:40m into the podcast version. A rather flirty Kirsty asks TJ to do an acapella version of "It's Not Unusual" just for her - and he obliges. Kirsty orgasms on air, moaning " I love this job."