Desert Island Discs

[johncorrigan]

Sports personality castaways invariably reveal themselves to have terrible taste in music, with Will Carling (remember him?) being arguably the worst.

Enoch Powell and Jack Vetriano were the best castaways, imo: all of their choices were absolutely impeccable.

One of my favourite episodes, and not music related particularly, was Philippe Petit, the guy who walked between the twin towers in New York. When I first heard the programme I was on my way to a meeting in Perth. I had no idea who Petit was at that time, but was so fascinated that I had to sit in the carpark to hear the end of the programme and be late for the meeting.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00935tx

[pastoralguy]

One of my favourite episodes, and not music related particularly, was Philippe Petit, the guy who walked between the twin towers in New York. When I first heard the programme I was on my way to a meeting in Perth. I had no idea who Petit was at that time, but was so fascinated that I had to sit in the carpark to hear the end of the programme and be late for the meeting.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00935tx

Have you seen the movie ‘Man on Wire’ about that walk? Absolutely terrifying!

[Mal]

Sports personality castaways invariably reveal themselves to have terrible taste in music, with Will Carling (remember him?) being arguably the worst...

Yes, one feel good pop number would have been OK, but every choice? And the Hobbit as book choice? And there he is on a desert island, surrounded by ocean, and he chooses a flotation tank as his luxury? Ian Botham's list looks similar except he inserted a few works from Classic FM's Pomp & Circumstance top 10. But do sports personalities have the worst taste? Tim Peake (astronaut) and Jayne-Anne Gadhia(chief executive of Virgin Money - NMEs choice...) are major contenders.

[johncorrigan]

Have you seen the movie ‘Man on Wire’ about that walk? Absolutely terrifying!

Terrifying indeed, pg, and so fascinating. I went to see it at the cinema with my son. I was riveted throughout. How one man can take such an obsession starting when he was a child in the dentist waiting room to perform such an incredible action was amazing - the only unfortunate thing is that there is very little actual footage of his walk.

[ChandlersFord]

One of my favourite episodes, and not music related particularly, was Philippe Petit, the guy who walked between the twin towers in New York. When I first heard the programme I was on my way to a meeting in Perth. I had no idea who Petit was at that time, but was so fascinated that I had to sit in the carpark to hear the end of the programme and be late for the meeting.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00935tx

I worked with Phillippe Petit back in 2006. He's not the easiest person in the world to get along with, shall we say.

[RichardB]

Enoch Powell and Jack Vetriano

It's not very often you encounter those two in the same sentence.

[johncorrigan]

I worked with Phillippe Petit back in 2006. He's not the easiest person in the world to get along with, shall we say.

I bet he wasn't, ChandlersFord. He certainly came across as being completely obsessed with himself...I suppose you would if you were in that game. The saddest thing about the film 'Man on Wire', as I recall, is the way his friends, including his girlfriend, who had helped him set up the walk between the Towers were arrested and deported, while he stayed in the States. At the end of the film those friends look bereft almost having been dumped by Petit; so sad, almost like he never said goodbye.

[smittims]

Famous people often are self-obesssed, sadly. I love the story of Churchill's reluctance to employ John Reith on war work, because, as he said 'they tell me you're not easy to work with', surely one of the ironic remarks of the century.

[ChandlersFord]

I bet he wasn't, ChandlersFord. He certainly came across as being completely obsessed with himself...I suppose you would if you were in that game. The saddest thing about the film 'Man on Wire', as I recall, is the way his friends, including his girlfriend, who had helped him set up the walk between the Towers were arrested and deported, while he stayed in the States. At the end of the film those friends look bereft almost having been dumped by Petit; so sad, almost like he never said goodbye.

I've not seen the film, but I did meet most of the people who were involved in his 'stunt'. They all seemed to have forgiven him, though I'd wager it must've taken them some time.

[LHC]

More than 90 ‘lost’ recordings from the 60s and 70s have been found.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63215698

[smittims]

Many thanks for posting this. I'm looking forward to hearing some of these...

[gurnemanz]

Direct link to a full list to the newly discovered Desert Island programmes. Quite a few musicians.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/MdQtwz2d88J9TV2mMqWx84/a-full-list-of-the-rescued-episodes-of-desert-island-discs

[Ein Heldenleben]

I once recorded a DID - one with Elly Ameling the soprano . I remember being surprised they didn’t actually play the records in. They were edited in later. Bit naive of me really . A bit of shame as I was looking forward to her choices. As always I can’t remember a single thing about the interview. Too busy staring at the white needle.

[Nick Armstrong]

More than 90 ‘lost’ recordings from the 60s and 70s have been found.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-63215698

Looking forward to these turning up on Sounds.

I’ve heard most of the archive ones hitherto available there (though I have to confess to avoiding the current presenter… - having said that, I do find Mr Plomley seems pretty laboured and pompous sometimes. O tempora, o mores! )

[smittims]

In my not-so-humble opinion, Roy Plomley was the only DiD presenter who understood what the programme was about. Sue Lawley was a good substitute, but the others .. Ha!

Michael Parkinson (whoever he was ) never seemed to know what he was doing, and Kirsty Young was woefully ignorant about the nature and purpose of the programme.