Athene Seyler

Speaker 10:00

Hello, I'm Kirsty Young, and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs archive. For rights reasons, we've had to shorten the music.

Speaker 10:08

The programme was originally broadcast in nineteen eighty eight, and the presenter was Sue Lawley.

Presenter0:30

My Castaway This Week is a famous comic actress. She first appeared on the professional stage eighty years ago as Rosalind in As You Like It.

Presenter0:39

Today she's best remembered for her portrayals of characters like Mrs Maliprop in The Rivals, Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, and for her distinguished double act with Sybil Thorndyke in Arsenic and Old Lace. Now, at the age of ninety nine, she still enjoys performing, but her script is her own, built upon the witty memories of a long and enjoyable career. She is Miss Athene Siler.

Presenter1:07

Athene, it's a a wonderful gift to be able to make people laugh. Were you born with it, do you think?

Athene Seyler1:12

Well, I know the first time that I did make people laugh. I was only eight years old, and I was doing a little hornpipe at a special performance, and saluting as I went off, feeling very like a sailor, and my jaws fell off.

Athene Seyler1:31

And of course the audience roared with laughter, and I thought to myself, Ah, I see, uh what's ahead of me is comedy.

Presenter1:41

And you were hooked on it after that? Do you think you can learn to make people laugh? Did you learn more of how to do it?

Athene Seyler1:42

Yeah.

Athene Seyler1:51

Learn one has to be truthful about what one's doing, and then it with if it's will.

Athene Seyler2:00

Designed by the author, it'll get it solved.

Athene Seyler2:05

There mustn't be something on the top of it, I don't think. But it still gives you great pleasure to make people laugh, doesn't it? Oh, yes, I think it's a c very lovely.

Presenter2:12

Oh yeah.

Athene Seyler2:16

A a gift to have, even in a small way as I have.

Presenter2:22

Well, there'll be nobody uh to laugh at you on the desert island. Does that depress you very much? Yes, that is rather sad. There will be

Athene Seyler2:29

Wouldn't be any one.

Athene Seyler2:32

To enjoy anything with me that I shouldn't like at all. How will you pass the time, do you think?

Athene Seyler2:39

I called him Nigen.

Athene Seyler2:42

I suppose.

Athene Seyler2:43

Watching the wildlife. Is there any on the desert island?

Athene Seyler2:49

So you might.

Presenter2:49

So you might have to race after it and catch it to eat, of course.

Athene Seyler2:53

Oh

Athene Seyler2:54

Well

Athene Seyler2:56

I don't know quite what I should do there, I'm sure. I don't.

Athene Seyler3:02

Uh what the fish?

Athene Seyler3:04

And um

Presenter3:06

Hope for the best, that's all. And what about your music? Tell me how you've chosen your music to take with you.

Athene Seyler3:14

Uh they're all

Athene Seyler3:16

things that I love and have known since I was a child. Um, I avoided Beethoven uh because I thought everybody would have gone.

Athene Seyler3:30

And, um, oh, I think I've made a very nice choice, don't you? I do. Shall we hear the first one? Yes, that'll be lovely. What is it?

Athene Seyler3:39

It's uh it's uh

Athene Seyler3:42

Oh, Mr Porter

Presenter3:45

Oh Mr Porter, what shall I do? I want to go to Birmingham and they're taking me on to Christmas. And me back

Speaker 23:55

As quickly as you can. Yeah.

Presenter3:58

Yeah.

Speaker 23:58

I'll sink to floor to one

Presenter4:00

The same girl on air

Athene Seyler4:08

He put her in the waiting room and lit the fire alight.

Athene Seyler4:13

To keep her warm and cozy, and there he spent the night. When she woke in the morning, And found him by her side, She got up very quickly, And this is what she cried O Mr Porter, what shall I do? I ought to have been in Birmingham, and I spent the night with you. Put me in the right train as quickly as you can. Oh, Mr Porter, what a naughty girl

Presenter4:47

Well I am Very good indeed. Very good.

Presenter4:51

Where did you learn that? That's a naughty one, isn't it? I can't think where.

Presenter4:56

I've noticed

Athene Seyler4:58

Yeah.

Presenter4:59

It's pretty good.

Presenter5:01

Did you did you come from a a theatrical family, Athene?

Athene Seyler5:05

Well, my brother was on the stage. My mother could have been an actress. Uh but of course it wasn't done in those days, you know. Nice people didn't go on the stage.

Presenter5:19

Uh

Athene Seyler5:19

Yeah.

Presenter5:19

Yeah.

Athene Seyler5:19

I mean you

Presenter5:20

You will

Athene Seyler5:20

But

Presenter5:20

Yeah.

Athene Seyler5:20

A nasty look

Presenter5:21

Excellent.

Athene Seyler5:22

Well it's I yes, it meant uh

Athene Seyler5:25

Oh, I don't know where they let me go to the as as long as I went to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

Presenter5:33

As long as you did it properly.

Athene Seyler5:34

Is

Presenter5:35

But but nice young ladies from well to do families, which is what you were, didn't really do that kind of thing.

Athene Seyler5:41

It's no reason to have to say.

Presenter5:43

But you had a very interesting neighbor who affected your decision, didn't you?

Athene Seyler5:47

It means the brown ribs.

Athene Seyler5:50

who afterwards became Irvings.

Athene Seyler5:53

My mother knew Henry Broadby quite well.

Athene Seyler5:59

And uh I was taken up to meet him, which I don't remember at all.

Athene Seyler6:04

and he he suggested I I should try my hand at the stage. I don't know why. Poor man, what a dreadful thing. Simply beco because my mother had lived next door to him.

Presenter6:18

But do you remember the first time you saw him?

Athene Seyler6:20

Yes, well I do because I was taken to Droher Lane where he was performing in that play Bicket and came in for the death scene and he walked onto the stage and I looked

Athene Seyler6:38

straight into his eyes and fainted.

Athene Seyler6:42

Why?

Athene Seyler6:43

Well, I don't know something came out of them, whi which ups sort of upset me so violently that I went off into a faint.

Presenter6:53

And and was it that kind of experience that made you realize that the stage and the theatre was really something very important to you?

Athene Seyler7:01

No, I think, you know, uh ever since I'd been at school I'd wanted to uh play in little little plays at the end of term and they obviously saw here as one of the pupils with a little idea of how to act. So I

Athene Seyler7:22

That's what happened.

Presenter7:23

I

Athene Seyler7:23

I did.

Presenter7:24

Let me ask you for your second record, then.

Presenter7:27

Uh

Athene Seyler7:27

Oh

Athene Seyler7:29

Dubistri in a Bloom uh is a song my mother used to sing. She had a rather beautiful contralto voice, and uh so that that makes me remember her very well uh that song.

Speaker 17:55

This to be harder.

Speaker 28:02

See

Speaker 28:05

Uh

Speaker 18:06

It won't

Speaker 18:34

Uh

Presenter8:38

That was Kiri Tekanowa singing Du Bist vie eine Blumer, You Are Like a Flower by Robert Schumann.

Presenter8:44

Well now if you need

Presenter8:46

To set you on your way you decided to go to the Academy of Dramatic Art, as you said. Tell me about your audition for that.

Athene Seyler8:54

Oh, yes, well.

Athene Seyler8:57

I they put me to wait.

Athene Seyler9:00

uh till they called me and I had a short sleeved coat, a light coat, with blong black sleeves right up to my oh Mr M elbow beyond my elbows, and I couldn't make up my mind whether to take off my black gloves and or to go in with them on. I decided to take them off that I'd got one off and they uh hadn't time to take the other before they called me in. So I went in looking rather like a zebra.

Athene Seyler9:41

However.

Presenter9:42

What did you do for them?

Athene Seyler9:43

I did a bit of Rosalind. Poor Rosalind, I've caught her round the world really. I'm always doing a bit of Rosalind.

Presenter9:53

And what did they think of you?

Athene Seyler9:55

Well, they told me to wait in the next room, and I thought I disgraced myself. And then they called me back and offered me a scholarship.

Athene Seyler10:07

They asked me, first of all, uh could I uh did I know about the fees? And I said no, but whatever the fees were, I was afraid. My mother and myself, we couldn't pay it.

Athene Seyler10:22

Because my father hadn't left us with much money.

Athene Seyler10:26

And so they called me in and offered me a scholarship and I never paid a penny.

Presenter10:31

The name.

Presenter10:31

You were always quite worried, weren't you, when you were young and auditioning for all these parts, because you were, as you used to put it, very plain.

Athene Seyler10:40

Uh

Presenter10:41

Uh

Athene Seyler10:41

That's right, yes.

Athene Seyler10:43

So I was, and Lena Ashell said to me, Oh, Miss Cela.

Athene Seyler10:50

I must tell you, had no qualifications at all for the stage.

Athene Seyler10:58

And so I said, Well, I know what you mean, Miss Ashro. I'm very plain.

Athene Seyler11:03

But I think if you heard me recite, you'd change your mind. Oh dear, how brave one was when one was young

Presenter11:11

Yeah.

Presenter11:12

Can you do a bit of that, Rosalind, for us?

Athene Seyler11:15

Oh, now.

Athene Seyler11:18

Let me see, it's the scene where she's talking to the shepherd.

Athene Seyler11:23

You foolish shepherd, wherefore do you follow her? Like foggy south, puffing with wind and rain, you are a thousand times a proper man, and she a woman.

Athene Seyler11:39

To such fools as you makes the world full of ill-favoured children.

Athene Seyler11:45

is not her glass, but you that flatters her, and out of you she sees herself more proper than any of her linements can show her.

Athene Seyler11:55

But, mistress, know yourself down on your knees, and thank Heaven, twisting, for a good man's love.

Athene Seyler12:06

Let me tell you friendly in your ear, Sell when you can, you're not roll Marcus.

Athene Seyler12:14

Cry the man mercy, love him, take his offer Foul is most foul, being foul to be a scoffer So take her to thee, shepherd fare you well.

Presenter12:28

It's lovely. Do you remember it all?

Presenter12:30

Mm, the whole part.

Athene Seyler12:32

No, I don't think so, dear. I haven't tried to remember any more.

Presenter12:36

But quite a good whack, I can hear. Let's have another record, then. What's your next one?

Athene Seyler12:42

Uh yes. Uh the next one is from the first war, I think.

Athene Seyler12:46

It's a soldier's song they used to sing.

Speaker 212:50

And drop your troubles in your own hit bag and smile, smile, smile.

Speaker 212:59

While you were Lucifer to light your face

Speaker 113:01

Uh

Speaker 213:03

Smile, boys, that's the style.

Speaker 213:07

What's the use of worrying? It never was worthwhile. So, make up your troubles in your own way. Tip bag and smart

Presenter13:21

Yeah.

Speaker 213:21

Uh

Presenter13:21

Yeah.

Speaker 113:21

Uh

Speaker 213:21

Farms Farm

Presenter13:23

That was Pack Up Your Troubles from the original cast recording of Oh, What a Lovely War under the direction of Joan Littlewood.

Presenter13:31

What were the theatres like in those days, Athene? Were they all red plush and gilt?

Athene Seyler13:37

Oh, of course I can remember the St. James's Theatre, which has gone now.

Athene Seyler13:44

that when you looked into the auditorium the stalls were just a s a sea of white, because everybody came dressed in in evening dress you see in these were white shirt fronts.

Athene Seyler14:00

And that real yellow tower.

Presenter14:02

Wonderful the audience then. You've played, of course, in all the best West End theatres in your time. They're they're very spooky places when the audiences have gone, aren't they? Oh, yes. Have you ever seen a theatre go?

Athene Seyler14:15

Yes, I saw a ghost, of course, at the old royalty theatre, which is now pulled down.

Athene Seyler14:23

And, um, it was in Frith Street in Soho, a very shabby quarter of the town.

Athene Seyler14:31

And um the stage door.

Athene Seyler14:35

went back into slums, and so we always used to go out through the front of the house, and the Commissioner would just keep it open for us to go out. And one night when I was going through the empty auditorium, I saw an old lady sitting in the stalls, and I thought, Well, how perfectly awful, poor old girl She's got left behind And as I went out I said to the Commissioner, You know the audience hasn't really gone. There's an old lady sitting in the stalls. He said Oh, no, Miss Sarah, you've seen the ghost.

Athene Seyler15:14

She's often there.

Athene Seyler15:16

But there are very few people see her.

Athene Seyler15:19

So I saw the ghost of the Rante theater.

Athene Seyler15:23

Extraordinary spooky spooky, said Gob Gum.

Presenter15:30

Let's have another record.

Athene Seyler15:32

Well, what shall we have now?

Athene Seyler15:35

Sally, Sally, Queen of All Alley.

Athene Seyler15:42

Well are you singing today?

Athene Seyler15:46

And what mountain, hill, or valley?

Athene Seyler15:51

He's ringing with your voice so lovely to day. I make it up, you know.

Presenter16:00

It's very good. I take it we're gonna have Gracie Field singing Sally.

Athene Seyler16:07

Uh

Athene Seyler16:10

Yeah.

Speaker 216:11

Never one.

Speaker 216:13

Uh

Speaker 216:25

Marry me, Sally.

Speaker 216:28

Happy forever I will be.

Athene Seyler16:33

Sally, Sally, oh dear, how driftle. Oh, didn't you like?

Presenter16:41

Oh you're going to change your mind about taking it.

Athene Seyler16:43

No, I'll take it. Of course I can I can get rather superior when I turn it on field.

Presenter16:53

That was Gracie Fields' version of Sally.

Athene Seyler16:56

The end

Presenter16:57

Now, Athene, tell me about your leading men.

Presenter17:00

Your favorite um leading man was a gentleman called Nicholas Hannan, wasn't it?

Athene Seyler17:07

That was my favourite.

Athene Seyler17:09

Hmm.

Athene Seyler17:11

I said to him, they said he was so charming. I said, Oh, I I think I see your charm quite impersonally, of course. Oh, why not personally? he said, as he ran past me.

Athene Seyler17:25

And that was the beginning of our friendship.

Athene Seyler17:28

which became map

Presenter17:29

Marriage

Athene Seyler17:29

Yeah.

Presenter17:29

And you were married for fifty years?

Athene Seyler17:33

We were called the devoted couple, we were held up as an example to everybody.

Presenter17:41

You must miss him very much. Oh, frightfully.

Athene Seyler17:44

Mm.

Presenter17:44

Yeah.

Athene Seyler17:44

I never get used to being blue now.

Athene Seyler17:48

However, I've had sixteen years to do it in, so I ought to be able to by now what I Well, it's very difficult business, isn't it? Yes, it is. Yes, I expect other people know as well as I.

Athene Seyler18:03

Yes.

Presenter18:04

What about your leading ladies? Because you acted with Sybil Thorndyke and Edith Evans, didn't you? Did you like all of them?

Athene Seyler18:11

Well, I do, Sibyl Thorndyke, she always lived a few yards away from us.

Athene Seyler18:19

They seemed to have always their flat was just up the road.

Athene Seyler18:24

And um

Athene Seyler18:26

Uh also they had a cottage at Dimchurch where my first husband's family had a house.

Athene Seyler18:33

And there is some of them there.

Athene Seyler18:36

Yes, Siborg was my great friend.

Presenter18:40

But uh you you had a bit of a brush once, didn't you, with with misses Patrick Campbell?

Athene Seyler18:45

Oh yes, she was a nasty woman, I think.

Athene Seyler18:48

She was very unkind.

Athene Seyler18:51

Um, she had a scene with me in a play in which Similarly had to come over to me and say,

Athene Seyler18:58

But you come to dinner on Tuesday, or words to that effect.

Athene Seyler19:02

And um

Athene Seyler19:04

She came across the stage with a crowd of adoring men behind her.

Athene Seyler19:11

and stopped and pointed to me, and said to them, Oh, look, isn't she beautiful? Oh, look at her lovely profile Well, of course I wasn't beautiful, and the audience laughed.

Athene Seyler19:27

And I'm instead of sit at this.

Athene Seyler19:30

However.

Athene Seyler19:31

Uh next night?

Athene Seyler19:34

She did exactly the same thing, and again I was very upset and and the audience laughed when she said that she built

Athene Seyler19:45

So the third night I thought, She can't surely do this again but of course she did, pointed to me and said, Oh, isn't she beautiful? So I made the ugliest face that I could think of and got the laugh myself. And she never did it again.

Presenter20:06

Okay.

Presenter20:07

Very good. Right, let's have your fifth record, I think it is.

Athene Seyler20:12

Morning has broken, yes, uh that's a hymn, you know. I have been really rather naughty in church, singing in all our pews in the front row, and uh singing Morning Has Broken, pick up the pieces, stick them together all the day long of course, not the right words at all. And the choir could hear me and began to giggle.

Speaker 120:47

Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird.

Presenter20:47

Ming at

Speaker 121:00

Prayed for the sin, prayed for the morning.

Speaker 121:07

Place for them spring fresh from the wood.

Presenter21:15

Morning has broken by the choir of St. Philip's Church, Norbury. Athene, have you ever corpsed on the stage?

Athene Seyler21:23

On the auto occasion. on which I had a scene with an old gentleman whose name I think was Eric Lewis he's gone now and he sat the other side of the stage and um I had a little scene of him and I noticed the audience giggling and talking to each other.

Athene Seyler21:45

and their programmes and I couldn't think what was the matter. And it was a war play, and Berry Rick Lewis, on the other side of the stage,

Athene Seyler21:57

I was in uniform.

Athene Seyler22:00

And um he was had to see uh had to say to me, What do you think of my uh uniforms, Nick Lovely? and turned to me, and his fly buttons had come undone, and his shirt was hanging out, and the audience were roaring with laughter. And I didn't know what to do, because he was the other side of the stage, had no idea, of course, what had happened. And then somebody entered the scene.

Athene Seyler22:31

and looked over and of course looked with horror at him. And um I could remember that somebody else was coming on and I knew this was more than the audience would be able to bear. They shouted laughter. So I got up and went over to him and took him by the arm and walked him up to the back of the stage, making up some dialogue about what we were to look at out of the window and said under my breath, You fly patrol

Athene Seyler23:06

That's the most embarrassing time I've ever had on the street.

Presenter23:10

But the audience must have known what you were up to.

Athene Seyler23:12

Oh, yes, I think so. And they thoroughly enjoyed it.

Presenter23:14

Yeah.

Presenter23:18

Did you go on performing and and amusing people all through the war as well?

Athene Seyler23:23

Yes, I played all through the war, I think. I remember one occasion when I was playing at the Savroyat Theatre.

Athene Seyler23:32

Only air raise warning.

Athene Seyler23:35

went off and a bomb was dropped.

Athene Seyler23:39

In the river just at the

Athene Seyler23:42

Well, down the road from where we were playing, and of course I stopped.

Athene Seyler23:49

With fright, of course. And there was dead silence after that. And then a voice in the gallery said.

Athene Seyler23:58

Carry on, we're all right.

Athene Seyler24:02

Which I think was so brave and wonderful wasn't it.

Presenter24:05

One

Athene Seyler24:05

Ha ha ha ha ha.

Presenter24:06

Let's hear your sixth record.

Athene Seyler24:10

Oh, I think it's Pop Girls the Wheasles, isn't it?

Presenter24:14

And why do you want that?

Athene Seyler24:15

Well

Athene Seyler24:16

It's typically London.

Athene Seyler24:50

Nothing.

Presenter24:51

Pop Goes the Weasel, arranged by Roger Webb.

Presenter24:54

Athene, as a famous actress, have you always led a very glamorous life?

Athene Seyler25:00

I've never led a very glamorous life at all.

Athene Seyler25:05

Um I know that most actors and actresses both go to the Savoy for supper after the show.

Athene Seyler25:13

Actually, my husband and I used to go back and join Sibyl and Louis Cassen for Coco and Marmadays.

Athene Seyler25:25

Marmalade and bread and butter and cocoa.

Speaker 125:25

Well

Athene Seyler25:30

So, um

Athene Seyler25:31

I wouldn't call myself tall land, the sector.

Presenter25:35

Uh

Athene Seyler25:35

Yeah.

Presenter25:35

Uh

Athene Seyler25:35

Yeah.

Presenter25:35

Would you love to be starting all over again in the theatre?

Athene Seyler25:39

No, I don't think I want to start again, thank you.

Athene Seyler25:44

Um

Athene Seyler25:45

I am very much happier.

Athene Seyler25:48

uh selecting what I remember of my career than really doing it.

Presenter25:54

Okay.

Presenter25:56

Alright, let's pause and have another record now.

Athene Seyler25:59

Yes, well, it reminds me of a very grand dinner party I gave once.

Athene Seyler26:05

And um

Athene Seyler26:07

There was the the Paul Robesons.

Athene Seyler26:11

Uh what's his wife's name? Esse, I think, or Esse.

Athene Seyler26:16

They were very late, and we finally had to sit down to dinner without them.

Athene Seyler26:22

And uh we g uh my poor cook got very confused because uh at one point when I looked at my table, everybody was eating a different course.

Athene Seyler26:37

However, we went upstairs after dinner and Paul Robeson sang Old Man River to us leaning on the on the uh mantelpiece, and that was some

Athene Seyler26:53

Something I've never forgotten it was so beautiful.

Speaker 227:01

Man River, that old man river, he must know something, but don't say nothing, he just keeps falling.

Presenter27:27

Old Man River sung by Paul Robeson.

Presenter27:31

Athene, you're you're ninety nine years old, as everybody keeps reminding you. Do you do you feel as if it's a great privilege to have lived so long?

Athene Seyler27:41

Oh, it's a great challenge, isn't it?

Athene Seyler27:45

Uh, if one hasn't bored everybody to death and disappointed one's uh dear friends and family.

Athene Seyler27:56

One must be very grateful.

Athene Seyler27:59

Well

Athene Seyler28:00

I don't think I want to do it again, you know.

Presenter28:05

Is it true that your your memory is sharper about your childhood and your early days than it is about what you did yesterday?

Athene Seyler28:13

No, I don't think that's true quite

Athene Seyler28:16

I don't know. I do remember very well my

Athene Seyler28:20

A childhood?

Athene Seyler28:22

A priest.

Athene Seyler28:23

I suppose I only remember what I want to remember you oh

Presenter28:28

Why not? And have you looked after yourself very well? Have you had lots of holidays?

Athene Seyler28:33

No, I've never had I've only had three holidays in my life. Um uh w one was um

Athene Seyler28:43

Rowing down the Thames with my dear husband, who is a boating man.

Athene Seyler28:51

and the other was a walking holiday in the Cottsworth and the third was a Course Venice, which I had to see before I died.

Athene Seyler29:05

And that was lovely.

Presenter29:06

That's not many holidays in ninety-nine years, isn't it?

Athene Seyler29:09

No, it doesn't matter.

Presenter29:10

Holidays?

Athene Seyler29:11

Yeah.

Presenter29:11

Yeah. But still

Athene Seyler29:12

My work was usually a holiday for me, I enjoyed it so much.

Athene Seyler29:18

Uh

Presenter29:18

So you've you've worked hard, but you've had a smashing time. Oh, yeah.

Athene Seyler29:22

This has

Presenter29:23

I don't smash it.

Athene Seyler29:23

Okay.

Presenter29:23

Yeah.

Athene Seyler29:23

Uh

Presenter29:25

Let's hear your eighth record now then.

Athene Seyler29:30

Well, it's a a a little shop on our walls.

Athene Seyler29:34

Um I don't think I'll try singing it to you, because you wouldn't recognize it, but that's what I should like to take with me.

Presenter30:44

Chopin's waltz in C-sharp minor, opus sixty-four number two, played by Vladimir Ashkenazi.

Presenter30:52

Now then, Athene, um which one of those eight records do you like better than any of the others? Which is the special one for you?

Athene Seyler31:00

Well, I think it's the song Do Bespa and Approve.

Athene Seyler31:06

So Holtzo something, so Rahin, that's my German accent.

Presenter31:12

Too pure.

Presenter31:13

That's that's the one that reminds you of your mother.

Athene Seyler31:15

Yes, if

Presenter31:17

Right. Now what about a book? Because you've got the complete works of Shakespeare, much of which you know.

Athene Seyler31:22

Sure.

Presenter31:23

And you've got the Bible.

Athene Seyler31:25

Give

Presenter31:25

Now you can take another voice.

Athene Seyler31:26

Well then I'll take my grandson's book.

Athene Seyler31:30

Called The Disinherited, which is a story of the Welsh Drovers, Gareth Jones is my grandson.

Presenter31:39

And you'd like to take his book. And your luxury. What would you like as a luxury to to have with you?

Athene Seyler31:45

One luxury.

Athene Seyler31:48

To last forever, I can't imagine what

Athene Seyler31:52

I'd like a nice bottle of champagne, but that wouldn't last me too long.

Presenter31:56

What is? Well, I'll give you more than one bo you can have a you can have a case, if you like. Oh, yes, I'll have a case. You could have a magnum. You could have a Jeroboam.

Athene Seyler32:03

You could have a

Presenter32:04

Well you could have a Jeroboam of sham.

Athene Seyler32:07

Oh, all right, I will.

Presenter32:10

I'll tell you what, you can have a case and a Jeroboam. That's right.

Athene Seyler32:13

Yes, that's right.

Presenter32:15

Lovely. Athene Sila, thank you very much indeed for letting us hear your desertime in this.

Athene Seyler32:19

So thank you for having me.

Speaker 132:31

You've been listening to a podcast from the Desert Islandists Archive. For more podcasts, please visit bbc.co.uk/slash radio four.