Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A well-known broadcaster on radio and television, a compere, chairman, and presenter of disc shows.
On the island
Eight records
my introduction to big band sounds … probably my all-time favourite Duke Ellington number
I've been devoted to her for years … I always hoped that she was singing to me
Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra (conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini)
it proves that I'm an incurable romantic
if there are any chaps on this island, I could just put on this record, which I absolutely love, and they might go berserk with pleasure and create me their king immediately
God Be in My HeadFavourite
there's one prayer which has been set to music, most beautifully, by Walther Davis, which I absolutely adore
it seemed to sum up New York for me. It made it the most romantic city in the world
just a piece of piano music by just one of the most marvellous pianists in the world
I've used as the closing music to my programmes … I don't think I could go anywhere without that
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:41David, could you endure loneliness over a long time?
I don't really think I could, quickly thinking about it, because I like to talk to people. I'm known for chatting up people all the time, so I don't think I could. I'd have to learn to.
Presenter asks
3:27What was it your ambition to be as a boy?
Well, first off, I wanted to be a farmer. That didn't work out and I wanted to be a professional ice skater. I did become a bit of a professional ice skater. Then I really wanted to be a famous something or other. I wasn't quite sure what. I think an actor or something.
Presenter asks
3:45What did you in fact do when you left school?
Well, when I left school, I did a series of jobs. I worked in an outfitter shop, as a groom in a riding stable. I worked on a farm. And I worked for a tobacco company to learn the tobacco industry.
Presenter asks
11:58Do you find this satisfying, David? Have you any other ambitions outside this field?
The keepsakes
The book
I saw it on one of my daughter's bookshelves the other day. I thought, you know, I know what boys can do. Uh it might be a help.
Oh, I've got lots of ambitions, but I'm very satisfied by it because I often feel a little like a… Presenter of shows, producer of shows. Each program that I present. I work out very carefully if I'm asked to provide a half hour's entertainment for people using grammar phone records. Then I shall make absolutely sure that to the best of my ability I will do it from the second it starts to the second it finishes. These ambitions you were talking about. Well, once an actor, always an actor, you know, I'm still longing for the day when somebody will say, God, that's just the chap we want. Why don't we use him in some super play or film?
Presenter asks
18:37We've heard your eight records, David. If you would only take one, which would it be?
I think uh God be in my head.
“I don't really think I could, quickly thinking about it, because I like to talk to people. I'm known for chatting up people all the time, so I don't think I could. I'd have to learn to.”
“I always hoped that she was singing to me.”
“I did the first act very well. Very well indeed. But the second act, I went completely to PCs and skipped most of it and went straight into the third. Pity, because there's some good stuff in the second act.”
“I once had some marvellous cupboards fitted in a dressing-room at home. And I thought, no, I've just got to get a mirror inside one of these cupboards, and I put it up. And it was a great sort of joy to me. I did it magnificently and I stood back, admired my work, and it was perfect. It was absolutely square and right. I shut the door. and the screw points were sticking out the other side.”