Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Comedian, actress, and writer, best known for her double act, sitcom roles, and sketch shows.
On the island
Eight records
The keepsakes
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:43Is it a constant pressure that everyone wants you to be funny for them?
I guess it is, but on the other hand, it's the best fun you can have with your clothes on, and actually even with your clothes off, laughing, isn't it? And it's the glue that has bound my family, certainly the family I grew up in, and the family I've raised.
Presenter asks
4:25Do you find it easier to write prose than you did to write comedy?
Yes, it was a struggle in as much as I'm easily distracted. If I'm writing with Jennifer, there's a lot of fun to be had. And it's a different kind of writing. And it's improvising and stomping about a lot. If I'm writing a book, it's me alone in a room with a desk and a dog. And who knew that I was going to find it such a joy? It's like having a new lover. I can't believe I've waited this long. … I have not yet progressed to a computer. I write everything longhand. … I like the paper. I like a pencil and with a rubber on top of it. I like the smell of the pencil. I do have an electric pencil sharpener. Don't go thinking that I'm not in this century, please.
Presenter asks
8:18What do you remember about meeting the Queen Mother?
Although that wasn't in Anglesey, actually, that was another posting in Leconfield, RAF Leconfield in Yorkshire. … We were chosen, I think, as a kind of safe option, a nice ordinary family, because when the royals visit any kind of military base, of course, they go and see the officers. And we were the oiks down the other end. My mum cleaned our house for about six weeks. We had new shoes, little tartan skirt, we did curtseying practice, we bought new china, and for some reason I absolutely expected A for her to arrive on a unicorn and B wearing a crown please. … So I was very disappointed, and then as she approached, no word of a lie, she smiled, and she had black teeth. Now when you're four, people with black teeth are evil, witches or something. Uh so, you know, no unicorn, no crown, black teeth, please leave now. So I was terrified, didn't want her in our house, was hiding behind my dad's legs. … I just was completely silent. But I was dumbstruck.
The book
Spike Milligan
because it's absolutely hilarious. And this book was read to me by my first boyfriend, and it is ludicrous and funny and the genius of Spike Milligan just rings through it.
The luxury
I've decided that I will take my daughter's teddy who is called Nobby. I will take that Teddy because she won't be happy about it, but it smells of her and I think it would be a really great pillow.
Presenter asks
11:05When you were at school, did you feel like one of them, or never quite?
Never quite. Most of the girls that were there were mun from moneyed families. So if I went to their homes they had beige carpet, that was something I'd never seen, and sinks in the corner of their bedrooms. I'd never seen the like ever. Giddying. Giddying. And they had ponies with hair.
Presenter asks
16:45What do you remember about the first few days when you arrived at the Central School of Speech and Drama?
Well, my dad had just died, sadly committed suicide, um, about two weeks, I think, before I arrived at the college, and I was late for the start of term. And I was full of grief, obviously, but trying to cover that up, my mother had insisted that I go to college as planned and n that I didn't stay at home. … Well, I think initially uh there was anger, obviously. Well there was huge sadness and anger. I don't have that anger anymore at all, because I now understand more of the kind of altered state he would be in with such massive depressions that he'd lived with ever since he was a young man. I did not know until much later that he his first attempt on his life was when he was sixteen.
Presenter asks
26:39How did you accomplish that [ending the marriage with kindness]?
Um kindness. That's all I can say. We knew that the marriage was untenable and we were sad about that. And so we hunkered down. And we went home to Cornwall and we walked on a beach and we drank a lot and we talked a lot. We laughed a lot, oddly. So those last few months of our relationship we were pretty much like the first few months. We were good friends who decided to take a care about how we did this. Plus, we have a daughter who we both love very much, so we wanted this next chapter to be grown up. … And I knew within six months of the the final kind of separation that I was much lighter as a result of it and I kind of started to claim my life back. … And then I had a glorious day when I was walking my dog … And actually, I don't need a bloke. I don't need a bloke to be happy. I don't need to vicariously live through anybody else to feel strong and to feel any kind of proper joy, I feel joyful now. And I knew it, and it was like a big epiphany for me. And of course then, bang! I met somebody else. But I honestly don't believe that I would have been in the right frame of mind to meet him if I hadn't gone through that process.
“it's the best fun you can have with your clothes on, and actually even with your clothes off, laughing, isn't it?”
“I'll blow myself up if it will make her laugh.”
“no unicorn, no crown, black teeth, please leave now.”
“I was riding the horse upside down.”
“I don't need a bloke to be happy.”
“I am connected to that kid in the most constant and solid way, and I thank God for that because it's a massive, profound blessing in my life.”