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Castaway
1 appearance
Actor known for playing Petruccio in The Taming of the Shrew with the Open Air Shakespeare Company and performing at the National Theatre.
On the island
Eight records
Reason verbatim from transcript includes ASR error 'Sidney Bescher'.
Sanctus (from Fauré Requiem)Favourite
Choir of King's College, Cambridge, conducted by David Willcocks
Reason verbatim from transcript.
Reason verbatim from transcript includes ASR errors 'Singing in the Rain' and 'Jean Kelly'.
Violin Concerto in D minor, Op. 47
No reason given in transcript.
I Got Rhythm (from An American in Paris)
Gene Kelly and Georges Guétary
Reason verbatim from transcript includes ASR errors 'Jean Kelly' and 'Georges Guetterer'.
Concertgebouw Orchestra, conducted by Colin Davis
Reason verbatim from transcript.
French National Radio Orchestra, conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham
Reason verbatim from transcript.
In conversation
Presenter asks
6:14Was there any one performer who influenced you, who made you think that's what I want to do?
Yes, I suppose there was. Yes, I think it must have been Paul Schofield. Who had a great influence on my life? I thought he was, and indeed is a magnificent actor. And I saw him playing Alexander the Great, and I think that's when I was absolutely hooked. … I was also um Chosen to play a girl in the school play about Rossman's Universal Robots, I think it was called, by Carol Caper. And I really was then absolutely hooked and wanted to get out of school as quickly as possible.
Presenter asks
7:51What did you do in national service?
I started off an air crew and failed pathetically because my maths was appalling. therefore was sent to um a camp called Boscombe Town. Where, like a lot of other people who were thrown off the course, there was very little to do. The raft was overcrowded. And uh So I um decided to form a dramatic society at Oscar, which indeed I did. And um Had marvellous fun for the next 18 months. Good. That's really all I did, was to run the the the the theatre. Yes. Did everything, directed it, played the leading parts, wrote the music, I mean built the sets.
Presenter asks
13:12What was your first West End appearance?
Uh Dead Secret with my hero Paul Schofield. Oh yes. I just played a very small part, like, uh Alouse the cars at the door, or something like that. I didn't say much.
The keepsakes
The book
Charles Dickens
Yes and no, because A it of course it changed my life, but B um I do think it's the most wonderful book ... One can keep referring to a book which is so rich in describing characters ... I would want to go on reading his description of Christmas forever. I mean, it's so wonderful.
The luxury
I think I've got to take a crate of champagne. ... I'd love the champagne and B, you see there most champagnes are covered in paper, so I've got some paper to light this fire, which I'm sure I wouldn't be able to without paper. ... I've also got the wood from the case so I can have some fantastic fires. And also being extremely drunk by them.
Presenter asks
13:32Which have been the most important engagements to you?
Well, I suppose the turning point really when people thought I was, you know, a serious actor as opposed to an idiot or a clown was the philanthropist. Ah, yes, Christopher Hampton. And then um London Assurance. Well, I suppose the most important play I I I did It was alphabetical order by Michael Frayne.
Presenter asks
14:13Was it daunting to succeed Ray Flynn in Plunder?
Very daunting indeed. In fact, I refused to luckily or I only luckily because um I'm an actor, I didn't see him, and I'm glad I didn't. If you see what I mean, there of course I might have tried to imitate it, and I have not tried to do that at all. And luckily it came off, um You know. Well, you you. We're back doing it again now after the second time. And I gather that the the author who happily is still with us, Ben Travers, is delighted with what you do with Darcy Tuck. Well, so he tells me, yes. I mean, there's a remarkable, wonderful man. What is he now, ninety two? Ninety-two, yes. Great. And still loves women, cricket, and theatre in that order.
Presenter asks
27:15Is Great Expectations chosen out of sentiment?
Yes and no, because A it of course it changed my life, but B um I do think it's the most wonderful book and I again I've thought about this a lot. One can keep referring to a book which is so rich in in in describing characters and you can read passages like for example I I could imagine I would want to go on reading uh his description of Christmas forever. I mean, it's so wonderful. It is a wonderful book.
“I thought he was, and indeed is a magnificent actor. And I saw him playing Alexander the Great, and I think that's when I was absolutely hooked.”
“I started off an air crew and failed pathetically because my maths was appalling.”
“Not in Desdemona's chamber, you idiot!”
“Yes and no, because A it of course it changed my life, but B um I do think it's the most wonderful book and I again I've thought about this a lot. One can keep referring to a book which is so rich in in in describing characters and you can read passages like for example I I could imagine I would want to go on reading uh his description of Christmas forever. I mean, it's so wonderful. It is a wonderful book.”