Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Comedian best known for creating the drag character Lily Savage and later starring in a BBC sitcom as a bingo caller.
On the island
Eight records
I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen
Because that reminds me of my childhood. My dad was Irish and he loved all the old Irish songs and this. If there was a family get together, somebody invariably got up and sang, I'll take you home again, Kathleen, and everybody'd sob into the whisky.
Linda Hart, Anna McNeely and Christine Ebersole
We didn't have burlesque in this country, we had variety in musical, but the Americans had burlesque with baudy, brash, comedians, strippers. It must have been wonderful. In fact, if I could go back in time, I'd I'd be a burlesque stripper. And this to me sums up the whole thing, you gotta get a gimmick.
I was living in McCarty at the time in Manila, and there was a fabulous bar called Gussie's, The Dutch Inn, just great atmosphere, and there was a little three-piece band in the corner... towards the end of the night, he used to play this haunting tune. And years later, I was watching a film called Miss Sadie Thompson with Rita Hayworth, and she sang this song.
Méditation from ThaïsFavourite
Philippe Graffin, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yehudi Menuhin
It's got no real meaning for me. It's just a piece of music that I've always loved. It's always been there. And ever it came on the radio, my mother used to do this dreadful tuneless whistle so she could [whistle] over it in the kitchen.
one of the great greatest singers, Nina Simone. Singing one of my favourite songs, I'll put a spell on you, and she genuinely sounds like she would. She sounds like a sorceress going round her dungeon, throwing herbs in a pot.
This is my party piece actually. This is what I get up and do when I've had a few scoops. I've sung this all over the world.
I was lying in hospital when I was eleven at my appendix house and I heard this woman's voice. And I'm not exaggerating when I say I love her. I do love her. I think she's a great star... And it reminds me of the spring.
I've adored the tango. I used to go to a dance school in Liverpool called Vernon Johnson with my friend Angela Walsh, who's the actress, and we learned to tango.
In conversation
Presenter asks
2:46Did your mother ever see you [as Lily Savage]?
No, she died... before Lily read her ugly hair.
Presenter asks
3:05How do we explain that this Liverpool slag who turns tricks is suddenly on mainstream television?
No, God knows, I don't know what it was.
Presenter asks
14:06What kind of work did you do [as a peripatetic care officer in Camden]?
I was a peripatetic care officer, which is a fancy title for a basically a skivvy. Say a mum went into hospital and there were five children. Rather than split the kids up and put them into various homes and stuff, I'd go in and look after them as a as a as keep them as a family unit.
Presenter asks
15:43How do you explain to your daughter your dad's Lily Savage?
How do you explain to your daughter your dad's Lily Savage? You know, I mean, how do you do it? But she adapted. Not she's unfazable, my daughter, and I I'm really proud to say now that yes, I do, I love her dearly.
The keepsakes
The book
Mary Norton
which I was first given when I was five by my auntie. And just fell in love with it, and still read it now. Read it about once a month.
The luxury
it's by Avon, it's called Skinso Soft, and it's the most effective mosquito spray I have ever, ever used. I've been in jungles in Malaysia, nothing's bitten me because of this stuff. It's wonderful.
Presenter asks
16:37At what point did you decide you were gay and only fancy men?
You're too much asshole, women. I'm sorry, you're far too much hassle. Men are a lot less hassle. So I thought I'd ship onto the lavender bus, leave the women alone.
Presenter asks
26:04Why is [not having debt] so important to you?
I think the wolf's never far from the door with me. And because we knew what poverty was when I was a kid, it's always there, you know, and I've got great respect for money... once you've been used to the high life, you can't go back. So I've I take care of myself and look to the future.
“The wig goes on, you've got Lily, the wig comes off, you've got me.”
“I was the last kick of a dying horse. I was the result of a liaison in a bed and breakfast in the Isle of Man.”
“Somebody says to me, What are you? A good old-fashioned drag queen, proud of it.”
“I do like privacy, yeah. I've got to be honest yeah, I do. I really do. I like to be a private person. So I I don't want to share my life.”