Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
A comedian best known as a member of The Goon Show, the classic anarchic radio comedy, later knighted for services to entertainment.
On the island
Eight records
it epitomizes old Sellers. It it starts off nice and sweetly and then turns rather nasty at the very funny.
I appreciate his singing because he's the perfect Belcanto.
How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds
my mum had a lovely contralto voice, and I was one of her favourite hymns, and one one of mine was. How sweet the name of Jesus sounds
It's a it's an example to me of how to sing a ballad properly. And and of course the words are so good, and when you get the words and music coming together so beautifully, it's it's uh It's a rare thing.
Richard Tucker and Robert Merrill
This is a great piece of music. I I've done it myself a few times, but this is beautiful.
A bloke is a mate of mine and a lovely singer... Beautiful voice, a real Welsh tenor, lyric tenor.
A lovely old friend of mine, Kiri Te Kanawa.
Fantasia on GreensleevesFavourite
Whenever I go abroad, especially on my own, I like to play green sleeves. It it reminds me of of the view from my window at home.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:57Why were those [Goon Show] days the happiest? Was it just that they were so successful or was it something more than that?
They were fun to do. I mean, w we all pursued our individual careers all through the the gloom show. But we got together on a Sunday. We were like kids be let out of school. It was fantastic, all these things we could do.
Presenter asks
5:56When and how did you discover that you had [a wonderful voice]?
As a lad, I was in a choir, you know, from the age of seven. So all my life, really, I've been interested in music.
Presenter asks
7:29Did you ever think [you would] rather like to be a serious singer?
At one time, yes, I I I I fancied myself as a bit of an but and I always wanted to sing the big roles... and he saved my voice, actually, because I would have lost it without any diversity.
Presenter asks
The keepsakes
The book
Charles Dickens
I'd like to take Pickwick's papers, because I've done it I've done play the part long enough, and singing top C's, going puce in the process, but great fun.
The luxury
I'd like to take a guitar. I can't play an instrument, you see. And I can't sing, you know, sing to myself. So I'd like to learn to play the guitar so I can accompany myself as I wander around.
Did you ever feel real fear [during the war]?
Most of the time, yes... Once they start firing back at you, it's a different matter altogether... from then on your attitude changes. It's a personal thing. Funny though. You grow up a bit quickly.
Presenter asks
27:52Were the two things linked in some way [your illness and presenting religious programmes like Highway]?
It can sort of stop you in your tracks. Having, as I say, felt the brush of the angel's wing. You do reassess your life, I think. You you look back and say, Well, you know, don't be such a twit. Think of uh your family and your responsibilities.
“We rode on the thermal currents of old Milligan Milligan's imagination.”
“I realized if I took my glasses off and I couldn't see the audience [I could perform].”
“It's a long way from gooning to the godspot.”