Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Comedian and entertainer who, as the lead half of a celebrated double act, gained fame with shows like Shooting Stars, also a singer and artist.
On the island
Eight records
I was on holiday at Butlin's in Bridlington, or Thiley I think, um with my parents and they used to have a tannoy which played music which was played by the the um camp DJ and I just fell in love with it there and then.
The Lark AscendingFavourite
Michael Davis, London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Bryden Thomson
When I was at school I'd never got taught any classical music at all. So when I discovered libraries lent out records for ten P or something, that five P whatever it was, so I went through them all and uh decided what I liked. And this is was my favourite then and it always has been my favourite
My um father was a big fan of Ella and we used to have a lot of that on in in the house and I still love it.
I don't know what I can say about this but I loved them when I first heard them and I like very complicated and peculiar music.
Bob and I have got a party piece which we do, which is um we both love free and Bob and I play the bass solo together with our mouths.
I believe that there this is quite a manly piece of music, I think this, and because I've never I've I know men who like this music, I d I've never met any women, and I think it's because men have a particular love of the sound of a internal combustion engine.
When we f we were very first started in a a little pub in Deptford, which was called Winston's Bar, one of the first people ever to come and see me was Glenn Tilbrook, who was the singer in Squeeze. And uh he was very helpful by being so thrilled and excited that uh that I was on stage.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:23In other words, you just don't have to mind making a fool of yourself, is that it?
I don't mind if I make a fool of myself nobody in this profession should do, because that's the whole idea of it really at the end of the day, I think.
Presenter asks
6:41How did you know you could do that [get on stage and perform]?
The reason I got up there was because I didn't know how to book anyone, so I thought I'd do it myself and take their wages. … I prepared it, yeah, I thought it com through completely, but you know, it was basically all based around what I'd been doing at art school. And I didn't really mind if it failed, there was nothing there wasn't anything to lose.
Presenter asks
8:46Is [Vic Reeves] a kind of persona that you hide behind?
Well, the or uh the original idea for him was that he was a big overblown bluff kind of thought he was the best light entertainer in Britain and uh was uh you know b basically just a a a holiday camp performer.
The keepsakes
The book
Jerome K. Jerome
It's the only book that I've actually ever laughed out loud at.
The luxury
Which I will cast away willy-nilly and uh eventually it'll turn into potatoes because I love ... I will eat them.
Presenter asks
What kind of upbringing did you have?
It was um A lot of walking, endless walks, endless visits to castles and historic spots, beauty spots. I used to follow my mother around the kitchen, getting on on her nerves a lot, finding out how to bake and cut and cook.
Presenter asks
29:23How would it be for you without an audience? Could you survive?
Yeah, I'm quite happy with myself as an audience. I am. … Something like that. I'll split the walnut in two and have two people in the audience.
“we were probably the only people on television or on on stage doing comedy who weren't filled with fury and vitriol. … we just wanted to fall over and then you know you know there's you still can't beat your trousers falling down.”
“I remember thinking, When I'm forty I'm going to still be doing this, but I'll be able to get away with it.”
“I'm not a big fan of the Lyman. I'd rather you know, if it's good and it's funny, I'd I'll be the Bill Wyman, I'll sit stand right at the back. If somebody's got a good gag, which I may have written, then let'em have it.'Cause it's the it's the humour and the laughter that is it's not about wanting to be the best.”