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Paul Abbott

Kirsty Young's castaway is writer Paul Abbott.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the screen writer Paul Abbott. He has written some of the most controversial and successful television programmes of the past decade. Shameless, Clocking Off and State of Play all flowed from his pen and have won him bags of awards.

But he was driven to write as a response to the chaotic and traumatic childhood he'd suffered. One of eight children, both parents had left the family home by the time he was 11, leaving his older sister to bring them up. They had a near-feral existence, and lived, says Paul, like rats. At 15 he attempted suicide and ended up in a psychiatric ward. After that, without wanting to or really being aware it was happening, he wrote as a way of letting out the rage he felt inside him.

He was quickly able to turn this writing into short stories, radio plays and film scripts and to sell them. Now he is credited with making television the 'new National Theatre'. But it's not his greatest achievement - he is proudest of his successful marriage to Saskia, his wife of eighteen years, and of their two children.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Town Called Malice by The Jam
Book: Complete Works by Arthur Miller
Luxury: Writing pad and pencils.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 16 Feb 2007 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM

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Grayson Perry

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Music Played

  • The Beach Boys

    Good Vibrations

    • The Beach Boys.
    • Capitol.

  • Bobbie Gentry

    Ode to Billie Joe

    • Country Stars: Original artists.
    • EMI.

  • Arthur Conley

    Sweet Soul Music

    • Atlantic Gold - 75 Soul Classics.
    • Warner.

  • John Lennon

    Imagine

    • Now 45.
    • NOW.

  • T. Rex

    Children of the Revolution

    • History of T Rex: The Singles Collection 1968-1977.
    • Marc on Wax.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • The Jam

      Town Called Malice

      • Compact Snap.
      • Polydor.

  • Tom Abbott with his band

    Video Lullaby – Private tape

  • Roberta Flack

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

    • The Best of Roberta Flack.
    • Atlantic.

  • Book Choice

    • Complete Works - Arthur Miller

  • Luxury Choice

    • Writing pad and pencils

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Paul Abbott

Broadcasts

  • Sun 11 Feb 2007 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 16 Feb 2007 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM

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