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Bill Bailey

Kirsty Young's castaway is comedian and musician Bill Bailey.

Kirsty's castaway this week is the comedian and actor, Bill Bailey. Lauded for his hugely inventive stand up, he has carved out a highly successful career with an altogether atypical approach. He's a familiar face on television from his regular appearances on quiz shows Have I Got News for You, QI and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

At school he was a gifted pupil who gave up on his education and a pitch-perfect piano student who flunked his music school entrance. He started drifting as a teenager and gave up on university within days of arrival - he says he was looking for the next challenge, and that turned out to be stand-up comedy. He loved having to think on his feet and found the laughter of strangers intoxicating.

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

Favourite track: Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads
Book: The collected works by W. Somerset Maugham
Luxury: A pack of cards.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 13 Jun 2008 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • King Curtis

    Memphis Soul Stew

    • King Curtis Live at Fillmore West.
    • Koch.

  • The Undertones

    Teenage Kicks

    • Super 70s Rock.
    • Virgin.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Talking Heads

      Once in a Lifetime

      • The Best of - Once In A Lifetime.
      • EMI.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major 'Coronation'

    Soloist: Murray Perahia Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra

    • Mozart: Piano Concerto No.26.
    • CBS.

  • David Bowie

    Rebel Rebel

    • Diamond Dogs.
    • EMI.

  • Pretenders

    Talk of the Town

    • The Singles.
    • Real.

  • Enong Jubaedah and Mang Maman

    Traditional Javanese Gamelan

    • Java Pay Sunda.
    • Radio France.

  • Gabriel FaurΓ©

    In Paradisum (from Requiem), Op 48

    Orchestra: New Philharmonia Orchestra Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge Conductor: Sir David Willcocks

    • Faure - Requiem - Pavane.
    • EMI.

  • Book Choice

    • The collected works - W. Somerset Maugham

  • Luxury Choice

    • A pack of cards

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Bill Bailey

Broadcasts

  • Sun 8 Jun 2008 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 13 Jun 2008 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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