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Kirsty Young's castaway is actor and campaigner Lord Rix.

Kirsty Young's castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is Brian Rix. For many years he brought farce to a large and appreciative audience - dropping his trousers thousands of times for the benefit of television viewers and theatre-goers. He was one of the most successful actor-managers that Britain has produced. But, more than 30 years ago, he called a halt to his first career to devote himself to altering legislation and attitudes towards disability. His eldest child, Shelley, was born with Down's syndrome and her birth prompted him towards his extraordinary second career. As a campaigner and fundraiser he has been described as having done more for people with learning disabilities than possibly anyone else in the country.

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

Favourite track: Love by Nat King Cole
Book: Encyclopædia Britannica
Luxury: A proper orthopaedic cushion.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 6 Mar 2009 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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David Walliams

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Richard Madeley

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Music Played

  • Ella Fitzgerald

    Imagine My Frustration

    Artist: Duke Ellington & His Orchestra

    • Ella at Duke’s Palace.
    • Verve.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    String Quartet No 1 in D major - Andante Cantabile

    Soloist: Itzhak Perlman, Janet Goodman Guiggenheim

    • Tchaikovsky: Violin Concerto.
    • EMI.

  • Tommy Watt and his Orchestra

    Louise

    • Easy Come/Louise.
    • Parlophone.

  • Frank Sinatra

    Learnin' The Blues (with the Count Basie Band)

    • Sinatra-Basie.
    • Reprise Records.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Nat King Cole

      Love

      • Born Romantic.
      • Columbia.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 3 in D minor

    Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Sir Georg Solti

    • Mahler Symphony No. 3: Chicago Symphony Orchstra/Solti.
    • Decca.

  • JC Jamma

    Dump Truck Baby

    • Like a River Flows.
    • Mencap.

  • The D’Oyly Carte Opera Company

    Painted Emblems (from Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore)

    • Ruddigore.
    • London.

  • Book Choice

    • EncyclopΓ¦dia Britannica

  • Luxury Choice

    • A proper orthopaedic cushion

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Brian Rix

Broadcasts

  • Sun 1 Mar 2009 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 6 Mar 2009 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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