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Kirsty Young talks to comedian, actor and writer Jack Dee.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the comedian, Jack Dee.

Comedian, actor and writer, his persona is that of the laconic miserabilist - his hit sit-com was called "Lead Balloon" and his autobiography entitled "Thanks For Nothing". That is only part of the picture: even though show business was in the family - his great grandparents were in music hall - his early working life ranged all over the place. From grafting in the kitchens of The Ritz to working in an artificial leg factory - at one point he even seriously considered the priesthood.

He says his caustic, ironic, sarcastic comedy comes from "a sort of realism. You can't escape the dark stuff in life ... and my way of dealing with that is to absorb it into my life so that it's no longer worrying for me."

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 16 May 2014 09:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

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Sir Andre Geim

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Alison Moyet

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Clips

See all clips from Jack Dee (2)

Music Played

  • Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton & Neil Young

    My Back Pages

    • The Bob Dylan 30th anniversary Concert Celebration.
    • Columbia.

  • Bob Newhart

    Introducing Tobacco to Civilisation

    • Bob Newhart: Off the Record.
    • Pickwick.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Petula Clark

      Downtown

      • Petula Clark the EP Collection.
      • See for Miles.

  • Highly Likely

    The Theme tune to Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads?

    • The A To Z Of British TV Themes Volume 2.
    • Play it Again.

  • John Hegley

    Eddie Don't Like Furniture

    • Saint and Blurry.
    • Rykodisc/Hannibal.

  • Bob Dylan

    Maggie's Farm

    • Hard Rain.
    • Columbia.

  • Mandia Basic School,

    The Welcome Song

    • not commercially available..
    • Children in Need - Â鶹ԼÅÄ.

  • Neil Young

    Good to See You

    • Silver and Gold.
    • Reprise.

  • Book Choice

    • A big comprehensive encyclopaedia

  • Luxury Choice

    • Acoustic guitar

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Jack Dee
Producer Cathy Drysdale

Broadcasts

  • Sun 11 May 2014 11:15
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
  • Fri 16 May 2014 09:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

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