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Richard Wilson, actor and director

Richard Wilson, actor and director, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Richard Wilson is an actor and director who became a household name when he played the part of Victor Meldrew in the ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ sitcom One Foot in the Grave.

Richard was born in Greenock in Scotland in 1936. As a child he performed in amateur drama productions and harboured a secret desire to become an actor. He left school at 17 and trained as a laboratory technician at Stobhill Hospital in Glasgow.

Following National Service in Singapore, he moved to London and at the age of 27 successfully auditioned for a place at RADA. His first role was as a stonemason in Dr Finlay’s Casebook and he later reached a wider audience playing snooty Jeremy Parsons QC in the television series Crown Court.

Richard went on to carve out a successful theatre and television career as both an actor and director. He starred in the comedy Only When I Laugh and later in the series Tutti Frutti alongside Emma Thompson and Robbie Coltrane.

In 1990 he delighted audiences with his portrayal of the grumpy pensioner Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave, with his catchphrase β€˜I don’t believe it!’ – a phrase which has haunted Richard ever since. The series regularly attracted an audience of 17 million viewers and Richard won two BAFTAs for his performance.

Richard received an award for his outstanding contribution to film and television at the Scottish BAFTAs in 2013.

DISC ONE: Symphony No. 6 in D Minor (4th movement) composed by Jean Sibelius, performed by the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Herbert von Karajan
DISC TWO: Farewell to Stromness by Peter Maxwell Davies
DISC THREE: Im Abendrot from Four Last Songs, composed by Richard Strauss, performed by Renee Fleming and the Houston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach
DISC FOUR: The Rite of Spring, composed by Igor Stravinsky, performed by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Simon Rattle
DISC FIVE: Cucurrucucu Paloma by Caetano Veloso
DISC SIX: The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face by Roberta Flack
DISC SEVEN: Hammond Song by The Roches
DISC EIGHT: Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor (first movement) by Sheku Kanneh-Mason (cello)

BOOK CHOICE: The poetry of Robert Burns
LUXURY ITEM: A subscription to The Guardian newspaper
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Im Abendrot from Four Last Songs, composed by Richard Strauss, performed by Renee Fleming and the Houston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Christoph Eschenbach

Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Paula McGinley

Available now

37 minutes

Last on

Fri 25 Jun 2021 09:00

Music Played

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104 - 4th movement - Allegro molto

    Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • Sibelius - Symphonies Nos. 4-7.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Farewell to Stromness

    • Made Famous.
    • Polydor Limited.
  • Richard Strauss

    Four Last Songs - "Im Abendrot"

    Performer: RenΓ©e Fleming. Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach. Performer: Houston Symphony.
    • Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs.
    • Bmg/Rca Victor.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Rite of Spring

    Performer: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Le Sacre Du Printemps / Apollo.
    • EMI Digital.
  • Caetano Veloso

    Cucurrucucu Paloma

    • Talk To Her.
    • Milan.
  • Roberta Flack

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

    • The Best Of Roberta Flack.
  • The Roches

    Hammond Song

    • The Roches.
    • Warner Bros..
  • Edward Elgar

    Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 – 1st movement: Adagio Moderato

    Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Sheku Kanneh-Mason: Elgar.
    • Decca.
  • Jean Sibelius

    Sibelius: Symphony No. 6 in D minor, Op. 104

    Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • Sibelius - Symphonies Nos. 4-7.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 10.
  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Farewell to Stromness

    • Made Famous.
    • Polydor Limited.
    • 5.
  • Richard Strauss

    Four Last Songs: Im Abendrot

    Conductor: Christoph Eschenbach. Singer: RenΓ©e Fleming. Orchestra: Houston Symphony.
    • Richard Strauss: Four Last Songs.
    • Bmg/Rca Victor.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Rite of Spring

    Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
    • Le Sacre Du Printemps / Apollo.
    • EMI Digital.
  • Caetano Veloso

    Cucurrucucu Paloma

    • Talk To Her.
    • Milan.
    • 3.
  • Roberta Flack

    The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

    • The Best Of Roberta Flack.
    • Warner Music UK Limited.
    • 7.
  • The Roches

    Hammond Song

    • The Roches.
    • Warner Bros..
    • 2.
  • Edward Elgar

    Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 Adagio Moderato

    Performer: Sheku Kanneh‐Mason. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Sheku Kanneh-Mason: Elgar.
    • Decca.
    • 3.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 20 Jun 2021 11:00
  • Fri 25 Jun 2021 09:00

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