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Henry Blofeld

Sue Lawley's castaway is cricket commentator Henry Blofeld.

This week Sue Lawley's castaway is the cricket commentator Henry Blofeld. Blofeld's become known as much for his musings on pigeons, planes, double decker buses, tea ladies, cakes and his catchphrase 'my dear old thing' as he is for his cricket commentary.

As a teenager he showed great promise as a cricketer and was even thought good enough to play for England until his dreams were dashed after a serious accident when his bike hit a bus. He dropped out of Cambridge and toyed with the idea of a career in merchant banking before realising his true vocation. Advised in his early years to 'paint a picture' for his listeners, 'Blowers' has since gone on to become a much-loved stalwart of the Test Match Special team.

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

Favourite track: Cricket commentary by Brian Johnston, Jonathan Agnew, John Arlott
Book: A Pelican at Blandings by P G Wodehouse
Luxury: Personal photo album

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 5 Dec 2003 09:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

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Clip

Music Played

  • Cory Drummond and Wodehouse

    Eton Boating Song

    • Now That's What I Call Clean Vol. 2.
    • Gramophone Library.

  • Arthur Sullivan

    If you're anxious for to shine (from Patience)

    Librettist: William Gilbert.
    • Patience.
    • London.

  • Noël Coward

    The Stately Â鶹ԼÅÄs of England

    • I'll See You Again: Greatest Recordings.
    • ASV.

  • Maurice Chevalier

    Thank Heaven For Little Girls

    • Gigi.
    • Premier Soundtracks.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Brian Johnston, Jonathan Agnew, John Arlott

      Cricket commentary - Â鶹ԼÅÄ ARCHIVE

  • Bing Crosby & Frank Sinatra

    Well, Did You Evah?

    • High Society Original Soundtrack.
    • Capitol.

  • Bud Flanagan & The Band of the Coldstream Guards

    Who Do You Think You Are Kidding Mr Hitler?

    • Avengers and other Top 60s TV Themes.
    • Sequel Records.

  • Victor Borge

    Phonetic Pronunciation

    • Victor Borge Live.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Book Choice

    • A Pelican at Blandings - P G Wodehouse

  • Luxury Choice

    • Personal photo album

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Henry Blofeld

Broadcasts

  • Sun 30 Nov 2003 11:15
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4
  • Fri 5 Dec 2003 09:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4

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