Desert Island Discs

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Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

BBC Radio 4 FM

Desert Island Discs: Adrian Edmondson, actor, writer

Adrian Edmondson, actor, writer

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Adrian Edmondson, actor, writer

Adrian Edmondson, actor and writer, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.

Adrian Edmondson, actor, writer and comedy performer, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Adrian Edmondson first shot to national fame in 1982, playing the studded punk Vyvyan in the TV sitcom The Young Ones, set in a seedy student flat. The cast largely came from the developing alternative comedy scene, and included Rik Mayall and Alexei Sayle. 

Adrian was born in Bradford in 1957. He spent time as a child in Cyprus, Bahrain and Uganda, following his father who worked as a teacher for the armed forces. He attended a boarding school in Yorkshire from the age of 11, where he often rebelled against its rules and restrictions, but enjoyed performing in school plays. 

He headed to Manchester University to study drama, where he soon met Rik Mayall. They bonded over their shared interests in comedy, double acts, violent slapstick and the plays of Samuel Beckett. It was the start of a long performing partnership and friendship, which included the anarchic TV comedy and long-running touring show Bottom and a production of Beckett’s Waiting for Godot on the West End stage.

Adrian has also worked widely as an actor and musician, including an acclaimed appearance as Scrooge for the RSC, and performances with the reunited Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. 

Adrian married Jennifer Saunders in 1985, and they have three daughters.

DISC ONE:  Downtown - Petula Clark 
DISC TWO:  A Song of the Weather - Flanders & Swann 
DISC THREE:  Sugar, Sugar - The Archies  
DISC FOUR:  On My Radio - The Selecter   
DISC FIVE:  Jole Blon - Vin Bruce
DISC SIX:  Saturday Gigs - Mott the Hoople  
DISC SEVEN:  I’m Bored - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band    
DISC EIGHT:  Wide Open Spaces - The Chicks (formerly The Dixie Chicks)

BOOK CHOICE:  Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett 
LUXURY ITEM:  A tab of acid         
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE:  Wide Open Spaces - The Chicks  

Presenter  Lauren Laverne
Producer  Sarah Taylor

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Adrian Edmondson, actor, writer

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