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Desert Island Discs

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.

Desert Island Discs: Margaret Kelly - Miss Bluebell

07/02/1988

Margaret Kelly - Miss Bluebell

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Margaret Kelly - Miss Bluebell

Michael Parkinson's castaway is dancer Margaret Kelly.

This week’s castaway is the dancer and founder of the Bluebell Girls dance troupe, Margaret Kelly. An orphan born in Dublin, she started a career as a dancer at the age of twelve. As a teenager she worked in Germany in the late 1920s and 30s before moving to France. It was there that she formed The Bluebell Girls, a dance troupe which became synonymous with the high life of Paris. She spent the war working with them in Nazi-occupied Paris, hiding her Jewish husband in an attic. In conversation with Michael Parkinson she looks back over her eventful life and career, and chooses her eight favourite records. 

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

Favourite track: There's No Business Like Show Business by Ethel Merman
Book: History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Sir Winston Churchill
Luxury: Her first dress worn on stage

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Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: Caucus system

Caucus system

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Caucus system

What is the caucus system of nominating candidates for public office?

What is the caucus system of nominating candidates for public office, and why does everyone believe the lowly Iowa caucus is so important? 

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