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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: Paul Merton

19/09/1993

Paul Merton

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Paul Merton

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian Paul Merton

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian Paul Merton.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Paul Merton. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his enduring but secret ambition to be a comedian and the feeling he's had throughout his life that he would always make it somehow. He'll be describing his painful beginnings at London's Comedy Store, and his graduation from there to radio and television, where he now has his own series on Channel 4, as well as appearing on Radio Four's Just A Minute and I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue and being part of the regular team of BBC2's Have I Got News For You?

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

Favourite track: Spreading by Kronos Quartet
Book: Buster Keaton Biography by Rudi Blesh
Luxury: Bed

BBC Radio 4

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: Feminism in American 1993

Feminism in American 1993

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Feminism in American 1993

25 years after The Feminine Mystique, how has feminism progressed in America?

The Miss America Pageant, the progress of feminism in the US, 25 years of Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique and the problem of sexual harassment.

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