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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: Bruce Forsyth

01/12/1996

Bruce Forsyth

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Bruce Forsyth

Sue Lawley's castaway is game-show host Bruce Forsyth

Sue Lawley's castaway is game-show host Bruce Forsyth.

This week's castaway on Desert Island Discs may be nearing 70, but he knows how to play The Generation Game. Bruce Forsyth is one of the great all-rounders - television host, pianist, dancer and comedian. 

He began performing as a child, tap-dancing on the roof of his father's lock-up garages. But, as he tells Sue Lawley, his big night came when he was asked to compere Sunday Night at the Palladium. He has spent more than five decades in showbiz, progressing from Boy Bruce the Mighty Atom, to probably the most successful game show host on television. To quote one of his own famous catchphrases, "Didn't he do well?"

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

Favourite track: I'll Never Love This Way Again by Dionne Warwick
Book: The collected works by Omar Khayyam
Luxury: Sand iron (golf club)

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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: The sovereignty of Hong Kong.

The sovereignty of Hong Kong.

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, The sovereignty of Hong Kong.

How the US see the transfer of sovereignty of Hong Kong back to China.

The US take on the  handover of Hong Kong to the Chinese in July 1997, the ceremony accompanying the transfer of power, and the Chinese hopes for a peaceful return of Taiwan.

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