David Suchet

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the actor David Suchet. He has won armfuls of awards for his work - most recently an Emmy for his portrayal of Robert Maxwell - but he is best known for the character he has been associated with for 20 years, Hercule Poirot.

His approach to his work is meticulous and he says he has to inhabit each role he takes on. In this illuminating interview he recalls how, early in his career, a psychologist showed him how to shed his character at the end of each performance otherwise, he found, the edges between his own life and those of the person he was playing became blurred.

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

Choices

1.

Christopher Gunning

The theme to Poirot

Others who chose this artist

2.

Frankie Vaughan

You'll Never Walk Alone

Others who chose this artist

3.

Dave Brubeck

Take Five

Artist: Joe Morello

Others who chose this artist

4.

Tchaikovsky

Violin Concerto in D major

Soloist: Leonid Kogan Orchestra: The Grand Symphony Orchestra of Radio & Television Conductor: Vasily Nebolsin

Others who chose this artist

5.

Castaway's favourite

Nat King Cole

When I Fall In Love

Others who chose this artist

6.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Clarinet Concerto in A major

Soloist: Gervase de Peyer Orchestra: The London Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Peter Maag

Others who chose this artist

7.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Requiem in D minor - Lacrymosa

Soloist: Felicity Lott, Della Jones, Keith Lewis, Willard White Orchestra: The London Philharmonic + Choir Conductor: Franz Welser-Möst

Others who chose this artist

8.

Paul Elliott

Planctus David

Book

Magnum Magnum by Brigitte Lardinois

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Luxury item

His clarinet and an unlimited supply of reeds

Others who chose a similar luxury