Bill Bailey

Kirsty's castaway this week is the comedian and actor, Bill Bailey. Lauded for his hugely inventive stand up, he has carved out a highly successful career with an altogether atypical approach. He's a familiar face on television from his regular appearances on quiz shows Have I Got News for You, QI and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

At school he was a gifted pupil who gave up on his education and a pitch-perfect piano student who flunked his music school entrance. He started drifting as a teenager and gave up on university within days of arrival - he says he was looking for the next challenge, and that turned out to be stand-up comedy. He loved having to think on his feet and found the laughter of strangers intoxicating.

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

Choices

1.

King Curtis

Memphis Soul Stew

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2.

The Undertones

Teenage Kicks

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3.

Castaway's favourite

Talking Heads

Once in a Lifetime

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4.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major 'Coronation'

Soloist: Murray Perahia Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra

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5.

David Bowie

Rebel Rebel

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6.

The Pretenders

Talk of the Town

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7.

Enong Jubaedah and Mang Maman

Traditional Javanese Gamelan

8.

Gabriel Fauré

In Paradisum (from Requiem), Op 48

Orchestra: New Philharmonia Orchestra Choir: Choir of King’s College, Cambridge Conductor: Sir David Willcocks

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Book

The collected works by W. Somerset Maugham

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Luxury item

A pack of cards

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