Ronnie Corbett

First broadcast: Sun 21 Oct 2007

Comedian

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is an entertainer so central to British popular culture he can be identified by the outline of his glasses alone - Ronnie Corbett. For more than 50 years, from late night reviews to prime-time sit-coms, his comic talents have made us laugh and made us love him; a nattily turned out national treasure with a quick wit and a ready smile.

His success is due, of course, to his own ability but also to two enduring and remarkable partnerships. Along with Ronnie Barker, he formed one of the great TV duos of all time whilst his 40-year marriage to his wife Ann saw her abandon her flourishing entertainment career to sustain him through the vicissitudes of fame and family life. Ronnie Corbett looks back over his life and career, from his days in review at Danny La Rue's club to his last ever programme with Ronnie Barker - a moment that brought them both to tears.

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

Choices

Fred Astaire

Change Partners

Others who chose this artist

Glasgow Orpheus Choir

By Cool Siloam's Shady Rill

Others who chose this artist

Mel Tormé and the Marty Paich Dek-Tette

Walk Between Raindrops

Others who chose this artist

Danny La Rue

I’ll Be Seeing You

Others who chose this artist

Castaway's favourite

Ann Hart

Music Maestro Please

Leonard Bernstein

Candide (Overture)

Artist: Original Broadway cast from 1956

Others who chose this artist

Bobby Short

I Like the Likes of You

Others who chose this artist

Anthony Newley

Look at That Face

Others who chose this artist

Book

Untold Stories by Alan Bennett

Others who chose this author

Luxury item

A hammock

Others who chose a similar luxury

There is only a short clip of this programme. Why?

Clip (06:05 minutes)

Download to keep

Broadcast