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Adrian Edmondson, actor, writer

Adrian Edmondson, actor, writer and comedy performer, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Adrian Edmondson first shot to national fame in 1982, playing the studded punk Vyvyan in the TV sitcom The Young Ones, set in a seedy student flat. The cast largely came from the developing alternative comedy scene, and included Rik Mayall and Alexei Sayle.

Adrian was born in Bradford in 1957. He spent time as a child in Cyprus, Bahrain and Uganda, following his father who worked as a teacher for the armed forces. He attended a boarding school in Yorkshire from the age of 11, where he often rebelled against its rules and restrictions, but enjoyed performing in school plays.

He headed to Manchester University to study drama, where he soon met Rik Mayall. They bonded over their shared interests in comedy, double acts, violent slapstick and the plays of Samuel Beckett. It was the start of a long performing partnership and friendship, which included the anarchic TV comedy and long-running touring show Bottom and a production of Beckett鈥檚 Waiting for Godot on the West End stage.

Adrian has also worked widely as an actor and musician, including an acclaimed appearance as Scrooge for the RSC, and performances with the reunited Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band.

Adrian married Jennifer Saunders in 1985, and they have three daughters.

DISC ONE: Downtown - Petula Clark
DISC TWO: A Song of the Weather - Flanders & Swann
DISC THREE: Sugar, Sugar - The Archies
DISC FOUR: On My Radio - The Selecter
DISC FIVE: Jole Blon - Vin Bruce
DISC SIX: Saturday Gigs - Mott the Hoople
DISC SEVEN: I鈥檓 Bored - Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
DISC EIGHT: Wide Open Spaces - The Chicks (formerly The Dixie Chicks)

BOOK CHOICE: Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett
LUXURY ITEM: A tab of acid
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Wide Open Spaces - The Chicks

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor

Available now

60 minutes

Last on

Fri 22 Sep 2023 09:00

Music Played

  • Petula Clark

    Downtown

    • The Classic Collection.
    • Sanctuary Budget.
    • 1.
  • Michael Flanders and Donald Swann

    A Song of the Weather

    • The Complete Flanders & Swann.
    • Parlophone UK.
    • 7.
  • The Archies

    Sugar, Sugar

    • The Archies: Greatest Hits.
    • Kirshner Records.
    • 1.
  • The Selecter

    On My Radio

    • Greatest Hits.
    • Chrysalis Records.
    • 11.
  • Vin Bruce

    Jole Blon

    • Another Saturday Night.
    • Oval.
    • 4.
  • Mott the Hoople

    Saturday Gigs

    • Greatest Hits.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 10.
  • The Bonzo Dog Band

    I'm Bored

    • The Bonzo Dog Band - The Intro.
    • Parlophone UK.
    • 14.
  • The Chicks

    Wide Open Spaces

    • Wide Open Spaces.
    • Monument.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 17 Sep 2023 11:15
  • Fri 22 Sep 2023 09:00

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