Main content

Sue Lawley's castaway is writer and comedian Ben Elton.

His fourth novel, Popcorn, has been widely-acclaimed by the critics. He's about to begin a nationwide tour with his stand-up comedy routine. And, after the success of his TV series The Young Ones and Blackadder, he's currently writing The Thin Blue Line for 大象传媒1. Yet despite all that, Ben Elton, this week's castaway, says he's more of an enthusiastic 'farty' than a "smug git in a shiny suit".

He muses as to whether his scatter-gun delivery (so mocked by the tabloids) is the result of his fear of the audience, or of a self-righteous belief in his own opinion, and when stranded on a desert island, he will reveal himself as a serious satirist or just a maverick motormouth.

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

Favourite track: And Your Bird Can Sing by The Beatles
Book: His wedding photo album
Luxury: The British Museum

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 4 Oct 1996 09:05
大象传媒 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Fran Landesman

Next

Lewis Wolpert

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Elvis Presley

    Heartbreak Hotel

    • Elvis 56.
    • RCA Classics.

  • The Clash

    London Calling

    Artist: The Clash

    • CBS.

  • Emmylou Harris

    One Of These Days

    • Profile - The Best Of Emmylou Harris.
    • Warner Brothers.

  • Bob Dylan

    Simple Twist of Fate

    • Blood On The Tracks.
    • CBS.

  • Vika and Linda Bull

    House Of Love

    • Vika and Linda.
    • Mushroom.

  • Midnight Oil

    Beds Are Burning

    • Diesel And Dust.
    • CBS.

  • Jennifer Warnes

    Ain't No Cure For Love

    • Famous Blue Raincoat.
    • RCA.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • The Beatles

      And Your Bird Can Sing

      • Revolver.
      • Parlophone.

  • Book Choice

    • His wedding photo album

  • Luxury Choice

    • The British Museum

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Ben Elton

Broadcasts

  • Sun 29 Sep 1996 12:15
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Fri 4 Oct 1996 09:05
    大象传媒 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast