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David Dimbleby

Kirsty Young's castaway is broadcaster and journalist David Dimbleby.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the broadcaster David Dimbleby. When he was born, in 1938, his father Richard was already a national institution. Richard recorded reports from bombers flying over Germany, went to Belsen at the end of the war and, of course, commentated on the funeral of King George VI and subsequent coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In Desert Island Discs, David tells Kirsty how his father had tried to steer him away from journalism. But he believes that it is a job that is addictive and so it was perhaps inevitable that he would become part of the fifth generation of Dimblebys to pursue a career in the media.

He is best known for the big state events - he has anchored the Â鶹ÊÓƵAV's general election coverage since 1979 and commentated during the funerals of both Princess Diana and the Queen Mother - throughout them all, he says, his method is not to think of the audience of millions, but instead to imagine himself sitting on a sofa, next to just one viewer, saying as little as he needs to in order to explain what is happening.

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

Favourite track: Song that You'd Like by Kate Dimbleby Band
Book: Collected essays by Michel de Montaigne
Luxury: A collection of drawing books, pencils and varnish.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 29 Feb 2008 09:00
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    String Quintet in C major - 2nd movement

    Orchestra: The Lindsays

    • Schubert: String Quintet: The Lindsays.
    • ASV.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Kate Dimbleby Band

      Song that You'd Like

      • Things as They Are.
      • Kate Dimbleby.

  • Blind Boy Fuller

    You Can Never Tell

    • Truckin’ my Blues Away.
    • Yazoo.

  • David Lloyd

    Anabelle Lee

    • Songs from Many Lands.
    • Cambrian.

  • Ivry Gitlis

    Sonata for Solo Violin

    • The Art of Ivry Gitlis.
    • Vox Legends.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes - Dawn

    Orchestra: The Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Convent Garden Conductor: Benjamin Britten

    • Britten: Peter Grimes.
    • Decca.

  • George Frideric Handel

    Non disperar, chi sa? (from Giulio Cesare)

    Soloist: Danielle de Niese Orchestra: The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment Conductor: William Christie

    • David McVicar’s production of Giulio Cesare at Glyndebourne 2005.
    • Glyndebourne.

  • Henry Purcell

    When I am laid in earth (Dido's Lament) (from Dido and Aeneas)

    Orchestra: The Band of The Irish Guards

    • Music for Remembrance.
    • Bandleader.

  • Book Choice

    • Collected essays - Michel de Montaigne

  • Luxury Choice

    • A collection of drawing books, pencils and varnish

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest David Dimbleby

Broadcasts

  • Sun 24 Feb 2008 11:15
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Fri 29 Feb 2008 09:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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