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John Sessions

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor and comedian John Sessions.

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is, by his own account, very difficult to classify - his talents span comedy, writing, acting and improvisation. He has appeared in the television adaption of Porterhouse Blue and can be heard on Spitting Image as the voice of Norman Tebbitt and Lord Olivier. He has also appeared in the West End as Napoleon, as well as playing nearly forty supporting roles. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his meteoric rise to fame since he abandoned the academic world just eight years ago.

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

Favourite track: Symphony No 2 -The End by Gustav Mahler
Book: David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
Luxury: A 78rpm record of The Laughing Policeman (to smash on the rocks)

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 2 Mar 1990 09:05
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Giacomo Puccini

    Vissi d'arte (from Tosca)

    Soloist: Maria Callas

    • Puccini: Tosca.
    • EMI.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Piano Concerto No. 1 in D minor

    Soloist: Vladimir Ashkenazy Orchestra: The Concertgebouw Orchestra

    • Piano Concertos No 1.
    • Decca.

  • Otis Redding

    I've Been Loving You Too Long

    • Atlantic Rhythm & Blues.
    • Atlantic.

  • Edward Elgar

    Enigma Variations - Theme

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra

    • Elgar: Enigma Variations.
    • EMI.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132 - 3rd movement

    The Fitzwilliam Quartet

    • String Quartet in A Minor.
    • Decca.

  • William Faulkner

    Acceptance Speech For Nobel Prize For Literature 1950

    • Great American Speeches Vol 4 1950-63.
    • Caedmon.

  • Gimme Shelter

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Gustav Mahler

      Symphony No. 2 in C minor 'Resurrection' -5th movement

      Orchestra: The New York Philharmonic Orchestra

      • Mahler: Symphony No 2.
      • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Book Choice

    • David Copperfield - Charles Dickens

  • Luxury Choice

    • A 78rpm record of The Laughing Policeman (to smash on the rocks)

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest John Sessions

Broadcasts

  • Sun 25 Feb 1990 12:15
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Fri 2 Mar 1990 09:05
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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