Kenneth Williams appeared on Desert Island Discs twice. The first interview was in 1961 - the 22nd of May - when Roy Plombly was the interveiwer. The format of the program is as the title describes: If you were marooned on a desert island, which ten things would you take with you to keep you company, including a luxury item, and a book. Virtually anybody who is anybody has been on the show, and the first time Kenneth appeared was on the 545th show.Here are Kenneth's ten choice records form that first show:
- Ovalle, 'Azulalao' - Gerald Souzay
- Beethoven, Sonata No. 26 in E flat (Opus 81a) - Guimar Novaes, piano
- Buxtehude, Prelude and Fugue in G minor - Fiss Videro, organ
- My Love is like a red, red rose - Kenneth McKellar
- Bach, Brandenburg Concert No. 6 in B flat Major - Yehuidi Menuhin, violin/ Bath Festival Chamber Orchestra
- Schumann, 'Charisma' (from Carnival, Opus 9) - Geza Anda, piano
- Brahams, 'O how amiable are thy dwellings' (from a German Requiem) - St. Hedwigs' Cathedral Chior, Berlin/ Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra/ Kempe
- Clear Bright Morning (from After the Ball) - Vanessa Lee
Unfortunately this show no longer exists in the BBC archive, however the recording of the second time he appeared, interviewed by Michael Parkinson, does, and I shall be bringing you details of this soon.
- Luxury item: Michelangelo's Apollo
- Book: The Collected Works of George Bernard Shaw