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Geoffrey Palmer

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor Geoffrey Palmer.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the actor Geoffrey Palmer. Best known for his roles in The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, Butterflies and As Time Goes By, he had to wait a long time to become a household name and national treasure. Unsure what career to pursue after a spell in the army, he fell into acting because a girlfriend was involved in amateur dramatics. He worked in repertory theatre throughout the 60s and 70s and ended up working with John Osborne during the Royal Court's heyday in West of Suez, and later with Laurence Olivier.

With a face "reminiscent of a bloodhound mourning a lost scent", Palmer has, by his own admission "cornered the market in playing dull, plodding men". Many of his characters live out lives characterised by petty worries, suburban frustration and missed opportunities, but he plays them brilliantly, and with a sympathy that elevates them to the status of unlikely heroes. Geoffrey's grumpy on-screen persona has also recently led to him doing the narration for the 91热爆 TV series Grumpy Old Men, which has become a cult hit and brought him a whole new generation of viewers. He was awarded an OBE in the new year honours list.

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

Favourite track: One O'Clock Jump by Benny Goodman
Book: Oxford Book of English Verse by Arthur Quiller-Couch & Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse by Philip Larkin
Luxury: Fly-fishing rod

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 4 Mar 2005 09:00

Music Played

  • Alan Price

    Look Over Your Shoulder

    • O Lucky Man.
    • Warner.
  • Fats Waller

    When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful

    • You Must Remember This: The Great Love Songs.
    • Happy Days.
  • Bunny Berigan and His Boys

    I Can't Get Started

    • Classics 1935-36: Bunny Berigan.
    • Classics.
  • Johannes Brahms

    N盲nie, Op. 82

    • Deutsche Grammophon.
  • Robert Schumann

    Romance in B major, Op. 28/3

    • Musik f眉r Oboe und Clavier: Mayer and Becker.
    • EMI.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Benny Goodman

      One O'Clock Jump

      • Benny Goodman: Live at Carnegie Hall.
      • Columbia.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 9 in D minor 'Choral' - 4th movement

    • Beethoven: Symphony No.9.
    • Philips.
  • Richard Strauss

    Four Last Songs

    • Strauss/Wagner: Jessye Norman.
    • Philips.
  • Book Choice

    • Oxford Book of English Verse - Arthur Quiller-Couch & Oxford Book of Twentieth Century English Verse - Philip Larkin

  • Luxury Choice

    • Fly-fishing rod

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Geoffrey Palmer

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Feb 2005 11:15
  • Fri 4 Mar 2005 09:00

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