Hi, it's Nicola Cochlin. Young people have been making history for years, but we don't often hear about them. My brand new series on BBC Sounds sets out to put this right. In history's youngest heroes, I'll be revealing the fascinating stories of 12 young people who've played a major role in history and who've helped shape our world. Like Audrey Hepburn, Nelson Mandela, Louis Braille and Lady Jane Grey,

history's youngest heroes with me, Nicola Cochlin.

Listen on BBC Sounds.

Hello, I'm Krista Young, and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs Archive.

For rights reasons, we've had to shorten the music.

The program was originally broadcast in 2009.

My country My castaway this week is Barry Humphreys.

He has in essence lived two lives in one.

Dame Edna Everidge is, of course, the supercharged suburban housewife,

her sharp tongue lashing TV and stage audiences into side-splitting submission for 30-odd years. Yet, this vivid creation somewhat pales when compared to the richly

hewed reality of its creator. Antiquarian book collector, accomplished painter, East Theat,

reformed drinker, Barry Humphrey's life beyond the Wigantites has far more colour than one of Edna's frocks.

He says, I had a rather privileged, spoiled childhood, but at the time it seemed deadly dull.

And now, of course, dullness rather appeals.

My life is far too exciting.

I crave dullness.

Barry Humphreys, among the more dramatic moments of your life, you nearly killed yourself,

accidentally, I should say, in Cornwall in 1961. What happened?

Well, I went down to Cornwall, a most wonderful place, not England at all. I went out walking

with my wife on a February morning across some frozen fields,

stepping across a very cold little brook, I slipped on a stone and I found myself almost laughing

as I slid down this icy stream which unfortunately flowed over a cliff. I found myself

...