Hello, I'm Krestey 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 castaway this week is Barry Humphreys. He has in essence lived two lives in one.

Dame Edna Everett is of course the supercharged suburban housewife,

her sharp-tung lashing TV and stage audiences into side-splitting submission for 30-odd years. Yet this vivid creation

somewhat pales when compared to the richly-hued reality of its creator.

Antiquarian book collector, accomplished painter, Eastthitch, reform drinker, Barry Humphrey's life beyond the Wigan Tights, 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

um you nearly killed yourself accidentally I should say in Cornwall in 1961 what

happened? Well I went down to Cornwall, the 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, seconds later, sitting on a ledge with a

distocated shoulder and a broken arm.

I stayed there for half a day until I was rescued

by what seemed to be the entire cast of the Pirates of Penzas.

And so I've had the Grim Reaper very close to me,

which is important to remember when I'm feeling too pleased with myself.

I'm feeling a little worried because I read that you once said

...