Jonathan Lynn
Desert Island Discs
BBC
4.3 • 14.3K Ratings
🗓️ 20 October 1984
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Jonathan Lynn began his acting career in the Footlights at Cambridge University. From 1970 he also began directing plays and, for a while, he ran the Arts Theatre in Cambridge. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his diverse career, which includes a lot of writing for television, in particular the very successful series Yes, Minister.
[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]
Favourite track: Le Nozze Di Figaro Act 1 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: Collection of Jeeves & Wooster stories by P G Wodehouse Luxury: Pen and paper
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | Hello I'm Kirstie Young and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs archive. |
| 0:05.0 | For Wright's reasons, we've had to shorten the music. |
| 0:08.0 | The program was originally broadcast in 1984 and the presenter was Roy Plumlee. Our cast away this week is the writer, director and actor Jonathan Lynn. |
| 0:34.0 | Jonathan, you not only play records, you have sold them, haven't you? |
| 0:38.0 | Yes, I have. I did work for a brief spell in Sulfridge's record department. |
| 0:43.2 | When was that? |
| 0:44.4 | It was in 1966. |
| 0:47.2 | When you were resting? |
| 0:48.4 | When I was resting, yes. |
| 0:50.0 | What was the top of the hit parade at that time? |
| 0:53.0 | We only have, I ever sold three records really. |
| 0:55.8 | I sold the Black and White Minstrel show, |
| 0:58.3 | The Sound of Music, and a German dance band |
| 1:01.4 | called Bert Camfoot in his orchestra orchestra which I had never heard of |
| 1:04.1 | until I went to work at home and if anyone ever came in and asked for anything like Mozart |
| 1:09.3 | you know I wanted to leap over the counter and give them a kiss. |
| 1:12.3 | Well you've got eight to to leap over the counter and give them a kiss. |
| 1:13.0 | Well, you've got eight to choose for this island, and I see there at your side. |
| 1:18.0 | Did you find it very difficult to choose? |
| 1:19.0 | Yes, I found it virtually impossible. |
| 1:22.0 | You've gone all right. You've got it down to wait. |
| 1:24.0 | What's the first one? |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from BBC, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of BBC and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.

