Judi Dench on her childhood days in amateur dramatics

Desert Island Discs

BBC

Society & Culture, Music Commentary, Music, Personal Journals

4.4 • 13.7K Ratings

🗓️ 13 October 2025

⏱️ 4 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

The actor Dame Judi Dench has been cast away to the desert island three times, most recently in 2015.

She spoke to Kirsty Young about her first performances in an amateur dramatic group which included her parents as members.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Transcript

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0:00.0	BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts.
0:06.1	Can I just say?
0:07.6	You're about to listen to a BBC podcast.
0:10.0	It's such a wonderful listen.
0:11.7	So nice.
0:12.5	There are loads more like it on BBC Sounds.
0:14.8	Different paces, different heights, the roof is buckling.
0:17.9	Where you can also listen to live sports commentary.
0:20.2	It's right foot goes for goal.
0:21.6	Oh!
0:22.7	And then enjoy even more podcasts full of analysis and reaction to the big stories.
0:27.7	The stat that is astonishing is they ended with the lowest amount of possession.
0:31.2	And she's had to live with that.
0:32.8	So if you love sport, a passion, it's almost like a religion.
0:35.8	Listen on BBC Sounds.
0:38.7	Sort of expecting that every week now.
0:53.9	Hello, I'm Lauren Levern and this is Desert Island Discs postcards.
0:58.1	What's this? I hear you cry? Well, each year we take a short break, which is the perfect time
1:02.9	for us to head to the island and revisit some of our favourite castaways with you.
1:07.8	But where to start? Every weekday, we'll be delivering a moment from our Desert Island
1:12.3	directly to you. It could be funny, it could be sad, or it could even just be silly. Think of it as
1:18.3	your very own Desert Island Discs postcard. First up this week is the actor and all-around legend
	...

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