Hello I'm Kirstie Young and this is a download from the Desert Island Discs archive.

This edition may be slightly different from what was actually broadcast, but it is the only version we have.

It comes from the British Library's radio collection. The recording didn't contain

the guest's eight music choices, so we rebuilt the original show by using discs from the

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

Full details can be found on the Castaways page on the Desert Island Discs website.

The program was originally broadcast in 1981,

and the presenter was Roy Plumley. On our desert island this week is the actor Paul Eddington. Paul could you endure loneliness?

Yes, I don't think it would be too difficult for me. I quite like my own company. I've got a little cottage in the country and

sometimes I shoot off down there by myself. Of course one always knows that one can get away and one can

have company if one wants it. I don't know what it would be like on a desert island.

But I'm hopeful. Now apart from being away from family and friends what will be the worst thing about it?

I think it would be the knowledge that I couldn't go and have a nice curry when I want to go.

Unless you've cared to cook one.

How important in your life is music?

Very important indeed. Have you any skilled yourself? No unfortunately I haven't.

No. I've been in musicals but I don't think that quite qualifies me. Did you hear a lot of

a lot of music as a child.

Quite a lot.

As a small child, not very much.

Those were the days when one didn't necessarily

have a record player or a gramophone, and we didn't.

...