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 1996 and the presenter was Sue Lolly. My castaway this week is an actress with her booming voice and imposing figure.

She's become one of Britain's favorite battle axes,

the embodiment of the tyrannical mother-in-law.

When she began in rep, she wanted to be a glamorous star, but her performances as Mrs. Hornet in Sailor Beware in the mid-50s,

followed by her role as the fierce wife in I TV's The Larkin's, set her on the course for which she's famous.

In a long string of plays, films and television appearances,

including highly successful stints at the National Theatre and the RSC,

she's played the part of the Barker reluctant to bite from the nurse in Romeo and Juliet

to the headmistress in the happiest days of your life.

It's earned her the OBE and the affection of millions.

You are, she says, only as good as your parts.

She is Peggy mount.

But you've had some terrific parts, Peggy.

The mass of people will of course remember you for Marlarken on the television.

She was the architypal battle acts really, wasn't she?

She was indeed and when it all happened I turned it down I said no I'm not going to be

typed because it came after Sala Beware and then I read it

and of course it was so wonderfully written I couldn't resist it.

But why do you think it's interesting isn't it? I mean she was an old

battle axe, Ada Larkin. Why do you think we loved her so much? Well all of them really have a heart

...