Private Passions (Radio 3)
Desert Island Discs has declined in presentation and appeal yet the idea of a subject talking about himself/herself accompanied by a choice of music is a clever one.
Roy Plomley envisioned the programme as a music one.
He would discuss the choice over lunch with the castaway at his club, even question a selection.
The programme passed to old hand broadcasters like Michael Parkinson and Sue Lawley.
As with most things now in the BBC it was given a feminist makeover.
I simply had never heard of many of the castaways; their music was truncated and never discussed.
However the original format lives on at midday every Sunday on a Radio 3 programme called Private Passions.
Music is at the helm.
The presenter Michael Berkeley is old school BBC.
Yesterday’s Guest was Jools Holland.
He has made a considerable living on Later With which ran to 55 series. His style of boogie woogie pianist is extremely popular.
On the show he proved however deeply knowledgeable on classic music. He talks enthusiastically about Edward Fischer and Friedriech Guida playing Bach and the voice of Tito Schipa.
It made for a most entertaining hour of listening and – let’s face it – a welcome break from the latest news and supposition on the virus normally to be heard on BBC radio.
