Barry Humphries selects 8 records, a book and a luxury item, for the BBC's longest running program. Interview by Kirsty Young. Broadcast 29 May 2009. Photo by Kris Snibbe, 2001.
Barry had a library in his London home that was something that would not have been out of place in Hogwarts! Crammed to the rafters with rare first editions and personally inscribed tomes. A huge table filled the central space and was itself “loaded” with dusty stacks of books. It was a wonderful treasure trove and testimony to Barry’s life long passion as a Bibliophile! I remember this BBC recording well as BH phoned me in mild panic in search of some obscure tracks he wanted to include in the show but had no direct access to. He had gifted my wife and I two editions of his “So Rare” cd collection including those unsung recordings from yesteryear. The BBC sent a courier to my Newbury home and the day was saved! 😅 Such fond memories of an extraordinary talent and dear friend for over 36 years. Rest in peace Barry and “a joyous heart, always”!
Such a charming collection of atavistic obscurities, indicating an erudite depth to the man never plumbed by his celebrated comic creations. Barry is such a loss to all of us. Interviewer and interviewee seem very comfortable in each other's company which adds to the enjoyment.
Its rare, to have an extensive rang of comic vocabulary that is polite and intransitive. And listing to Barrys wonderful hypnotic voice, in his words,"An emotional overload of joy." God bless you Barry on your travels to the God's...RIP.
I've watched Barry over the years, performing on TV. Sadly not live. He was a genius of monumental presence. Our little bright Barry grew up in the sleepy tiwn of Melbourne. Starting school at 5 his teacher were astonished at he's rang of vocabulary and those who listen, telling jokes and poems. They said "this Barry of ours, is going the be great star." Who right they were.. Oh, to be born with a remarkable gift they was given from heaven. Love you.old boy❤ Owen from Ireland.
He is gone, but I am not sad. He is still there, and unforgotten. I do not cry that he is gone, for I am glad he still remains in my soul. We are blessed to know him and remember him for he has gladdened our hearts. What a wonderful bastard he is.
This interview is simply superb in every way. It is a Masterclass for both how to be a mesmerising guest as much as it is for how to be a professional hostess or host. Kirsty Young interviews like no one else I have ever heard. She listens, she doesn’t judge, she allows him to speak. Broadcasters and awful dreary “podcasters” now just speak over their guests these days and try and take over. But Kirsty doesn’t try and take the role of psychoanalyst (which is not the role of the journalist), but she simply observes, listens and moves on. It’s a masterclass in ease, in resignation or submission to the guest as opposed to the modern day talk show concept of dominating and humiliating the guest. Miss Young’s voice is honeyed and mellifluous, her accent: enchanting, her style mature and poised. The whole broadcast oozes sophistication and a kind of senatorial, lived experience. This was such a pleasure to listen to. Thank you darling Barry (Rest in Peace) and to use an Edna’ism to “little” Kirsty, too.
What a fantastic, enigmatic Broadcaster the world has lost. His knowledge, and passion for the Arts - a breath of fresh air. What worlds he could have shown us from behind the single microphone in the studio. The Arts may have lost a great patron, but the world has lost a Gentleman.
I knew of Dame Edna in the 90s in USA and simply loved her. It was years later that I discovered Barry. His wit, intelligence, sense of humor, dignity, and talent were huge. I began watching every video I could find. As I found Barry I realized he was in a class if his own. I love him. I am so sad he passed away and I will honor his memory all my remaining life.
I saw Barry Humphries (as himself) during what turned out to be his last UK tour. It is a wonderful memory to have of this cultured, mischievous, man. He was a singular presence in our lives
These are all freely available on the BBC website, I just thought a few more people would find it here. Even the very old ones with Roy Plomley, although much before 1976 was wiped.
Barry is the best indicator of the close relationship between Australia and the UK. We Aussies love your humour, and vice-versa, I hope. There is a very interesting “Who do you think you are” on his family history, available on the Australian “SBS On Demand” streaming service. You will see him in his normal self, for once. It is a brilliant piece, based in London and Wiltshire, with some very unlikely revelations about his great great great grandparents.
He was a wonderful self deprecating, humble genius and a delightful man. He made, and still, makes me laugh my socks off - especially the skit at the Royal Variety Show with King Charles and Queen Camilla. ❤
Brilliant living in an age when we can hear everything someone has done. And what a beautiful voice he has and his ability to bring stories to life.❤ RIP Barry but!....... please don't stop entertaining in heaven! Give those possums hell! (I get the irony)
Was fortunate enough to see BM twice on stage c1980, hilarious. But perhaps the moment I will most treasure was when Dame Edna was a guest on the BBC's ill-advised (and then some) chat show hosted by Joan Rivers. The other guest was Samantha Fox, best known as a "Page 3 Girl" and Rivers kept pressing her to say whether or not she was a virgin (I think she was about 18 at the time) which was squirmingly uncomfortable. But at one point Dame Edna leaned across, fingered JR's fur stole and said: "You do realise, Joan, that the acrylic is a protected species?" Rivers was speechless and IIRC the BBC cancelled the show shortly thereafter. Good night possum, we shall not see your like again.
Re him finally stopping drinking, I seem to remember him saying he was in a clinic in Sydney recovering after another bender. His psychiatrist came into his room with a bottle of his favourite scotch. He put it on a table in the room and said, there it is, you choose what you want to do. And he never drank again. Sounds melodramatic but I thought he said that's what happened. A brilliant mind.
right; thats plenty, a tear to his eye is it, how about having your heart ripped out when the staunch believer in your goodness croaks; believe me a tear in the eye is as ,I can't e
