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Irene Thomas

Sue Lawley's castaway is radio personality Irene Thomas.

She's an expert on sauce bottles, remembers the small print on British Rail timetables, and for 30 years she was a regular contestant on Radio 4's Round Britain Quiz. This week on Desert Island Discs, Irene Thomas tells Sue Lawley what she will do with her phenomenal memory now the programme is no longer broadcast. She recalls how she moved from opera singer, to the Black and White Minstrels, before becoming queen of the quiz shows at the age of 41.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Cosi fan Tutte Soave Sia Il Vento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: Complete score of Fidelio by Mozart
Luxury: Teddy bear stuffed with tea and lily of the valley

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 31 Jan 1997 09:05
±«Óãtv Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Robert Shaw Chorale

    Fa Una Canzone

    • My True Love Sings.
    • RCA.

  • Band of HM Royal Marines

    Sunset

    • H.M. Royal Marines Band/Fleet Review.
    • Music Masters.

  • Thomas Tallis

    Spem In Alium

    Choir: The Cambridge University Musical Society & Choir

    • Tallis: Spen In Alium/Kings College Choir.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Soave sia il vento (from Cosi fan tutte)

      Orchestra: The Philharmonia Chorus and Orchestra Conductor: Karl Böhm

      • Mozart/Cosi fan Tutte/Bohm-Philharmonic.
      • EMI Classics.

  • Val Doonican

    Battle Hymn Of The Republic

    • The George Mitchel Choir/Blue & Grey.
    • World Records.

  • Robert Schumann

    Berg und Burgen schaun herunter (from Liederkreis, Op. 24)

    Soloist: Thomas Allen, Roger Vignoles

    • Schumann/Dichterliebe/Thomas.
    • Virgin Classics.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes - Moonlight

    Ensemble: The City Of London Sinfonia

    • Britten/Peter Grimes/Langridge.
    • Chandos.

  • Treorchy Male Choir

    Blaenwern (Love Divine)

    • Treorchy Male Choir Sings Your Favourite Hymns.
    • Word.

  • Book Choice

    • Complete score of Fidelio - Mozart

  • Luxury Choice

    • Teddy bear stuffed with tea and lily of the valley

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Irene Thomas

Broadcasts

  • Sun 26 Jan 1997 12:15
    ±«Óãtv Radio 4
  • Fri 31 Jan 1997 09:05
    ±«Óãtv Radio 4

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