Paul O'Grady

Entertainer and broadcaster Paul O'Grady is castaway by Sue Lawley.

Paul describes a rowdy, loving family life in Merseyside, his love for Manila and working as a care officer with Camden Council.

His showbiz career was launched by his drag act featuring Lily Savage. She made her debut in London in 1985, when Paul decided to try her out as a compere at the Vauxhall Tavern. He didn't want Lily to be glamorous "I wanted a hard bitten hooker from Birkenhead with ripped tights and her roots showing".

Paul also talks candidly about his personal relationships and sex life and how he decided women were more demanding than men and finally, that he really preferred his own company.

He tells the story about his first heart attack at the age of 47 and how he gradually left Lily behind as more mainstream opportunities came his way such as Blankety Blank, The Generation Game and travel shows.

He later loved to spend time on his farm - with cows, pigs and his beloved dogs and enjoyed the challenge of learning new skills beyond the footlights.

DISC ONE: I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen - Josef Locke
DISC TWO: You Gotta Get A Gimmick - Linda Hart & Anna McNeely, Christine Ebersole
DISC THREE: The Blue Pacific Blues - Rita Hayworth
DISC FOUR: Jules Massenet's Méditation (from Thaïs) - Philippe Graffin
DISC FIVE: I Put A Spell On You - Nina Simone
DISC SIX: Trouble - Elvis Presley
DISC SEVEN: Hurry, It's Lovely Up Here - Barbra Streisand
DISC EIGHT: La Cumparsita - Carlos Gardel

BOOK CHOICE: The Borrowers - Mary Norton
LUXURY CHOICE: Skin so Soft - Avon
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Jules Massenet's Méditation (from Thaïs) - Philippe Graffin

Producer Lisa Jenkinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2003.