Barry Humphries on Desert Island Discs (BBC Radio 4)

[@SimonLiddo]

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”!

[@janetsmith8566]

What a great set of memories- thank you💕. I’m gutted as he always cheered me up- how will his friends cope?

[@SimonLiddo]

@@janetsmith8566 we are all left with treasured memories of Barry aren’t we Janet. As Edna always asserted “a joyous heart, always”!

[@janetsmith8566]

@@SimonLiddo 💕💕

[@elenahelen8958]

The ending of this recording is so poignant in light of BH's passing.

[@sabejreid2072]

Yes joyous is the word.

[@roycarder6179]

Comedic Genius and a academic minded man …the likes we won’t see again R.I.P. Barry

[@thomaskember4628]

This is the saddest day so far this year. We will not see his like again absolute genius. 22:03

[@sabejreid2072]

He was a one off and now I am learning more about him and his intelligence - which shone through in his work but I didn't know he was so well read.

[@leslieelizabeth219]

RIP You shall be sadly missed 😢🇦🇺🇬🇧

[@marlowemarlowe4893]

What a wonderful speaker. I could listen to him for hours.

[@markhigh6271]

I truly believe Barry was the funniest man to have lived

[@morrisgland887]

I agree with you 100%.

[@iansmith6205]

I saw him live in London many years ago. It was the funniest show I have ever seen!

[@owengreene382]

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.

[@josephinerimmer6888]

What a wonderful man. A one off. We’ll never see his like again.

[@sabejreid2072]

I do hope we do - talent is never vanquished - even in this age of 'the brainwashed and bland'.

[@lesliegautieri4295]

The music and Barry Humphries words at the end of this broadcast made me weep. May God Bless You and Keep You. My love and prayers for you always.

[@sabejreid2072]

A gentleman

[@owengreene382]

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.

[@leastone9600]

I enjoyed listening to this edition so much; what a brillliant and ubique man Barry was. Never to be forgotten, possum 😢

[@eshaibraheem4218]

Certainly ubique, Lea. Like none other, too.

[@lifelover515]

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.

[@greengrass7568]

I just loved him. I loved his thinking, his observation and his gentleness. Yes gentleness. I will miss him enormously.

[@jonathanbirtwistle1729]

What a wonderful story teller he was! RIP

[@stephenestall9044]

How wonderful to hear this programme with Barry Humphreys.Such a very special person.

[@ellie698]

Thanks for the upload. I'd never heard this before. It's great to hear some of Barry's life story in his own words.

[@cinemaipswich4636]

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.

[@speedmachine69]

Show me a person alive today with the whit, kindness and cleverness of this chap....... suggestions please I'm genuinely interested....

[@pennychoo3386]

Barry your passing moves me no end. You have left this world a better place with your beautiful comedy.❤❤❤

[@lapislazuli7876]

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.

[@KidMillions]

Yes, it's a pity she had to give it up for health reasons. Excellent presenter.

[@michaelburling]

Wonderful. My only regret is that this programme could have been twice as long or even more - I never wanted it to stop.

[@simonbullimore1807]

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.

[@neilcunninghammedia]

This has been on my fave list for years. Dame Edna's Desert Island Discs with Sue Lawley is delightful too.

[@ianhorner2303]

The Wonderfully Brilliant Barry Humphries. A Complete One Off.!

[@pmkaka]

Remarkable in many ways.

[@metalman4141]

What a funny man he was ….. thanks Barry .

[@stephenrose1343]

Thanks for posting. I hope the BBC air some of his other radio broadcasts; erudite, wistful and hugely entertaining. Thank you Barry.

[@simonmorris1626]

A great loss, such a talent.

[@markws5952]

He was a man of the people, who just happened to have his own art dealer. Dickins 🤫 would cherish him

[@TangoEliott]

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.

[@carmelpule8493]

Behind all his comedy parts, no one would have ever guessed that there was such a serious distinguished gentleman. He was brilliant.

[@alanwitton5980]

Great comedian sadly missed! He had excellent taste in music! I missed this broadcast when it was first aired so thanks for uploading it

[@KidMillions]

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.

[@Jackie-cs1bt]

Barry you were dazzling - thank you.

[@PhilBaird1]

You can knock it off now Humphries. Thanks for everything Barry, you beaut.

[@robinabobbin]

Barry Humphries' death gets about five seconds on Radio 4/5. Len 'sevEEEEN!' Goodman gets a 3 hour tribute show. FFS.

[@anEyePhil]

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.

[@markhayward7400]

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

[@mdee8784]

Glad he made it home in the end 🇦🇺 RIP

[@stephenbrown3835]

Sentimental Unique Possum ! Thankyou Barry !! 🗝♥️

[@donaldmckenzie7075]

An advanced, sensitive soul...

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

❤ yes

[@tishhill9561]

Yes. Yes. Yes. Love him so much. So grateful to him❤️❤️❤️

[@stevenfitzsimmons3840]

I agree. An advanced human being.

[@marybarratt2649]

Absolutely!

[@juliancribb813]

Great music, Bazza. Thanks for all the laughs.

[@russcandfield6017]

Such a talented and funny man

[@JakePurches-Base2music]

Humphries had impeccable taste.

[@sabejreid2072]

And he was brave as well as gifted.

[@stefanschutz5166]

Thank you so much from Amsterdam.

[@berryboo5390]

He was amazing x

[@PeterSmith-bj4ml]

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.

[@maryearll3359]

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. ❤

[@helenalldridge1145]

RIP Barry. You will be missed ❤

[@leepd1]

We've lost a true gem.. the likes of which we'll (in all likely hood..) never see again.. they just don't make em like that anymore.. farewell Barry.

[@s.k.angyal3768]

Greatness!!

[@cragerzz]

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)

[@pbegley99]

A sad loss. So much a better person than the conceited non-entities who cancelled him.

[@paulthackery4082]

wow thx

[@paulthackery4082]

love the guy

[@velvetclaw2316]

God I’ll miss Barry

[@leehallam9365]

Sadly the Telegraph not only mentioned Edna in his obituary, they allowed her to write a "tribute" herself. She wasn't kind.

[@derykbarker9634]

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.

[@ZadenZane]

Normally when I listen to old Desert Island Discs interviews I fastforward through the musical parts but this time I actually listened 🎵🎵

[@robkeeleycomposer]

See you on the other side, Bazza. x

[@roycarder6179]

Thanks for Sharing this …

[@phillipecook3227]

I wonder who inherited his 23,000 books?

[@JohanHerrenberg]

Let Delius lift you into Heaven. RIP.

[@tishhill9561]

Oh. The world does not feel the same at all without him❤️❤️❤️

[@faithmapstone9982]

I met Barry last year, after we went to see his show. I felt joy at meeting him & incredibly lucky now! Rip to one & all⭐️🍾

[@JohanHerrenberg]

@@faithmapstone9982 You _are_ lucky! Very special.

[@faithmapstone9982]

@Johan Herrenberg Indeed I feel very, very lucky Cheers Jo ⭐️

[@mariamartir1753]

Brilliant 🕊️🤍

[@hixyhicks]

Rest in Peace .

[@johnanthonycafe2993]

Barry Humphries as himself could have been Hercule Poirot.

[@hohaia01]

Musical tastes are wide and varied, that's clearly demonstrated here.

[@sabejreid2072]

And reading - he was respected that's for sure - by the common man and by royalty too.

[@christinegallacher7409]

So lovely to listen to that....e such a delightful person...and as many of you have said a one off person....

[@ShineNoelA]

Totally chap! RIP

[@sonnykeith8338]

Hello possums ❤

[@markws5952]

Cornwall not so very English at all, but oh so very English.

[@arthurdonachy]

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

[@Forestier1]

A huge number of ads were placed in the middle of the songs. Is that the same for everyone?

[@KidMillions]

I have no ads ever, as I watch it with Firefox with the Adblocker add-on... I recommend you get that. Let's see if KZbin AI censors this comment.

[@dufus7396]

I wonder what happened to that portrait after Harris fell from grace

[@SusanTrishelMonson]

Vale 💜🪽

[@andersdottir1111]

Too many ads.

[@KidMillions]

I don't put ads on it, that's youtube. There are ways to block them.

[@sabejreid2072]

They always do that with the BBC

[@simoncrawley7430]

I love his fake pommy accent.

[@josmith8205]

Rest in Peace Barry

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

So sad that Mr Humphries missed his good friend Charles' Coronation ❤ i am sure he was looking down and smiling.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Taking a melways would be a very true travelling companion Barry.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

I am glad you found your path Barry in the misty dream.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Enjoy maps 45 and 59 of the melways Barry.

[@PeterShieldsukcatstripey]

Sorry you missed your friend become King Barry.