Audio Archives - Helen McCrory

‘It’s a show about love’: Desert Island Discs celebrates 80 years on air

On January 23, 2022January 23, 2022 By helenistic No Comments

Helen McCrory’s DID is among the 5 Key Shows

By Donna Ferguson | The Guardian | January 23, 2022

As the radio classic marks a major anniversary, it’s the shared human experience revealed by the castaways that keeps us hooked

Louis Armstrong, Helen McCrory and George Michael were all guests on the show. Composite: Redferns; REX/Shutterstock; Getty

A familiar theme tune is playing in my ears as I step out of my front door and start running. It is a cold, frosty day in Cambridge but as I make my way towards Midsummer Common and the River Cam, I am transported to a much warmer climate. A desert island, where I know I will find exactly eight tracks of music, the Bible, the complete works of Shakespeare and an incongruous luxury.

I am, of course, listening to Desert Island Discs, which will celebrate its 80th anniversary next weekend. First broadcast on 29 January 1942, it is the jewel in BBC Radio 4’s crown, to the extent that being on it is “kind of like getting a people’s knighthood”, observes the Observer’s radio critic, Miranda Sawyer. “There is no better radio show,” she says. “And I think, because it’s been for so long, there’s a status attached to getting picked – like, if you get asked to be on Desert Island Discs, that means somehow that you’ve made it.”

There are now more than 2,300 episodes of the show available online from the BBC archive. The oldest available dates back to 1951, when Roy Plomley interviewed the actress Margaret Lockwood and the famous theme tune was heralded by squawking seagulls and the crash of waves.

Continue reading ‘It’s a show about love’: Desert Island Discs celebrates 80 years on air

Appearances Audio Damian Lewis Events Personal and Family Life Poetry

Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory’s Love Poetry Performance Rediscovered

On October 10, 2021October 10, 2021 By Gingersnap4Helen No Comments

Cheltenham Literature Festival Revisited

by Andrew Holgate | The Sunday Times | October 9, 2021

There have been some great Cheltenham Literature Festival moments over the years – Hilary Clinton in 2017, looking back on her presidential defeat the year before; a 92-year-old David Attenborough charming the audience in 2018. But surely one of the most electric hours in the festival’s history came in 2014, with the appearance on stage of the married couple Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory.

Here consists of a recording that was thought to have been lost, an electric performance at the 2014 Times and Sunday Times Cheltenham Literature Festival – one of the most memorable in the festival’s history – by Damian and Helen of love poems from the poetry collection The Love Book edited by Allie Esiri.

Earlier this summer, Damian rediscovered a recording of the event, which he offers here now to listeners as a tribute to his wife. To hear the recording in full, click here.

Continue reading Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory’s Love Poetry Performance Rediscovered

Appearances Audio Feed NHS Personal and Family Life Podcast Radio

Helen McCrory on Desert Island Discs Podcast

On June 28, 2020April 12, 2021 By helenistic No Comments

Helen Dishes About Her Better Half

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | June 28, 2020

Helen McCrory OBE is one of the most versatile and critically acclaimed actresses working today. On screen she has played Anna Karenina, Cherie Blair (twice), Harry Potter‘s Narcissa Malfoy and the Peaky Blinders matriarch Aunt Polly. Her theatre roles range from Yelena in Uncle Vanya to Euripides‘ Medea.

A diplomat’s daughter, she spent her early childhood in Africa before continuing her education in the UK. After a bruising and unsuccessful audition at the Drama Centre in London – she was instructed to find out more about life before learning to act – she travelled to Italy where she discovered art and love and came back to try again. This time she passed the audition.

In 1993 she made her mark in Richard Eyre’s production of Trelawny of the Wells at the National Theatre and went on to perform leading roles on some of London’s most prestigious stages, winning two Olivier Award nominations. She was awarded an OBE for services to drama in 2017.

She met her husband, fellow actor Damian Lewis, when they both starred in a play called Five Gold Rings. In response to the Covid-19 pandemic Helen and Damian, together with the comedian Matt Lucas, co-founded the Feed NHS campaign which raises money to provide hot meals to frontline NHS workers.

Continue reading Helen McCrory on Desert Island Discs Podcast

Audio Charity Feed NHS Podcast

Helen and Damian Discuss FeedNHS Efforts on The Coronavirus Newscast

On April 9, 2020April 12, 2021 By Gingersnap4Helen No Comments

The Coronavirus Newscast

by Gingersnap4Helen | helen-mccrory.com | April 9, 2020

Every day, Adam Fleming, Laura Kuenssberg, Fergus Walsh and Chris Mason bring us the latest on the coronavirus pandemic in the UK via the The Coronavirus Newscast. They discuss the latest public health information and how it is affecting our lives. On Thursday, April 9, 2020 Helen and Damian were guests on the podcast to share with listeners about their #FeedNHS campaign and their efforts to feed frontline heroes and hospital staff.

Listen here at about 21:30 in.

Here are some soundbites and highlights in transcription form:

Continue reading Helen and Damian Discuss FeedNHS Efforts on The Coronavirus Newscast

Audio Damian Lewis Interviews Medea Podcast

Helen McCrory in conversation with Edith Hall (KCL) on Medea (National Theatre, 2014)

On May 11, 2015May 7, 2021 By helenistic No Comments

Helen McCrory in Conversation at Oxford

by Helenistic | helen-mccrory.com | May 11, 2005

Edith Hall (KCL) talked to actor, Helen McCrory about her role in the critically acclaimed production of Medea at the National Theatre in 2014. Damian, featuring his American Buffalo mustache was also in the audience.

You can listen to the podcast in its entirety here.