Roy Plomley
Roy Plomley | |
---|---|
Born | Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England | 20 January 1914
Died | 28 May 1985 London, England | (aged 71)
Occupation | Radio presenter |
Years active | 1936–1985 |
Known for | Desert Island Discs |
Spouse |
Diana Wong (m. 1940) |
Children | 1[1] |
Francis Roy Plomley, OBE (/ˈplʌmli/ PLUM-lee; 20 January 1914 – 28 May 1985) was an English radio broadcaster, producer, playwright and novelist. He is best remembered for devising the BBC Radio series Desert Island Discs, which he hosted from its inception in 1942 until his death.
Early life
Plomley was born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, the only surviving child of pharmaceutical chemist Francis John Plomley (1868–1942) and Ellinor Maud (1880–1968; née Wigg).[1] He was educated at King's College School, Wimbledon. On leaving school he worked first briefly for an estate agent, then for a London advertising agency, and then in publishing.
His original aim was to be an actor, and he did secure very minor parts in a number of films, e.g.
Between mid-1937 and late 1939 he was involved in writing and production, travelling back and forth between these two IBC stations in France and the company's offices and studios in London, while also presenting the variety programme Radio Normandy Calling, recorded on location in theatres at UK seaside resorts and regularly beating the BBC in audience ratings.[2]
World War II
This part of his career came to an abrupt end when commercial broadcasting from the continent was brought to a halt by
Desert Island Discs
In November 1941, Plomley devised the
On 29 January 1942, the first of a series of eight weekly programmes was broadcast.[5] Each show consisted of an interview with a celebrity, interspersed by the guest's choice of music. His contract was renewed for a further 15 shows. In the end he presented 1,791 editions of the programme stretching over 43 years. Its success was attributed to his skill as an interviewer and to his meticulous research.[1]
Plomley was succeeded as presenter by Michael Parkinson (1986–1988), then by Sue Lawley (1988–2006), Kirsty Young (2006–2018) and most recently by Lauren Laverne.[4] Desert Island Discs is the second longest-running radio programme in the world (after the Grand Ole Opry), and it is still running.
Until late September 2009, unlike many other BBC radio programmes, Desert Island Discs was unavailable for Listen Again on the BBC website. This was because, when Roy Plomley devised the programme, he was a freelance producer, and it had been argued therefore, that the 'format rights' of the programme belonged to him rather than to the BBC. At his death, those 'rights' passed to his widow, and the BBC were subsequently unable to negotiate the right to include Desert Island Discs in their Listen Again offering. It was announced on 27 September 2009 that an agreement had been reached with the family as to payment of royalties and it would be available via iPlayer.[6]
Other work
Plomley's broadcasting career was not restricted to Desert Island Discs; he also compiled and presented several feature programmes and was the chairman of BBC Radio's game show Many a Slip from 1964 to 1979, and a participant in such panel games as Does the Team Think?, also on BBC Radio. He also anchored Round Britain Quiz in 1961. For television he produced Dinner Date with Death in 1949, claimed to be the first UK film made for TV, and in the same year chaired We Beg to Differ on BBC Radio, transferring with it to BBC Television in 1951.[7] He also wrote the screenplay for the 1953 film The Blakes Slept Here.
Plomley was appointed
After a period of declining health, Plomley died from a heart attack at his home in Putney on 28 May 1985, at the age of 71; he was buried at Putney Vale Cemetery.[1][10]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-19-861412-8. (Subscription or UK public library membershiprequired.)
- ISBN 0-413-39730-0
- ^ Plomley, op. cit., pp.183–199.
- ^ a b c "Desert Island delights". BBC. 29 January 2002. Retrieved 15 November 2007.
- ^ a b "The History of Desert Island Discs". BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 14 March 2024.
- ^ "BBC Radio 4 Blog: Desert Island Discs comes to iPlayer". BBC. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
- ^ "Roy Plomley, Creator of 'Desert Island Discs'" (obituary), The Times, London, 30 May 1985.
- ^ "Plomley, (Francis) Roy (died 1985)", Who Was Who, A&C Black, London, January 2007.
- ^ "Radio stars launch Hall of Fame". BBC News. 8 April 2003.
- Newspapers.com.
External links
- Roy Plomley at IMDb
- A rare recording of Roy Plomley in his pre-war Radio Normandy days may be heard at the website Paul's Radio Museum Paul's Radio Museum - How Radio Used To Sound.
- Roy Plomley at the Radio Academy – includes some audio clips from Desert Island Discs and other BBC programmes The Radio Academy.