Main content

Virginia Ironside

Michael Berkeley's guest is agony aunt, novelist and comedian Virginia Ironside. Her choices include Schubert, Strauss, Paul McCartney and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.

Agony aunt, novelist and stand-up Virginia Ironside talks to Michael Berkeley about her favourite music, the Swinging Sixties, ukuleles, and growing old disgracefully.

Virginia has worked for pretty much every British national newspaper, and currently answers readers' dilemmas in the Independent as well as writing a monthly column for the Oldie and a series of books - full of warmth and humour - about the perils and joys of getting older.

And she's playing the Edinburgh Festival with her one woman show Growing Old Disgracefully.

Her favourite music includes Schubert, Strauss, Paul McCartney, and the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, of which her son is a member.

Producer: Jane Greenwood
A Loftus Production for ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 3.

Available now

34 minutes

Last on

Sun 16 Aug 2015 12:00

Clip

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    String Quartet in G major, D.887 (1st mvt: Allegro molto moderato)

    Ensemble: Alban Berg Quartett.
  • Henry Purcell

    Prithee ben't so sad and serious, Z.269

    Choir: Deller Consort.
  • Léo Delibes

    Sylvia (Act 1: Prelude)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Anatole Fistoulari.
  • Al-Faris

    The Edwardians Theme (Upstairs Downstairs)

    Orchestra: The South Bank Orchestra.
  • John Lennon

    Michelle

    Composer: Paul McCartney. Ensemble: The Beatles.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Keyboard Concerto in A major, BWV1055 (3rd mvt: Allegro ma non tanto)

    Performer: Glenn Gould. Orchestra: Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Vladimir Golschmann.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Fly me off the Handel

    Composer: Bart Howard. Ensemble: The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain.
  • Richard Strauss

    Beim Schlafengehen (Four Last Songs)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme Järvi. Singer: Felicity Lott.

Broadcast

  • Sun 16 Aug 2015 12:00

What makes Boogie-woogie piano legend Jools Holland tick?

What makes Boogie-woogie piano legend Jools Holland tick?

For Private Passions, Jools Holland revealed his piano history to Michael Berkeley.

11 things we learned from Harry Enfield’s Private Passions

11 things we learned from Harry Enfield’s Private Passions

Harry doesn't usually give interviews – but he couldn't say no to Michael Berkeley.

Archive Unlocked: Two Decades of Private Passions

Michael Berkeley introduces memorable interviews from Private Passions' archives.

Podcast