Vic Oliver - The First Castaway Remembered

As Desert Island Discs celebrates 70 years this month, David Baddiel explores the mercurial life of its very first castaway, entertainer Vic Oliver.

In the early 1940s presenter Roy Plomley devised a series which has been a constant presence on BBC Radio ever since. His first guest, Vic Oliver, was a household name comedian, musician, host and music hall act.

Oliver had married Winston Churchill's daughter and found fame appearing on the wartime radio show ‘Hi Gang’. During those war years he'd also attracted the attention of the Nazi party who'd included his name on a list of people to be arrested in the event of a successful invasion of Britain.

As David Baddiel discovers, there's a whole series of myths and contradictions about Oliver's personal life.

With archive of Oliver in conversation and performance, contributors include; Bill Pertwee, writer Brad Ashton, theatre historian Chris Woodward and trumpeter Joan Hinde.

Presenter/David Baddiel, Producer/Stephen Garner for the BBC

Publicity contact: BBC Radio 4 Publicity