Harry Hill, comedian episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 31, 2025 · 50 MIN

Harry Hill, comedian

from Desert Island Discs · host BBC Radio 4

Harry Hill is a comedian, writer and broadcaster best known for presenting popular television shows including You’ve Been Framed, Junior Bake Off and the multi award-winning TV Burp.He was born Matthew Hall in Surrey and brought up in Kent. He became a Cub Scout and got a taste for performing when he was nine after playing Widow Twankey in the Christmas pantomime.In 1983 he started studying medicine at St George’s Medical School in London and began work as a trainee doctor in 1988. He wrote and performed in medical revues during this time and comedy became his true passion. In 1990 he made the decision to follow his heart and leave medicine to try his luck as a stand-up.In 1993 Harry got his first show on BBC Radio 4 – Harry Hill’s Fruit Corner. Four years later he starred in his own television series on Channel 4 which allowed him to channel his off-the-wall humour in a series of wildly unpredictable comedy sketches.In 2001 he started writing and presenting Harry Hill’s TV Burp on ITV which looked back at the week’s television output in a series of comedy sketches and inventive parodies. The show won three BAFTAs, three Royal Television Society awards, a Rose d’Or and Seven British Comedy Awards.Harry lives in London with his wife Magda. They have three children. DISC ONE: Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West) - Benny Hill DISC TWO: Have I The Right - The Honeycombs DISC THREE: Grandad’s Flannelette Nightshirt - George Formby DISC FOUR: Gay Bar - Electric Six DISC FIVE: Life During Wartime - Talking Heads DISC SIX: Hey Bulldog - The Beatles DISC SEVEN: Never Give Up on Love - Steve Brown DISC EIGHT: Life Is The Name Of The Game - Bruce Forsyth BOOK CHOICE: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes LUXURY ITEM: A bucket and spade CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Never Give Up on Love - Steve Brown Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Paula McGinley

Harry Hill is a comedian, writer and broadcaster best known for presenting popular television shows including You’ve Been Framed, Junior Bake Off and the multi award-winning TV Burp.He was born Matthew Hall in Surrey and brought up in Kent. He became a Cub Scout and got a taste for performing when he was nine after playing Widow Twankey in the Christmas pantomime.In 1983 he started studying medicine at St George’s Medical School in London and began work as a trainee doctor in 1988. He wrote and performed in medical revues during this time and comedy became his true passion. In 1990 he made the decision to follow his heart and leave medicine to try his luck as a stand-up.In 1993 Harry got his first show on BBC Radio 4 – Harry Hill’s Fruit Corner. Four years later he starred in his own television series on Channel 4 which allowed him to channel his off-the-wall humour in a series of wildly unpredictable comedy sketches.In 2001 he started writing and presenting Harry Hill’s TV Burp on ITV which looked back at the week’s television output in a series of comedy sketches and inventive parodies. The show won three BAFTAs, three Royal Television Society awards, a Rose d’Or and Seven British Comedy Awards.Harry lives in London with his wife Magda. They have three children. DISC ONE: Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West) - Benny Hill DISC TWO: Have I The Right - The Honeycombs DISC THREE: Grandad’s Flannelette Nightshirt - George Formby DISC FOUR: Gay Bar - Electric Six DISC FIVE: Life During Wartime - Talking Heads DISC SIX: Hey Bulldog - The Beatles DISC SEVEN: Never Give Up on Love - Steve Brown DISC EIGHT: Life Is The Name Of The Game - Bruce Forsyth BOOK CHOICE: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes LUXURY ITEM: A bucket and spade CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Never Give Up on Love - Steve Brown Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Paula McGinley

NOW PLAYING

Harry Hill, comedian

0:00 50:48

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Epic: Silver Wing Realm EPIC is your new HQ for Realm’s exhilarating action and adventure stories, with new episodes dropping every Monday introduced by host Faith McQuinn.Embark on your greatest adventures yet, whether it’s crash landing on a desolate planet with only a cerebrally-embedded AI to guide you, or realizing that your latest game design is the only thing staving off total global annihilation. So unsheath those earbuds, clench that steering wheel, and buckle up because EPIC is about to take off.This month, we are featuring Silver Wing: On a desert planet in the far future, an old dragon hunter embarks on a desperate journey to save her estranged son. For centuries, the dragons have been sleeping. But in their rest, they provide a crucial energy source necessary to keep the planet Toon Flats habitable. Amphet Dahl is a diviner, gifted with the ability to sense the dragons’ dreams and memories and to the disappointment of her son, Afton, she uses this ability to Inside Out THE OUTSIDERS Weekly Podcast from The Outsiders a Youth Group from Freedom Chapel located in Long Island NY Island Girls Rock Podcast Island Girls Rock! The Island Girls Rock podcast brings together Caribbean girls and women of all ages to share stories, creativity and lived experience. Hosted by Chantal Miller, the series explores the richness of Caribbean life through conversations filled with humour, insight and connection. Rooted in creativity, wellness and sustainability, we highlight intergenerational voices from across the region and its Diaspora.This podcast is an Island Girls Rock production, produced by Chantal Miller and BreAnna Holmes, hosted by Chantal Miller, and edited by BreAnna Holmes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Take Note Ted Walker & Adam Webb Take Note is a podcast and a blog about paying attention and keeping a notebook and occasionally Kong: Skull Island.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Desert Island Discs?

This episode is 50 minutes long.

When was this Desert Island Discs episode published?

This episode was published on August 31, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Harry Hill is a comedian, writer and broadcaster best known for presenting popular television shows including You’ve Been Framed, Junior Bake Off and the multi award-winning TV Burp.He was born Matthew Hall in Surrey and brought up in Kent. He...

Can I download this Desert Island Discs episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!