Jimmy Mulville - a podcast by BBC Radio 4

Kirsty Young's castaway is Jimmy Mulville.

He began his life in comedy as a performer and writer but success in front of the camera clearly wasn't enough - he set up the production company Hat Trick and has turned out a huge number of hits, including "Have I Got News for You", "Father Ted" "Room 101" and "Outnumbered".

But he says that for many years he was a ticking time bomb - he became addicted to drugs and alcohol and, after triumphing over them, also fought cancer. These days, he is the father to four children and says he looks back with an overwhelming sense of gratitude at how his life has unfolded.

Producer: Leanne Buckle

Record: In My Life - The Beatles
Book: The Complete works of P G Wodehouse
Luxury: A solar powered espresso machine.

Further episodes of Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010

Further podcasts by BBC Radio 4

Website of BBC Radio 4