Desert Island Discs is one of Radio 4's most popular and enduring programmes. Created by Roy Plomley in 1942, the format is simple: each week a guest is invited to choose the eight records they would take with them to a desert island...

Until recently, the actress Stephanie Beacham played the glamorous 'rich bitch' Sable in the American soap opera The Colbys. She has also appeared in the television saga Tenko. But now she has returned to London to perform with the Royal Shakespeare Company.

In conversation with Michael Parkinson, she looks back on her life and career and chooses her records to take to the island.

Stephanie's record choices:

• 'The Grand March' from Verdi's 'Aida'
• 'Always On My Mind' by Willie Nelson
• 'Amoreena' by Elton John
• 'Girl Of My Best Friend' by Elvis Presley
• Mahler's Symphony No.2 in C Minor 'The Resurrection'.
• 'Night Shift' by The Commodores
• 'Missa Criolla' by Ariel Ramirez
• 'Talking To Children' by Joyce Grenfell

Additional Items:

• Stephanie's hobby is making dolls' furniture
• If all her record choices melted in the sun and she could save only one it would be, 'Missa Criolla'
• Apart from 'The Bible' and 'The Complete Works Of Shakespeare' (always included), Stephanie's choice of book would be 'The Ascent of Man' by Bronowski.
• One other object: 'A little photo of her children.'

Radio Times - February 27th - March 4th, 1988

Stephanie Beacham seemed ideal for the role of arch-bitch Sable in The Colbys, but insists she's a 'cosy convent girl, destined by fate to be a cosy wife and mother.' She was discouraged from acting as a child because she's deaf in one ear. As she says on Desert Island Discs (Sunday, re-broadcast Friday, Radio 4), 'If I was always skipping to the right of Charlton Heston in The Colbys it was just so I could keep up with the dialogue.'