Main content

Julian Fellowes

Oscar-winning scriptwriter and creator of Downton Abbey Julian Fellowes is interviewed by Kirsty Young for Desert Island Discs.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the creator of Downton Abbey, Julian Fellowes.

He won an Oscar for his screenplay for Gosford Park and went on to write other feature films including The Young Victoria and Vanity Fair. Downton Abbey, which he created and writes, has been an enormous TV success with a huge audience. "Of course" he says, "if I had a clear understanding of why it had done so well, I would continue to write shows that attracted record viewers for the rest of my life."

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 23 Dec 2011 09:00

Music Played

  • Macy Gray

    I try

    Composer: Macy Gray

    • Very Best of Macy Gray.
    • Epic.
  • Edward Elgar

    Land of Hope and Glory

    Artist: The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Andre Previn

    • Elgar: Enigma Variations.
    • Philips.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Sempre libera – Always free

    Artist: Joan Sutherland

    • Verdi: La Traviata.
    • Decca.
  • Virginia Verrill & Jon Hall

    Love Walked In

    Composer: George and Ira Gershwin

    • Quadromania: George Gershwin, 'S Wonderful.
    • Quadromania.
  • Marvin Gaye

    I Heard It Through The Grapevine

    Composer: Strong, Whitfield

    • The Love Collection.
    • Universal.
  • Carole King

    It Might as Well Rain Until September

    Composer: Goffin/King

    • Natural Woman - The Very Best Of Carole King.
    • Sony Music TV/Columbia.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Arrival of the Queen of Sheba

    Artist: The English Chamber Orchestra conducted by Richard Bonynge

    • Handel: Overtures & Sinfonias.
    • Decca.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Giacomo Puccini

      Quando m’en vo

      Artist: Elizabeth Harwood, Mirella Freni, Luciano Pavarotti and the Berlin Philharmonic conducted by Herbert Von Karajan

      • Puccini: La Boheme.
      • Decca.
  • Book Choice

    • The complete works - Anthony Trollope

  • Luxury Choice

    • Two enormous casks of Chateau Margaux

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Julian Fellowes

Broadcasts

  • Sun 18 Dec 2011 11:15
  • Fri 23 Dec 2011 09:00

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast