In the Psychiatrist's Chair

In the Psychiatrist's Chair #1

by Anthony Clare

A selection of four interviews from Professor Anthony Clare's radio series. The personalities subjected to Clare's probing are Claire Rayner, Spike Milligan, Tony Benn and Sir Peter Hall.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Anthony Ward Clare was an Irish psychiatrist well known in the UK and Ireland as a presenter of radio and TV programmes. Clare held a doctorate in medicine and a master's degree in philosophy, and was a fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Author of several popular books on psychiatry, Clare held the positions of Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Trinity College, Dublin and Medical Director of St. Patrick's Hospital, Dublin. His first media appearances were on the light-hearted BBC Radio 4 current affairs programme Stop the Week. He was also for many years the voice of the BBC popular science programme QED. Clare became famous for his probing interviews on radio and television with well-known figures in several series of BBC's In the Psychiatrist's Chair.

Reviews

[Bonitaj · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anthony Clare is both an insightful psychiatrist (based on his interview questions) as well as an excellent writer. He is in the unique class of professionals who distil they're knowledge into the public domain through quasi novels, not tomes of academic writing. Another classic example is Irving Yalom (psychologist). Interesting and enjoyable book to read!

[Paul Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

[El · Rating 3 out of 5]

These twelve shows include Dr Clare's encounters with writer and performer Spike Milligan, playwright Peter Nichols, author Maya Angelou, political activist Bruce Kent,gynaecologist Wendy Savage, pianist and conductor Vladimir Ashkenazy, film director Ken Russell, politician Edwina Currie, former Lord Chanceller Lord Hailsham, theatre director Peter Hall, author Barbara Cartland and journalist Jean Rook.

This was a fascinating insight into the minds of the people mentioned above particularly Spike Milligan who came across very differently from the image he portrayed in his public life. The only low point was Barbara Cartland who enraged me with her views; worth listening to just to make you feel grateful you don't share them. It was also interesting to see how Anthony Clare interacted with his interviewees. For example, he called Edwina Curry "Mrs Curry", he let some talk over him and others he seemed to pull back from asking the questions you'd expect of him. Definitely worth a listen.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Radio interviews from the UK decades ago. Like the podcasts of their era, and a window into that time. I only knew of four of the people interviewed (Spike Milligan, Maya Angelou, Sir Peter Hall, Dame Barbara Cartland) but found all of them interesting.

Some bits that I remember: politician Edwina Currie said that debating and arguing with her Dad rather than being a bystander making the tea like her Mum was what helped prep her for politics; Maya Angelou was 6ft as were the other women in her family, while her brother was 5ft 4, and so gendered perception of height wasn’t a thing for her; Barbara Cartland was an awful, outspoken 90-year old who believed fully in women being the inferior sex; Spike Milligan spent his early life in India and longed for his childhood days.

Full list of interviews:
Spike Milligan
Peter Nichols
Maya Angelou
Monsignor Bruce Kent
Wendy Savage
Vladinir Ashkenzy
Ken Russell
Edwina Currie
Lord Hailsham
Sir Peter Hall
Dame Barbara Cartland

[Vanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A candid and interesting discussions / stories. Interesting to hear Cartland’s view, as it certainly explains why I was never able to never able to enjoy/read her books – but I did try! Sadly, Cartland was a female misogynist throwing girls/women under the bus, whilst busily working to reinforce the oppressive glass ceiling! What a real shame that such an accomplished and influential woman chose to devote her time basically undermining, degrading and even blaming them for the unacceptable actions / criminal behaviours inflicted on them by men.
It truly makes me appreciative and thankfully to many British women / role models, who came before/after her, including -
1903 - Emmeline Pankhurst -first British suffragettes were members of the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU)
1815 - Ada Lovelace - Mathematician
1826 - Elizabeth Windsor - Queen of England - to name but a few!

[Capedaisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read one of the first editions of Anthony Clare’s In the Psychiatrist Chair many years ago and was enthralled, particularly by the interviews with Yehudi Menuhin and Kay Redfield Jamieson, absolutely wonderful, so enlightening. I was less taken with this particular collection - perhaps I’m older and wiser and listening in on the introspection of famous people isn’t the big catch it used to be for me - it could also be that the particular collection of people does not appeal to me, personally and yet, it’s Spike Milligan and company - anyway, it wasn’t that bad, a relatively enjoyable experience. I listened to this on audible, good production because it’s BBC.

[trijnewijn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het audioboek hiervan bestaat uit de oorspronkelijke interviews en is heel aangenaam om naar te luisteren. Zijn stem bracht me terug naar de keuken van mijn opa, op zondagmiddag, met funiculi funicula op de radio. Het voelt als een vlieg zijn op de muur, zo mogen luisteren naar heel verschillende mensen.

[Julian Onions · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite dated now - and some of the people I didn't really know so skipped over them. Interesting Jimmy Saville interview in retrospect. I'm not sure how well a transcript of a radio program works as a book, but worth a try I guess.

[James Traxler]

Fascinating.
Read it years ago, can't remember when.

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 * very interesting especially considering his perspectives. I do wonder what the typical kind of questions and style oh his is though in a not so condensed 1 hour interview style setting

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Only interviewee that was of interest was Maya Angelou.
Very dated.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. I really enjoyed it.

[Rose McClelland · Rating 5 out of 5]

YouTube vlog review here >>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4Sp0...

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are the transcripts of the interviews by Anthony Clare, with celebrities, that were broadcast on Radio 4. There were many that I missed over the years, so I'm glad to have the opportunity to visit them. Likewise, this was an age before pocasts of i-player, so were are lucky to still have access to them. Some of the interviews are absolute gems.

In this particular book there are talks with Anthony Hopkins, Jimmy Saville, Ken Dodd, Eartha Kitt, Arthur Ashe, Janet Baker, Peter Hall, P.D. James, Derek Jarman, R.D. Laing, Claire Rayner and Tom Sharpe.

They are so much more than just interviews.

Being a psychiatrist, Clare takes the opportunity to explore his interviewee in a way that no other interviewer ever has.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are the transcripts of the interviews by Anthony Clare, with celebrities, that were broadcast on Radio 4. There were many that I missed over the years, so I'm glad to have the opportunity to visit them. Likewise, this was an age before pocasts of i-player, so were are lucky to still have access to them. Some of the interviews are absolute gems.

In this particular book there are talks with Anthony Hopkins, Jimmy Saville, Ken Dodd, Eartha Kitt, Arthur Ashe, Janet Baker, Peter Hall, P.D. James, Derek Jarman, R.D. Laing, Claire Rayner and Tom Sharpe.

They are so much more than just interviews.

Being a psychiatrist, Clare takes the opportunity to explore his interviewee in a way that no other interviewer ever has.

[Katrina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and insightful