COMIC Vic Reeves reminisced about his early years in the North-East and his connection to The Northern Echo, on Radio Four's Desert Island Discs yesterday.

The comedian, who spent his early years in Darlington, was interviewed by Sue Lawley on the classic radio show that challenges celebrities to choose just eight songs to take to a desert island with them.

He told listeners that he moved to Darlington from Leeds as a child, when his father got a job on The Northern Echo.

Respected broadcaster Ms Lawley praised The Northern Echo as "a good paper", before pressing Reeves to pick his first record.

He picked Voodoo Chile by Jimi Hendrix and revealed that when he was ten he had seen the star in Darlington, driving past in a white Daimler.

A key feature of his childhood was taking long walks with his parents, visiting castles and other places of interest.

Reeves said he hated school and admitted he often played truant, going to the library to read books on subjects he wanted to learn about.

He left school at 16 with one O-level in art and went to work in an engineering factory for four years, before leaving the North-East for a life in London.

A career in the civil service followed, before he began hosting acts at a comedy club.

One night he didn't bother to book any acts and took to the stage himself and his comedy career began.

Vic's other desert island discs were Lark Ascending by Michael Davis, The Very Thought of You by Ella Fitzgerald, Nirvana Mice by Henry Cow, Mr Big by Free, Bucephalus Bouncing Ball by Aphex Twin, Where Were You by Jeff Bank and Parallel World by Glen Tilbrook.

He chose Three Men in a Boat as his book and potato seeds as his luxury item.

* The show will be repeated on Radio Four on Friday.