BBC

Desert Island Discs

Reino Unido

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

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Matt Haig, writer
24 oct 2026, 23:00 · 51 min
Matt Haig is the bestselling writer, whose work ranges from magical realism to memoir. His novel The Midnight Library became a global phenomenon, selling 15 million copies, while his memoir Reasons to Stay Alive has provided comfort to millions around the world.He grew up in Newark-on-Trent in a loving family, though his mother struggled with post-natal depression. Difficulties at school and the death of his grandmother led to a period of teenage rebellion. Matt met his future wife, Andrea, at university and credits her with helping him through the most dangerous period of his life. In their early twenties they spent summers in Ibiza, culminating in Matt’s mental breakdown, and an intense three-year recovery. In 2015 he published Reasons to Stay Alive, a memoir based on his breakdown. It became a bestseller and transformed his public profile, though the way he handled his newfound success has become one of his biggest regrets. Further literary success came in 2020 with his novel The Midnight Library, which has been published in 56 languages and is being adapted into a film starring Florence Pugh. His children’s book, A Boy Called Christmas, was also turned into a film starring Maggie Smith, Sally Hawkins, and Jim Broadbent.Matt Haig lives in Brighton with his wife, Andrea, and they have two children.DISC ONE: Here, There and Everywhere - The Beatles DISC TWO: The flying theme from E.T. - John Williams DISC THREE: A Forest – The Cure DISC FOUR: Adagio for Strings.(Ferry Corsten Mix) Composed by Samuel Barber and performed by William Orbit DISC FIVE: The Boys of Summer - Don Henley DISC SIX: O-o-h Child - The Five Stairsteps DISC SEVEN: The Mother We Share – CHVRCHES DISC EIGHT: You Make It Easy – Air BOOK CHOICE: The Diaries of Samuel Pepys LUXURY ITEM: An unlimited A4 refill pad and pens CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Here, There and Everywhere - The Beatles Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Hannah HuffordDesert Island Discs has cast away other writers to the island over the years including David Nicholls, Kate Atkinson and Bernardine Evaristo. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.Details of organisations offering help and support with mental health or feelings of distress are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline
Richard Osman on managing his eating disorder
23 oct 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The writer and broadcaster Richard Osman was cast away by Lauren Laverne.He is the author of the Thursday Murder Club series and has presented popular BBC shows including Pointless and Richard Osman's House of Games. When he appeared on Desert Island Discs in 2021, he revealed that at a time when his career was going well, he was struggling with an eating disorder. It's something he continues to manage day by day, but says he no longer feels any shame about.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Penelope Keith on knowing her Shakespeare
22 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The actress Penelope Keith, who died earlier this year, was cast away by Roy Plomley in 1976.She became best known for her roles in the BBC sitcoms The Good Life and To the Manor Born, but Penelope Keith began her career in repertory theatre. In 1963, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, getting notices as a very enthusiastic 16th citizen in Julius Caesar.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Anthony Joshua on his love for his mother
21 oct 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The boxer Anthony Joshua was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2024.He is a two-time heavyweight champion and Olympic gold medallist who was raised by his mother after his parents divorced when he was 12. He credits her with much of his success, but says that she can't watch his fights, staying in her hotel room to pray for him instead.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Kathy Burke on being saved by punk as a moody teenager
20 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The actor and comedian Kathy Burke was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2010.She came to prominence when she appeared in Kevin and Perry TV sketches opposite Harry Enfield. Perry, the prepubescent schoolboy, was a role she was able to draw on from her own years as a teenager. What saved her, she says, was the arrival of punk music.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Stephen Mangan on why he'll never be Bond
19 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The actor Stephen Mangan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.He made his breakthrough on television playing Adrian Mole in The Cappuccino Years in 2001. Although he was glad to get the part, he describes being cast by Adrian Mole's creator, Sue Townsend, as a somewhat disconcerting experience.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
How Nick Cave's songs reveal themselves painfully to him
16 oct 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The singer songwriter Nick Cave was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.He has written huge hits such as "Into My Arms" and "Where the Wild Roses Grow", but songwriting doesn't come easily to him. His notebooks are full of what he describes as "bad stuff", and he'd like them to be burned after his death, thank you very much. The best way to approach the job, he says, is in office hours and wearing a suit.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Meera Syal on holding up a mirror to British society in Goodness Gracious Me
15 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The actor and writer Meera Syal was cast away by Sue Lawley in 2003.She was awarded a Damehood earlier this year, but Meera Syal rose to prominence as one of the writers of the TV series Goodness Gracious Me. It came at a time in the 1990s when the perception of the British Asian experience was changing and, she says, held a mirror up to British society.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Why Lyse Doucet doesn't want to be called a war reporter
14 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.She has reported from many war-torn countries, including Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, but says she doesn't want to be defined by war. Instead, she is interested in the human cost of conflict. When she arrives in a place, she embeds herself in the lives of the local people; discovering what she calls the “heat and dust” of a society helps her to tell their stories.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Gareth Southgate on putting on the England shirt for the first time
13 oct 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The former England manager Gareth Southgate was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2024.He was 25 when he made his debut for the England team. By the time he retired from international football, he had been capped 57 times. As England manager, he led the team to two finals in the European Championships, further than they had come in more than five decades since 1966. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Michael Sheen on his father's time as a Jack Nicholson impersonator
12 oct 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The actor Michael Sheen was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.He has portrayed many real people on stage including Tony Blair, Brian Clough and David Frost, though never Jack Nicholson. That was his father's department, who had a second career impersonating the actor, which started around the time Nicholson played the Joker in the 1989 Batman film.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Rick Rubin on finding the magic in music
9 oct 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
Record producer Rick Rubin was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.He is responsible for shaping the sound of artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beastie Boys and is credited with reinvigorating the career of Johnny Cash in the 1990s, but you're more likely to see him reclining on a sofa than hunched over a mixing desk when he's hard at work. He explains what he listens for in a piece of music.You can hear the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Caitlin Moran on the smells that defined her childhood
8 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The writer and journalist Caitlin Moran was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2017.Her journey took her from a three-bedroom council house in Wolverhampton, where she lived with her parents and seven siblings, to becoming a columnist for The Times newspaper and writing her own sitcom. She explains why she feels it's important to highlight the experience of those raised on benefits like herself.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Romesh Ranganathan on finding his comedy sweet spot
7 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The comedian Romesh Ranganathan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.He’s a BAFTA-winning broadcaster, standup, actor and writer who has been a fixture on British TV screens for the past decade. He talks about finding the sweet spot in his comedy and how discussing the perils of parenting on stage has resulted in cult hero status for his middle son.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Tanni Grey-Thompson on winning four Olympic golds in Sydney
6 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The wheelchair athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson was cast away by Sue Lawley in 2001.She recalls the pressure to do well at the Sydney Olympics and the relief when she managed to clinch four gold medals, but the long-distance phone call home to live-stream the medal ceremony nearly broke the bank.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Greta Gerwig on her childhood enthusiasm for putting on plays
5 oct 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The film director Greta Gerwig was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.Growing up in what she calls a "culturally ravenous" family, the young Greta was inspired by her parents' record collection as much as trips to concert halls and theatres, but although she was always putting on shows to entertain friends and family, she never expected to have a professional career in the arts.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
James Graham on his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine
2 oct 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The playwright James Graham was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2024.He was a shy and quiet child who enjoyed nothing more than watching soap operas on TV. So what was he doing taking his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine on tour? You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Jessica Ennis-Hill on the moment she won Olympic gold
1 oct 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The Olympic heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2021.She recalls pushing herself in her final event at the London 2012 Olympics, the 800-metre race, and how throwing her hands up in the air as she crossed the finish line had not been part of the plan.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Warwick Davis on his first role as an Ewok in Star Wars
30 sept 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The actor Warwick Davis was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016.When his grandmother heard an advertisement on the radio looking for short people to play Ewoks in the next Star Wars film, she immediately thought of Warwick, but by the time his mother phoned the film studio, all the roles had been cast. Her powers of persuasion must have been quite something because, aged 11, Warwick found himself on set, dressed in a furry costume, and in the company of his on-screen heroes.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
How Lily Allen brought the house down with a Disney song aged 11
29 sept 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The singer-songwriter Lily Allen was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2014.Although her school reports painted a mixed picture of Lily's academic achievements, a singing teacher spotted her vocal talent and encouraged her to perform. She brought the house down with a song from the Disney film Dumbo.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
How hiding in a toilet helped Steven Spielberg get into the movie business
28 sept 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The film director Steven Spielberg was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.He gave the world Jaws, ET and Jurassic Park, but Steven Spielberg got his start in the film business when he went on a bus tour of Universal Studios. He also explains why the frequently malfunctioning mechanical shark in Jaws was really a blessing in disguise.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Malorie Blackman on receiving 82 rejection letters from publishers
25 sept 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The writer Malorie Blackman was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2013.Although she has published more than 70 books for children and young adults - among them her hugely popular Noughts and Crosses series - getting her start as a published author was hard - 82 rejection letters had thudded onto her door mat before she had her first manuscript accepted for publication. She still remembers the day that 83rd letter arrived.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
How snooker halls became Ronnie O'Sullivan's "creche" from a young age
24 sept 2026, 5:00 · 2 min
The World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.He remembers being dropped off unaccompanied at snooker halls across East London by his father as a young boy and learning to play grown men at adult tables - and beating them.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Delia Smith on her catchphrase - "Let's be havin' you!"
23 sept 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The cookery writer Delia Smith was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.She fell in love with her husband, the editor Michael Wynn-Jones, over a shared love of food and football and recalls how she came to be known for her catchphrase, "Let's be havin' you!"You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
How Kate Moss's modelling break came at an unexpected moment
22 sept 2026, 5:00 · 3 min
The model Kate Moss was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.Her career began after a chance encounter with a model agent on a flight. She describes attending castings on her own as a teenager, which led to some inappropriate requests. Although unpleasant at the time, she says that they have sharpened her instincts, enabling her to "tell a wrong 'un a mile away".You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Keith Richards on writing "Satisfaction" in his sleep
21 sept 2026, 5:00 · 4 min
The Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2015.He recalls the moment he bumped into his primary school friend Mick Jagger at Dartford train station in 1961, years after losing touch with him. They bonded over a shared love of American blues, which came to define their own sound. Keith Richards laid down the guitar riff for one of the biggest hits, "Satisfaction", on a tape machine in his sleep.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter
13 sept 2026, 10:00 · 51 min
Chaka Khan’s unmistakeable voice and musical versatility have made her one of the most influential musicians of the past six decades, with an estimated 70 million records sold. Whether fronting the band Rufus or performing as a solo artist, she's moved effortlessly between funk, soul, jazz, and pop, creating era-defining hits including I'm Every Woman, Ain't Nobody and I Feel For You. She grew up in Chicago, in an artistic family where she was surrounded by music. As a teenager, she became involved with the Affro-Arts Theater, where she was given the Yoruba name Chaka, and a political awakening led her to join the Black Panther Party. By her late teens, she had joined Rufus, whose breakthrough hit Tell Me Something Good launched the band to international success and marked the beginning of her recording career. She has since won 11 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2026, been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and collaborated with some of music’s modern greats, including Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell and Prince. Chaka lives on a farm in Georgia, surrounded by family.DISC ONE: What Is and What Should Never Be - Led Zeppelin DISC TWO: Good Times - Aretha Franklin DISC THREE: Tomaas - Miles Davis DISC FOUR: California - Joni Mitchell DISC FIVE: Tell Me Something Good - Rufus, Chaka Khan DISC SIX: A Woman in a Man's World - Chaka Khan DISC SEVEN: Cool Water - Joni Mitchell (duet with Willie Nelson) DISC EIGHT: Precious Is Your Name - Richard Smallwood featuring Chaka Khan BOOK CHOICE: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran LUXURY ITEM: A gigantic sandalwood and oud candle CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Precious Is Your Name - Richard Smallwood featuring Chaka Khan Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Hannah Hufford & Tim BanoDesert Island Discs has cast away other music legends to the island over the years including Nile Rogers and Cher. Chaka Khan’s records have been chosen by previous castaways including Simon Pegg and David Harewood. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Professor Dame Pamela Shaw
6 sept 2026, 10:00 · 52 min
Professor Dame Pamela Shaw is a pioneering Neurologists and a leading figure in tackling motor neurone disease or MND. She is the founder and Director of SITran – the World leading Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, which is slowly but surely unlocking the secrets of MND and other devastating neurological conditions. Pam was born in Rothbury, Northumberland, in 1955, and at three moved to Kuwait when her father took up the position of harbour master. She lived there until she was eleven, but with no suitable secondary school available locally, she was sent back to Northumberland to board at Our Lady's Convent High School in Alnwick. She studied medicine at Newcastle University and began her clinical training in the North-east. Following her appointment as a consultant neurologist she developed an interest in Motor Neurone Disease. A chance meeting with a recently dignosed MND patient led to Pam founding the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience in 2010. She was made a Dame in 2014. Pam lives in Sheffield with her husband Paul. They have a grown-up daughter, Sophie. DISC ONE: Messiah HWV 56, "Hallelujah Chorus". Composed by George Frideric Händel and performed by The London Philharmonic Orchestra, The London Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Douglas Gamley DISC TWO: Somethin’ Stupid - Frank Sinatra / Nancy Sinatra DISC THREE: Both Sides Now - Joni Mitchell DISC FOUR: Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622: II. Adagio. Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and performed by Thea King (clarinet), English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Alun Francis DISC FIVE: Sweet and Dandy - Toots and the Maytals DISC SIX: The Marriage of Figaro / \"Duettino\" Sull 'Aria. Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and performed by Edith Mathis, Gundula Janowitz (sopranos) The Orchestra of Deutsche Oper Berlin, conducted by Karl Böhm DISC SEVEN: Ashokan Farewell - The Band of H.M. Royal Marines DISC EIGHT: The Lucky One - Alison Krauss & Union StationBOOK CHOICE: Kristin Hannah Collection LUXURY ITEM: Roses CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Clarinet Concerto in A Major, K.622: II. Adagio. Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and performed by Thea King (clarinet), English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Alun Francis Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Tom Alban Desert Island Discs has cast away many medical scientists over the years, including Stephen Westaby, Professor Dame Lesley Regan and David Nott. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Emma Grede, businesswoman
29 ago 2026, 23:00 · 51 min
Emma Grede is the businesswoman behind major fashion brands including Skims and Good American, which she co-founded with Kim Kardashian and Khloé Kardashian, respectively. Last year Forbes included her on their list of America's Richest Self-Made Women, with an estimated net worth of $405 million.She grew up in Plaistow, East London, the eldest of four daughters. Her parents separated when she was five and she was raised by her mum, who worked long hours as a trader at an investment bank. Emma took on a lot of the responsibility at home caring for her sisters. Dyslexia meant she struggled at school, but she found satisfaction in a string of part-time jobs, from delivering newspapers to making sandwiches in a deli. She later dropped out of the London College of Fashion to pursue a career in the industry, and by her mid-twenties she had founded her first company. She made her name brokering deals between celebrities and brands that included signing Natalie Portman as the face of Dior. In 2016 she founded an inclusive denim brand called Good American with Khloé Kardashian, and in 2019 she launched the shapewear brand Skims with Kim Kardashian. Lately her success has led her out of the boardroom and into the spotlight with guest appearances on Dragon’s Den, and the US equivalent Shark Tank, as well as launching a podcast and writing a memoir. Emma lives in Los Angeles with her husband and business partner Jens, and they have four children.Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Hannah Hufford and Christine PawlowskyDesert Island Discs has cast away many fashion leaders to the island over the years including Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Sir Roger Deakins, cinematographer
23 ago 2026, 10:00 · 50 min
Sir Roger Deakins is an acclaimed cinematographer who is known for his visual artistry on films including The Shawshank Redemption, 1917, Fargo, Skyfall and Blade Runner 2049. His talents have been acknowledged with a knighthood, five BAFTAs and two Oscars. Roger was born in Torquay, Devon in 1949. In 1968 he attended the Bath Academy of Art where he was inspired by one of his tutors, the street photographer Roger Mayne, to go out with his camera and capture what he saw. Roger Deakins followed this advice and spent his weekends shooting people and places in British seaside towns.In 1975 Roger graduated from the National Film School in Beaconsfield and started work as a cameraman – making documentaries and music videos. His first feature film was Cruel Passion which came out in 1977. In 1984 he worked on Michael Radford’s film adaptation of George Orwell’s novel 1984, starring Richard Burton and John Hurt. The first of Roger’s collaborations with filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen started in 1991 with the film Barton Fink. The three of them went on to make 12 films together including O Brother, Where Art Thou? Fargo and The Big Lebowski. In 2018 Roger won his first Academy Award for Blade Runner 2049, directed by Denis Villeneuve. He was knighted for services to film in 2021. Roger lives in California with his wife James. They also have a home in Devon. DISC ONE: One of Us Cannot Be Wrong - Leonard Cohen DISC TWO: Aqaba - June Tabor DISC THREE: 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson DISC FOUR: Soldier’s Song - Lucinda Williams DISC FIVE: Bat Out of Hell - Meat Loaf DISC SIX: The Island - Paul Brady DISC SEVEN: Sun Comes Up, It's Tuesday Morning - Cowboy Junkies DISC EIGHT: Isn’t it a Pity - Nina SimoneBOOK CHOICE: Moby Dick by Herman Melville LUXURY ITEM: Fishing tackle CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Aqaba - June Tabor Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinley
Shania Twain, musician
16 ago 2026, 7:09 · 50 min
Shania Twain is a singer and songwriter and one of only two artists in history to have three consecutive diamond albums. By the time she was eight years old, she had a repertoire of one hundred songs which she would sing in bars. She began to write her own songs at the age of ten. Her mother was convinced that she was going to be a star and took her to perform in smoky clubs. Off stage, all was not well in the family home and Shania grew up in a turbulent household where there was much fighting. When she was thirteen years old, she persuaded her mother to drive Shania and her sisters to Toronto to a women’s shelter. Her parents eventually reunited and then were both killed in a car accident when Shania was twenty-two years old. She then became the guardian of her younger siblings and put her music dreams on hold to look after them. Eventually she got a job in a golf resort singing and came to the attention of a Nashville music executive and was offered a recording contract when she was thirty. She was enjoying a record-breaking global musical career when disaster struck. She was bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease which prevented her from singing for the best part of a decade. She announced her return in 2011 and returned to the stage in 2012.Shania lives in Switzerland with her second husband. DISC ONE: We’ve Only Just Begun - Carpenters DISC TWO: Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John DISC THREE: Dust in the Wind - Kansas DISC FOUR: El Paso - Marty Robbins DISC FIVE: Gabriel’s Oboe - Ennio Morricone DISC SIX: Gentle on my Mind - Glen Campbell DISC SEVEN: Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder DISC EIGHT: Ode to Billie Joe - Bobbie Gentry BOOK CHOICE: Life is Fair by Brian Hines LUXURY ITEM: Insect Repellent CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Dust in the Wind - KansasPresenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah Taylor Desert Island Discs has cast other musicians away over the years including Adele, Cher, Kylie Minogue and Cyndi Lauper. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Paul Farmer, charity leader
8 ago 2026, 23:00 · 50 min
Paul Farmer is a charity leader who has spent his life campaigning, fundraising and changing the national conversation around some of the most challenging issues in our society. Currently at the helm of Age UK, he previously spent 16 years as the CEO of Mind, the UK’s largest mental health charity. Paul was born in Oxford, the son of a former Benedictine monk and a former nun. He read history at St Peter’s College, Oxford, where he met his future wife, Claire. After graduating, he found a role working for a heritage centre and fell in love with the charity sector, moving to the Samaritans. His experiences taking calls from those struggling with their mental health awakened a passion for working in the mental health sector.In 2006 he moved Mind, where he became CEO. He led a fifteen-year campaign that helped to change legislation, and the national conversation around mental health. For the past few years, he has campaigned for older people as Chief Executive at Age UK, and encouraged the public to prepare and plan for a happier, healthier later life. Paul lost his wife, Claire, to cancer in 2019. He lives in West London.DISC ONE: Think - Aretha Franklin DISC TWO: Part of the Agnus Dei from the Mass for Five Voices, performed by The Sixteen with Harry Christophers conducting - William Byrd DISC THREE: Don’t Leave Me This Way - The Communards DISC FOUR: Rotterdam (Or Anywhere) - The Beautiful South DISC FIVE: Feeling Good - Nina Simone DISC SIX: Into My Arms - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds DISC SEVEN: Drunk Surfer - Westside Cowboy DISC EIGHT: Sunshine on Leith - The ProclaimersBOOK: A collection of Simon Armitage’s poetry LUXURY: A bowling machine with a combination of cricket and tennis balls CASTAWAY’S FAVOURITE: Sunshine on Leith - The ProclaimersPresenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah Taylor and Hannah Hufford Desert Island Discs has cast away many campaigners to the island over the years including Marjorie Wallace, Julia Cleverdon, and Sue Ryder, Baroness Ryder of Warsaw. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Professor Liz Morris, glaciologist
2 ago 2026, 10:00 · 51 min
Professor Liz Morris is a glaciologist whose work in some of the earth’s most inhospitable environments has broadened humanity’s understanding of climate change and polar science. Her accolades include the prestigious Polar Medal and an OBE for services to Polar Science.Liz was born in London in 1946 and family legend has it that she fell in love with snow and ice the following year during what was known as the Big Freeze - one of the most severe and punishing winters in British history.She studied physics at Bristol University and applied for a role at the British Antarctic Survey in the early Seventies. At that time the institute did not have any female scientists working in the field and her application was rejected.Liz bided her time and eventually did get to work at the BAS, becoming head of the Ice and Climate Division in 1986. The following year she became the first British woman to undertake tent-based research in Antarctica, arriving just as the ozone hole discovery was breaking.Liz completed her last field trip in 2014. In 2020 the Antarctic Place-Names Committee named a glacier in her honour.Liz divides her time between the Cotswolds and Scotland.DISC ONE: Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 \"Pastoral\": V. Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm. Allegretto (Recorded 1976) performed by Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Herbert von Karajan DISC TWO: Swing Low Sweet Chariot - Paul Robeson DISC THREE: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2: Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 878. Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach and performed by Glenn Gould DISC FOUR: Calon Lân - The Treorchy Male Choir DISC FIVE: Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 1, Scene 5: Duet. "He Shall Feed His Flock". Composed by George Frideric Handel and performed by Choir of King's College, Cambridge, Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by David Willcocks, James Bowman (Counter Tenor) Robert Tear (Tenor) DISC SIX: Ol’ 55 - Tom Waits DISC SEVEN: Gracias a la Vida - Roy Bailey DISC EIGHT: Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Op. 67: IV. Allegro. Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven and performed by Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich, directed by David ZinmanBOOK CHOICE: The Yale Edition of the Works of Samuel Johnson LUXURY ITEM: Mountain boots CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Ol’ 55 - Tom WaitsPresenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinley
Norman Cook, DJ and musician
25 jul 2026, 23:37 · 51 min
Norman Cook is a musician and DJ also widely known as Fatboy Slim.As a DJ, he has played everywhere from Bondi Beach and the Great Wall of China to the House of Commons and a fish and chip shop. His many accolades include a world record for the most number one singles by one musician in different acts. He has had a number of musical aliases including Pizzaman, Cheeky Boy and Beats International. He was also a member of the Housemartins. He was christened Quentin by his parents and changed his name to Norman when he embarked on his musical career. His passion for music and collecting records led him down the path of becoming a DJ and his outdoor gigs, particularly in Brighton, saw him play to crowds of over a quarter of a million people.He has been married twice, his second wife was the DJ and radio presenter, Zoe Ball. Norman lives in BrightonDISC ONE: The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five DISC TWO: Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight - The Beatles DISC THREE: Rainbow Connection - The Muppets DISC FOUR: (White Man) in Hammersmith Palais - The Clash DISC FIVE: I Feel Love - Donna Summer DISC SIX: Satisfied ‘N’ Tickled Too - Taj Mahal DISC SEVEN: I Must Be In a Good Place Now - Bobby Charles DISC EIGHT: Born Slippy (Nuxx) - UnderworldBOOK CHOICE: The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists by Robert Tressell LUXURY ITEM: A label maker CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I Feel Love - Donna SummerPresenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast other musicians away over the years including Norman’s former neighbour Sir Paul McCartney and David Bryne. His former wife, Zoe Ball is in the Desert Island archive along with his former classmate, Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Jo Nesbø, writer
18 jul 2026, 23:13 · 50 min
Jo Nesbø is a writer, known as the king of 'Nordic Noir'. His internationally bestselling crime thrillers following the exploits of detective Harry Hole have been translated into fifty languages, sold over sixty million copies and have been adapted for film and TV. Being a bestselling author was not his first job. As a teenager, he played football professionally before an injury put paid to his sporting career. He played guitar and wrote songs for a band which then became very successful in Norway and he combined his gigging nightlife with a day job on Norway’s stock market.His relentless schedule led to him taking time off from both the band and the stock market and whilst he was travelling on a plane to Australia, he wrote his first draft of his debut Harry Hole novel. He has since gone on to write thirteen Harry Hole novels along with children’s stories and other standalone books.Jo lives in Oslo. DISC ONE: Perfect Skin - Lloyd Cole and the Commotions DISC TWO: Ticket To Ride - The Beatles DISC THREE: Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) - Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel DISC FOUR: I Can’t Be Satisfied – Muddy Waters DISC FIVE: Bus to Baton Rouge - Lucinda Williams DISC SIX: Hand of God - Nick Cave, Warren Ellis DISC SEVEN: Swamp - Talking Heads DISC EIGHT: Independence Day - Bruce SpringsteenBOOK CHOICE: Ham on Rye by Charles Bukowski LUXURY ITEM: A shoehorn CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Independence Day - Bruce Springsteen Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast other writers away over the years including Lee Child, Steven King and Martina Cole. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Anna Maxwell Martin, actor
12 jul 2026, 10:00 · 51 min
Anna Maxwell Martin is an award-winning actor whose versatility is evident from the breadth of parts she has played in popular television programmes including Motherland, Ludwig and Line of Duty. Anna was born and brought up in Yorkshire and loved acting and performing from a young age putting on shows with her friends in the cul-de-sac where they all lived. She read history at Liverpool University and then won a place at LAMDA.She made her professional debut in the Little Foxes at the Donmar Warehouse directed by Marianne Elliott. Her breakthrough came in 2003 playing Lyra Belacqua in the National Theatre’s landmark production of His Dark Materials. In recent years she has become an advocate for vulnerable children and their families – especially those navigating the SEND – special educational needs and/or disabilities – system in schools. She was motivated to take on this role after struggling to get help for her daughters who were struggling with profound grief following the death of their father.Anna lives in London with her daughters.DISC ONE: I Love To Boogie – T. Rex DISC TWO: The Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston DISC THREE: Together In Electric Dreams - Philip Oakey & Giorgio Moroder DISC FOUR: Gianni Schicchi: "O mio babbino caro" (Lauretta) Composed by Giacomo Puccini and performed by Maria Callas (soprano) and Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Tullio Serafin DISC FIVE: When A Knight Won His Spurs – The Choir of Salisbury Cathedral, directed by David Halls DISC SIX: Dry Your Eyes - The Streets DISC SEVEN: Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell DISC EIGHT: Tell Him - Lauryn Hill BOOK CHOICE: Jackson Brodie Series by Kate Atkinson LUXURY ITEM: Anna’s lucky conker CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: The Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDesert Island Discs has cast away many actors to the island over the years including Julie Walters, Jessie Buckley and Adeel Aktar. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Peter Layton, artist
5 jul 2026, 10:00 · 51 min
Peter Layton is a pioneering British glass artist and the founder of London Glassblowing, one of the most influential glass studios and galleries in the United Kingdom. He played a central role in the development of the studio glass movement, helping to establish glass as an artistic medium.Born in Prague to Jewish parents, he and his family escaped in 1939 and settled in Bradford, where Peter counted the artist David Hockney among his friends. A trip to the United States in the 1960s to teach ceramics led him to his first encounter with glassblowing, and when he returned to the UK he set up a studio called London Glassblowing. Its ethos of collaboration and openness remains the same 50 years after its founding, and members of the public are welcome to see Peter and his colleagues create spectacular pieces of art out of glass.Peter’s work is influenced by many things: early pieces tackled political issues, and he finds clouds, pebbles and other natural forms particularly inspiring. Peter lives in London with his wife Ann. He has three children and seven grandchildren.DISC ONE: When I’m Cleaning Windows - George Formby DISC TWO: Kol Nidrei, Op. 4, composed by Max Bruch, performed by Jacqueline du Pré (cello) and Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Daniel Barenboim DISC THREE: Take Five - Dave Brubeck DISC FOUR: Blowin’ in the Wind - Bob Dylan DISC FIVE: White Rabbit - Jefferson Airplane DISC SIX: Lute Concerto in D Major, RV 93: II. Largo, composed by Antonio Vivaldi, performed by Paul O'Dette (lute) The Parley of Instruments conducted by Peter Holman DISC SEVEN: Suzanne - Nina Simone DISC EIGHT: Elegy for the Arctic - Ludovico EinaudiBOOK CHOICE: The Choice by Edith Eger LUXURY ITEM: A solar-powered digital picture frame CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Suzanne - Nina Simone Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Tim BanoDesert Island Discs has cast away many artists to the island over the years, including Peter’s friend David Hockney, as well as the sculptor Anthony Gormley and Cornelia Parker. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Guy Martin, presenter and former motorcycle racer
28 jun 2026, 10:00 · 50 min
Guy Martin is a television presenter, mechanic and former motorcycle racer. During his career he achieved 17 podium finishes at the Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Races – one of the most prestigious and dangerous motorcycling events in the world. His television programmes often focus on his daredevil nature and combine two of his greatest loves - engineering and history.Guy was brought up in the village of Kirmington in North Lincolnshire. When he was five his father, who raced bikes himself, bought him his first motorcycle which he promptly crashed into the rose garden. His father is a mechanic and Guy used to sit and watch him at work in the shed from a young age and at 12 he began working for him at weekends and during school holidays.Guy’s first race meeting was at Cadwell Park in Lincolnshire when he was 19. Less than a minute into the race he crashed. He was not badly injured but the bike was destroyed in the process. In 2004 he made his debut at the biggest road race of them all – the Isle of Man TT, finishing seventh in the Senior race and winning the Newcomers Trophy. Guy retired from racing in 2015 after a very bad crash at the Ulster Grand Prix. After that he turned to his bicycle and has taken part in several endurance cycling events, including the Tour Divide, to test his resolve and stamina and fill the adrenaline gap.Guy lives in Lincolnshire with his wife Sharon, their daughter Dottie and three dogs. DISC ONE: Bam Ba Lam (Here Comes Daddy) - Alabama 3 DISC TWO: Testify - Rage Against the Machine DISC THREE: Blinded by the Light - The Streets DISC FOUR: Getaway - The Music DISC FIVE: Me and my Monkey - Robbie Williams DISC SIX: Hurt – Johnny Cash DISC SEVEN: The Day is My Enemy - The Prodigy DISC EIGHT: With or Without You - U2 BOOK CHOICE: Stealing Speed by Mat Oxley LUXURY ITEM: The back catalogue of Race Engine Technology magazine CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: With or Without You - U2 Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinley
Emily Watson, actor
20 jun 2026, 23:58 · 52 min
Emily Watson is an award-winning actor, widely regarded as one of the finest character actors of her generation.She began her career on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company before rising to prominence in 1996, when she was cast as Bess McNeill in Lars von Trier’s Breaking the Waves. The role earned her an Academy Award nomination. She received a second Oscar nomination for Hilary and Jackie, for which she learned to play the cello to portray Jacqueline du Pré.Watson has built a reputation for a level of commitment that is as intense as it is acclaimed. She describes her craft not merely as a profession but as a profound internal necessity, stating: "I love the sense of creating and inhabiting something. That feeling of making it feel magically real. That's the addiction".She grew up in London and was a passionate reader before leaving home to study English at Bristol University. Her parents were members of the School of Economic Science which proscribed that followers eschew TV and popular culture. Emily joined in with the university drama productions and followed her passion, with her parents’ blessing, to pursue a career in acting. Emily Watson lives in London with her husband, and they have two children. Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast other actors away over the years including Emily’s fellow actor from Hamnet, Jessie Buckley. The writer, Maggie O’Farrell is in there too along with Emily’s friend from university, the writer David Nicholls. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.
Gary O'Donoghue, journalist
14 jun 2026, 10:00 · 51 min
Journalist Gary O’Donoghue is the Chief North America Correspondent for BBC News. Last year his coverage of the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump won the Royal Television Society Breaking News Award. He made the news himself in 2025 when he secured a 20-minute exclusive phone interview with Trump who was by then the US President.Gary was born in London and brought up in Essex. When he was eight he lost his sight and attended specialist schools for blind and partially sighted children. He read philosophy and modern languages at the University of Oxford before embarking on his BBC career.He has reported on mass shootings, filed stories from the Macedonian border during the Kosovo conflict, covered the Iraq War and chronicled seven British general elections. He became the BBC’s Washington correspondent in 2014 and, as well as Donald Trump’s two terms, has covered the administrations of Presidents Obama and Biden. Gary is based in Washington DC and when in the UK lives in West Yorkshire with his partner Sarah. Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDesert Island Discs has cast other journalists away to the island over the years including Lyse Doucet, Clive Myrie and Lindsey Hilsum, You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.This episode was recorded before the shooting at the White House Correspondent's Dinner on 25th April 2026.

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