Podcasts about Desert Island Discs

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.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Lisa Haseldine reports from Armenia; Michael Simmons argues neoliberalism has never really been tried; Patrick Smith explains why he takes frog poison; and finally, Toby Young wonders why Nigel Farage cares if he has been banned from Desert Island Discs. Plus: the Reform UK leader reveals – exclusively to James Heale – what he would choose if he went on the show. Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's Spectator Out Loud: Lisa Haseldine reports from Armenia; Michael Simmons argues neoliberalism has never really been tried; Patrick Smith explains why he takes frog poison; and finally, Toby Young wonders why Nigel Farage cares if he has been banned from Desert Island Discs. Plus: the Reform UK leader reveals – exclusively to James Heale – what he would choose if he went on the show. Produced and presented by Patrick Gibbons.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Morrissey is an actor who grew up in Liverpool. His screen work ranges from playing a ruthless survivor of the zombie apocalypse in The Walking Dead to a troubled police officer in James Graham's Sherwood.His television debut performance came playing a teenager in the Channel 4 series One Summer. Since then his career has seen him win awards including the Royal Television Society award for Best Male Actor for his role as Gordon Brown in The Deal. Morrissey's interest in acting started in primary school, when he was cast as the Scarecrow in a production of The Wizard of Oz. As a teenager, he developed his passion further at the Everyman Youth Theatre in Liverpool, where he took guidance from professional actors.After his first TV role, he went on to train at RADA. He is best known for portraying complex and troubled characters, and in more recent years has also demonstrated a flair for comedy in series such as Daddy Issues.David lives in London. Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast other actors away over the years including David's fellow actors in Sherwood, Monica Dolan and Lesley Manville. The writer, James Graham is in there too. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

For this week's Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator's political editor Tim Shipman, the writer Guy Stagg and the author and host of How to Fail Elizabeth Day.This week, the guests discuss whether Nigel Farage's Reform UK can see off the threat from Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain. Restore Britain's success may be modest and, so far, very online but that doesn't mean they won't hinder Farage's effort to reach Number 10. If polls from the Makerfield by-election are anything to be believed, Restore could have a real impact. The battle for the tight is also having an impact across the political spectrum too – should Labour move further to the right to appeal to Reform and Restore's disgruntled voters, or should they simply ignore them? For Elizabeth Day, there is an ‘ironic and beautiful symmetry' to the Reform versus Restore dynamic, which almost makes her nostalgic for the 'Tory boy' politics of post-Thatcher era.Also this week: from Makerfield to Mandelson, the government has been busy this week responding to the latest tranche of messages released on Monday. Yet – were some missing? Tim discusses the missing messages of Starmer loyalist Darren Jones MP which he exclusively revealed in this week's Spectator. How damaging is this for Labour? And how should we treat WhatsApp messages legally?Plus, they discuss: the travel experiences that have shaped their lives, from Orthodox churches perched on Istanbul rooftops to the ‘most bombed hotel' in Belfast; if collecting books is an acceptable form of hoarding; whether they would take frog poison; and finally, with the news that Nigel Farage may have been banned from Desert Island Discs, they reveal some of the items they would take with them.Elizabeth Day's latest book One of Us is out now and available in all good bookshops.Produced by Patrick Gibbons.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For this week's Edition, Lara Prendergast is joined by the Spectator's political editor Tim Shipman, the writer Guy Stagg and the author and host of How to Fail Elizabeth Day.This week, the guests discuss whether Nigel Farage's Reform UK can see off the threat from Rupert Lowe's Restore Britain. Restore Britain's success may be modest and, so far, very online but that doesn't mean they won't hinder Farage's effort to reach Number 10. If polls from the Makerfield by-election are anything to be believed, Restore could have a real impact. The battle for the tight is also having an impact across the political spectrum too – should Labour move further to the right to appeal to Reform and Restore's disgruntled voters, or should they simply ignore them? For Elizabeth Day, there is an ‘ironic and beautiful symmetry' to the Reform versus Restore dynamic, which almost makes her nostalgic for the 'Tory boy' politics of post-Thatcher era.Also this week: from Makerfield to Mandelson, the government has been busy this week responding to the latest tranche of messages released on Monday. Yet – were some missing? Tim discusses the missing messages of Starmer loyalist Darren Jones MP which he exclusively revealed in this week's Spectator. How damaging is this for Labour? And how should we treat WhatsApp messages legally?Plus, they discuss: the travel experiences that have shaped their lives, from Orthodox churches perched on Istanbul rooftops to the ‘most bombed hotel' in Belfast; if collecting books is an acceptable form of hoarding; whether they would take frog poison; and finally, with the news that Nigel Farage may have been banned from Desert Island Discs, they reveal some of the items they would take with them.Elizabeth Day's latest book One of Us is out now and available in all good bookshops.Produced by Patrick Gibbons. Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts. Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Canvassing in Makerfield continues at pace ahead of the by-election in two weeks time, so we dispatched Megan McElroy and James Heale to the north to report from the ground. They discuss each party's ground game, why it looks like a Labour–Reform shoot-out, whether Restore will split the vote on the right and – most importantly – Nigel Farage's Desert Island Discs.This comes after revelations in Lord Ashcroft's book claimed that Farage has effectively been banned from appearing on the programme, a story that has dominated the papers over the last 48 hours, evidencing the continued interest in brand Farage. James spoke with Nigel earlier this morning and can bring the Reform leader's favourite tracks, book and luxury item exclusively to Coffee House Shots listeners.Produced by Megan McElroy and Oscar Edmondson.Become a Spectator subscriber today to access this podcast without adverts. Go to spectator.co.uk/adfree to find out more.For more Spectator podcasts, go to spectator.co.uk/podcasts.Contact us: podcast@spectator.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kirsty Young talks to the actor and comedian Whoopi Goldberg in a programme first broadcast in 2009.

Laurene Laverne talks to the former football manager Arsène Wenger in a programme first broadcast in 2020.

Send us Fan Mail"...so I can maybe understand why the Beatles look a bit chubby..."Ben and Mark discuss two Doctor Who stories that make a virtue of the absence of The Beatles, to varying degrees of success; 2024's The Devil's Chord, and 2013's Fanfare for the Common Men.Over the course of the discussion, the Lash Lads ponder whether the Fifth Doctor is convincing as a Beatles fan, question the inclusion of "There's Always a Twist at the End", and rifle through RTD's Desert Island Discs.Also: The Degsestial Funmaker challenges the lads to identify two niche bits of Doctor Who related audio merch, and Mark pitches a new BBC book for babies.You can read about the plagiarism allegations against Yesterday here.And there's a Time magazine article about the Paul is Dead conspiracy theory here.Support the showFollow us on BlueskyLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Lauren Laverne talks to the film studio executive Dame Donna Langley in a programme first broadcast in 2023. Dame Donna was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship this year.

YUH 255 Our guest did not show, but not to be foiled... we forged ahead with all of our picks for top three desert Island disks. #chewbacah #y2kish #pinkfloyd #petsounds #dogpower #bears #phish #gratefuldeadTheme by David T and Mojo 3https://www.amazon.com/Insanity-Sobri...Yeah Uh Huh Social Stuff:Yeah Uh Huh on Linktr.eehttps://linktr.ee/yeahuhhuhpodYeah Uh Huh on TikTok  / yeahuhhuhpod  Yeah Uh Huh on Facebook  / yeahuhhuhpod  Yeah Uh Huh on Twitter  / yeahuhhuhpod  Yeah Uh Huh on Spotifyhttps://open.spotify.com/show/7pS9l71...Yeah Uh Huh on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Yeah Uh Huh Website:https://yeah-uh-huh.wixsite.com/yeahu...Yeah Uh Huh WebsiteHome | YeahUhHuhPod (yeah-uh-huh.wixsite.com)Yeah-Uh-Huh on YoutubeYeah Uh-Huh -YouTubeYeah Uh Huh on Apple Podcastshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...Ask

Lauren Laverne talks to the musician Thom Yorke in a programme first broadcast in 2019.

Kirsty replaces our treasured centenarian to talk all things Naturey on Desert Island Discs

Dr Ittai Gradel, the Danish antiquities dealer who uncovered the theft of hundreds of artefacts from the British Museum. Katie Razzall recalls how he helped her report the story.Dame Shirley Porter, the Conservative leader of Westminster Council who had a spectacular fall from grace over the 'homes for votes' scandal.Professor Nigel Dunnett, the horticulturalist and garden designer, known for his ambitious public planting displays at the Olympic Park in East London and the moat of the Tower of London. His friend and fellow gardener Arit Anderson pays tribute.Maria Nieves Rego, the dancer who took the tango from Argentina to the rest of the world. Presenter: Matthew Bannister Producer: Ben Mitchell Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: BBC One, News at Ten, 16/08/2023; BBC Radio 4, Front Row, 11/09/2023; BBC Parliament, House of Commons Culture Media and Sport Select Committee, 23/10/2023; BBC Radio 4, Shadow World: Thief at the British Museum 31/05/2024; BBC Radio 4, Desert Island Discs, 28/04/1991; BBC, Radio 4, The Report, 10/05/1996; BBC One, News at Six, 05/07/2004; BBC Radio 4, Costing the Earth: Where Have all our Gardens Gone?, 29/09/2015; The Man from Atlanta, 23/08/1982; Our Last Tango: Official Trailer, Uploaded to YouTube, 31/05/2016

Sue Lawley talks to the primatologist Dr Jane Goodall in a programme first broadcast in 2000. Jane Goodall died in October 2025, at the age of 91.

In this episode of The Gambling Files, Fintan and Jon explore innovative casino game designs, the importance of influencer marketing, and strategies for successful game launches. Join us for a deep dive with Angel Espino, a casino game development specialist, and industry veterans as we discuss what it takes to create compelling, fast-paced, and engaging games that resonate with the next generation of players.Things we talk about, but in a list: The creative process behind designing PokerJack, a game combining poker and blackjack mechanicsHow the game speeds up play and maintains player engagementThe significance of influencer marketing in game promotion and reaching new audiencesStrategies for casinos to test and implement new games effectivelyThe challenges in breaking into crowded casino floor spaces and how to stand outThe importance of simplicity in game design for quick adoption by dealers and playersHow local and tribal casinos serve as ideal testing grounds for new gamesThe evolving landscape of casino marketing, including social media and influencer collaborationsInsights into game licensing, the site license model, and the importance of timing and luck in game successThe future of casino gaming and emerging trends like online influence marketingChoice quotes: "The episode is chock-full of great quotes. Instead of reading them here, come and have a listen. TOTALLY worth it.”Chapters and all that, but add 30 seconds or so because of the sexy music. Also there are a lot of them so you might want to sit down before you read this: 00:00 - Introduction to the episode and guest Angel Espino 01:07 - The humorous conversation about swagger and rhythm in walking 02:26 - Overview of sponsors and media ventures, including Desert Island Discs concept03:54 - Highlighting industry guests and their unique stories 05:00 - Discussion about the evolution of casino game innovation and testing environments06:47 - The significance of simple, fast-paced games for casino floors 07:44 - Recognizing key supporters like GLI and their role in game verification 08:57 - Expectations for G2E conference and the importance of industry events 09:45 - Understanding the testing and approval process in casinos 12:27 - Introduction to the game's mechanics—Poker Jack—combining poker and blackjack13:51 - Betting strategies and the gambling mathematical foundation of Poker Jack 15:16 - Side bets, super shot wagers, and game payout structures 16:12 - The potential for game modifications like introducing like introducing zero cards17:43 - House edge calculations and target qualifiers based on dealer qualification criteria18:11 - Call bets, double call bets, and decision processes for players 19:25 - Explaining the rules of three-card poker for game understanding 20:03 - Dealer qualifications and strategic considerations in game design 22:07 - Speed of game play and the appeal of action-packed casino games 23:03 - House edge variations based on different dealer qualification thresholds 24:26 - Testing phases and initial implementations at casinos like Ameristar and Minnesotan properties 25:02 - The importance of dealer training and simplicity for rapid adoption 27:13 - Testing, KPIs, and how casino properties evaluate new game performance 28:48 - The significance of game placement and marketing within casino spaces 30:17 - Influencer marketing and real estate as tools to stimulate interest 32:07 - Challenges in gaining shelf space with blockbuster casino games 33:42 - The rarity of successful game launches and ongoing industry difficulties 34:11 - Licensing models and site licenses for game distribution 35:02 - The complexity of game implementation and the importance of timing 36:43 - Tribal casinos as early adopters and testing grounds for new games 37:20 - The importance of presentation, quick explanations, and dealer training for successful pitches 38:27 - Developing easy-to-understand games for quick onboarding in casinos 39:04 - Influencer impact on online marketing and game popularity 44:37 - Strategies for creating buzz via streaming and social media 45:34 - The viral potential of local food and entertainment influencers 46:37 - Building relationships with influencers for ongoing game promotion 50:23 - The role of influencers in driving traffic and gaming interest 51:21 - How customer demand shapes the casino game landscape 52:07 - Innovative use of branding and swag for marketing presence 54:29 - Availability of Poker Jack online and upcoming launches 56:16 - Creative branding ideas, including merchandise and unique sponsorships 57:38 - The importance of resourcefulness and tailored game marketing 58:36 - Challenges of entering crowded casino markets and the importance of timing 59:10 - Industry expert insights on luck, market conditions, and game placementResources & Links:Angel on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/angel-espino-800b2911/Casino Gaming Development on LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/casino-gaming-development/posts/?feedView=allAs ever, we thank all of our sponsors for their vibrant and excellent support that makes all of this… magic… possible.Optimove, who turn customer data into something special, with tools that make businesses just plain work better. Optimove, your support helps us to keep creating content for an industry that probably thinks we disappeared years ago.Then of course there is Clarion Gaming, no hang on World Gaming, providers of the magnificent ICE expo and iGB Live! in London. There is simply nobody better at what they do.And the new-ish members of the family, the excellent Gaming Laboratories International. GLI is a world-class Testing, Inspections and Certification company committed to delivering the highest quality land-based, lottery, and iGaming testing and assessment services, working in more than 710 jurisdictions.For more information, visit gaminglabs.com.The Gambling Files podcast delves into the business side of the betting world. Each week, join Jon Bruford and Fintan Costello as they discuss current hot topics with world-leading gambling experts.Website: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3A57jkRSubscribe on Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4cs6ReF Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheGamblingFilesPodcast Fintan Costello on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fintancostello/ Jon Bruford on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jon-bruford-84346636/ Follow the podcast on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-gambling-files-podcast/ Sponsorship enquiries: https://www.thegamblingfiles.com/contact/ Get our newsletter: https://thegamblingfilestldr.substack.com/

Si King is a broadcaster and cook, best known as one half of the duo The Hairy Bikers. Together with his onscreen cooking partner and real-life best friend Dave Myers, the pair travelled over 650,000 miles around the world on motor bikes filming their cooking exploits and they also wrote a number of bestselling cookbooks.Si was born in a pit village near Gateshead, the youngest child of three. His father had served in the arctic convoys and had met his wife whilst on shore leave in Newcastle when she was singing with a big band. Si's father died when he was eight years old and Si and his mum, Stella, bonded by cooking together which led to his lifelong appreciation of food.His love of motorcycles started early when his uncle introduced him to his garage full of broken motorbikes that he enjoyed tinkering around with. Si fell in love with motorbikes and as a teenager used to give him mum a lift back from the shops.After leaving school, Si played drums in a band to earn a living, during which time he met his former wife, Jane. He became a father at 23 and soon began his television career as a runner on the children's series Byker Grove. This opened the door to work in TV and film as a location manager, where he met make up artist Dave Myers on the set of a Catherine Cookson drama. After discovering they shared a passion for food and motorbikes, the pair developed the idea for a TV show that would see these two rather hairy motorcyclists travel around the world cooking for people. After Dave's death in 2024, Si was involved in two commemorative “Dave Days” in which many thousands of riders from the motorbike community showed their support for Dave and his family by travelling in convoy from London to Dave's home town of Barrow in Furness.Si King lives in the North East.DISC ONE: Winter Song - Lindisfarne DISC TWO: Boil the Breakfast Early - The Chieftains DISC THREE: Anonymous: Liturgy of Saint Anthony - Ad Missam - Introitus: Os justi meditabitur - Coro Gregoriano De Lisboa DISC FOUR: Stay With Me Till Dawn - Judie Tzuke DISC FIVE: Set The Fire To The Third Bar - Snow Patrol feat. Martha Wainwright DISC SIX: Still in Love with You (Live) - Thin Lizzy DISC SEVEN: On The Wire - Troy Cassar-Daley DISC EIGHT: Ask the Lonely - JourneyBOOK CHOICE: Combined works of William Dalrymple LUXURY ITEM: A solar-powered fridge and rum CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Ask the Lonely - Journey Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast other cooks away to the island over the years including Delia Smith, Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Matthew Bannister on Andy Kershaw, the radio DJ who championed world music, traversing the globe to bring new and eclectic sounds to a mainstream audience. For a time he was roadie to Billy Bragg who recalls their life on the road together. Dame Averil Cameron, the leading historian who re-shaped our understanding of the Byzantine empire. Her friend, Professor Mary Beard, pays tribute. Dr Judith Rapoport, the child psychiatrist who challenged received wisdom about obsessive-compulsive disorder or OCD. And the zoologist, author, artist and TV presenter Desmond Morris, best known for his provocative 1967 bestselling book The Naked Ape.Producer: Catherine Powell Assisstant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive Michael Parkinson, BBC 1, 06/10/69; Michael Parkinson, BBC 1, 07/11/81; The Evolution of The Naked Ape: Archive on 4, BBC Radio 4 18/04/2026; The Likely Lads, BBC 2; The Time of Your Life, BBC 1, 06/08/85; Timewatch: Verdict on the Shroud, BBC 2, 27/07/88; Andy Kershaw Show, BBC Radio 1, 11/05/90; Andy Kershaw Show, BBC Radio 1, 24/09/95; Andy Kershaw Show, BBC Radio 1, 16/03/98; The Hermit Kingdom (North Korea), BBC Radio 3, 28/12/03; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 08/10/04; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 11/03/07; Judith Rapoport on Dimensional Research in Mental Illness, YouTube, 25/06/13; "Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia" With Judith Rapoport, M.D., YouTube, 12/09/13; A History of the World in 100 Objects : The Rise of World Faiths (200 - 600 AD) : Hinton St Mary Mosaic, BBC Radio 4, 11/03/21;

After the extremely sad news of the death of wildlife cameraman Doug Allan this week, we thought we would share his wonderful episode again as a tribute to his extraordinary life and career. It was first released in August 23. Our love and thoughts to his family and friends.Doug Allan was lead cameraman on The Blue Planet, Planet Earth, Life, Human Planet, Frozen Planet, Expedition Iceberg and Forces of Nature and is responsible for some of the most famous wildlife footage ever filmed, including the extraordinary sequence of killer whales creating waves to wash seals off ice floes in Antarctica. He spent much of his career working alongside Sir David Attenborough. Doug has won eight Emmys and four BAFTAs and in 2017 he won an outstanding contribution award at the British Academy Scotland Awards. In 2011 he filmed and was a presenter for the BBC series Ocean Giants about whales worldwide and In 2012 he was one of the presenters on Operation Iceberg, as well as filming many of the sequences in this award winning series. Doug appeared on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in 2014 and The Museum of Curiosity in 2019 .To support this podcast, get all episodes ad-free and a bonus episode every Wednesday of "My Time Capsule The Debrief', please sign up here - https://mytimecapsule.supercast.com. All money goes straight into the making of the podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GET THE FULL VERSION OF THIS SHOW FOR FREE AT PATREON.COM/GRAPPL (or become a Member from 99p at YouTube.com/@GRAPPL). JOIN NOW FOR LIVE STREAMS, PODCASTS AND MORE OVER WRESTLEMANIA WEEK.Hey all,It's a Bank Holiday #AskGRAPPL as we answer your questions on booking next years Mania, whether Triple H will be fired, whether Toni Storm should ditch the gimmick, Desert Island Discs, Desserts, Delivery order tips, serial killers, favourite World Cups, MFTS vs Danhausen, Jey Uso vs Jim Duggan, me vs Matty and lots more. Plus an almighty row about Pat Mcafee, the WrestleMania build, and how it relates to AEW.Enjoy!BennoGRAPPL Spotlight is produced with support from our Patrons and YouTube members, with special thanks to Patreon Kings and Queen Of The Mountain - Conor O'Loughlin, Eddie Sideburns, Chris Platt, Carl Gac, Sophia Hitchcock, Simon Mulvaney & Marty Ellis! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a world where our teams are spread across different locations and generations, feeling truly connected can be a challenge. We have more tools than ever to communicate, yet loneliness and misunderstanding are on the rise. This has a real impact on everything from team morale to efficiency. In this episode, I speak with Jenny Ainsworth about her new book and framework, "Connection Intelligence," which offers a new way to bridge these divides.We explore why the old ways of engaging with our teams are no longer enough and how a deeper understanding of different perspectives is essential for any leader.Here are three key things we discussed: ✳️ The evolution of intelligence in the workplace, moving beyond IQ and EQ (Emotional Intelligence) to include DQ (Digital Quotient) and, most importantly, CQ (Connection Intelligence). ✳️ Why so many employees feel disconnected and lonely, even when they are part of a remote or hybrid team, and how this impacts the business. ✳️ The "Acknowledge, Appreciate, and Align" framework - a practical method for understanding your own lens, respecting the views of others, and co-creating a better path forward.Based on our conversation, here are three actions you can take this week: ✳️ Adopt the mantra "Show up, be seen, live brave." It's a reminder to maintain momentum, especially when you're navigating difficult circumstances. ✳️ Pick up a copy of "The Art of Explanation" by Ros Atkins to learn how to communicate complex ideas with clarity and impact. ✳️ Listen to an episode of "Desert Island Discs" featuring someone you've never heard of. It's a powerful way to gain new perspectives from people outside your usual circle.Buy Connection Intelligence UK

Matthew Bannister onThe Woman's Hour presenter Dame Jenni Murray. Mark Steel joins us to recall her triumphant debut as a stand-up comedian. Len Deighton who created “anti-James Bond” novels including The Ipcress File, Billion Dollar Brain and Horse Under Water.Lynda Hale, the footballer who battled against sexism to play in the first official England women's international in 1972.Jurgen Habermas, the German philosopher who came up with the influential concept of “the public sphere”.Producer: Ed Prendeville Assistant Producer: Catherine Powell Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn TansleyArchive: Jurgen Habermas interview, YouTube Upload, Davidmeme, 1/02/2007; Jürgen Habermas Interview, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs (Georgetown University), 10/2011; Scotland v England, BBC News, 18/11/1972; South Today, BBC, 29/07/2025; South Today, BBC, 18/07/2022; Nationwide, BBC, 17/11/1972; Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 19/06/1976 The Lively Arts: Len Deighton, BBC Two, 18/12/1977; The Truth About Len Deighton, BBC Four, 01/08/2007; The Ipcress File, BBC Radio 4, 04/01/2015; Pebble Mill, BBC One, 13/05/1993; South Today, BBC (via TV Ark), 20/10/1983; Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 19/01/1987; Comic Relief, BBC, 09/03/2011 BBC News, BBC, 21/12/2006; Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4, 01/10/2020

In light of the death of Jenni Murray who presented Radio 4's Woman's Hour for 33 years, listeners reflect on the impact she made on their lives over the decades. We also discuss controversy on Radio 4's Woman's Hour, with many listeners questioning the programme's choice of guests for a discussion on “the manosphere” last week. Reflecting on another much loved BBC broadcaster, Radio Times journalist Simon O'Hagan talks about Radio 2 presenter Liza Tarbuck's decision to step back from the programme which she has presented for the past 14 years. We also hear what Liza means to her loyal Saturday evening listeners.Kicking off this year's nominations for Feedback's Interview of the Year, we revisit an interview with Jessie Buckley on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. The actress spoke to Lauren Laverne just before she became the first Irish woman to win a leading actress Oscar for her starring role in Hamnet.Presenter: Andrea Catherwood Producer: Rebecca Guthrie Assistant Producer: Jac Phillimore Executive Producer: David PrestA Whistledown Scotland production for BBC Radio 4

Richard Young is a photographer who was once known as the “king of the paparazzi”.His portfolio is a who's who of some of the biggest stars in film, music, stage and popular culture from the past fifty years. From gatecrashing Elizabeth Taylor's party for Richard Burton's 50th at the Dorchester to later being invited to photograph her Damehood celebrations. He can count the first photographs of Paul Getty Jr. after his kidnapping as just one of his many scoops.He was born in Hackney to a Jewish family and his father ran a hosiery stall in Berwick Street market for more than sixty years. Richard has dyslexia and after being expelled from school at fourteen, he went to Soho and landed a job in fashionable clothes shop frequented by Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, David Hockney and Francis Bacon.A two-year stint in New York followed, working as a studio assistant at Electric Lady Studios, before he returned to London and found himself in a bookshop handed a camera and told to get on with photographing authors.For the past fifty years, he has lived a nocturnal, high octane life of private jets, parties and exclusive events, eventually becoming as much a fixture in the world of celebrity as the people he photographed.Richard lives in London with his wife Susan. His photography gallery is in London and has visitors from around the world.DISC ONE: Rehab - Amy Winehouse DISC TWO: Just Walkin' in the Rain - Johnny Ray DISC THREE: Cosmic Dancer - T. Rex DISC FOUR: Positively 4th Street - Bob Dylan DISC FIVE: Point Blank - Bruce Springsteen DISC SIX: Isn't It a Pity - George Harrison DISC SEVEN: A Beautiful Day - Queen DISC EIGHT: The Gypsy's Wife - Leonard Cohen BOOK CHOICE: Siddhartha by Herman Hesse LUXURY ITEM: Caviar CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Point Blank - Bruce Springsteen Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast other photographers away to the island over the years including David Bailey, Sally Mann and Vanley Burke. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Tahra Zafar is a costume and creature effects designer. She designed the Paddington Bear puppet featured in the hit West End production Paddington: The Musical.Born into a theatre family, she grew up with an Armenian American father who worked as a choreographer in the first West End production of West Side Story, and a mother who moved from a career as a ballerina to theatre work around the world. Her interest in making began early, helping her father with practical projects such as restoring their house, even learning to build walls and spending her spare time model making, with Airfix creations suspended from her bedroom ceiling.After studying theatre design at Central Saint Martins, she began her career making theatre costumes. She spent some time at the Jim Henson creature workshop where she made some of the creatures for the first Harry Potter film including Hedwig the owl and Scabbers the rat.After her daughter was born, Tahra worked on some of the characters for In the Night Garden with her daughter, a willing judge of what worked for toddlers. In 2012, Tahra was in charge of 23,000 costumes for the London 2012 Olympic opening and closing ceremonies. This role included an audience with the late Queen to ensure the wig and dress were correct for Her Majesty's stunt double when that iconic skydive was performed at the Olympic opening ceremony. Tahra lives in London with her daughter.DISC ONE: Thunderbirds (Main Theme) - The Barry Gray Orchestra DISC TWO: Gee, Officer Krupke. Composed by Leonard Bernstein and performed by Leo Kharibian, Norman Furber and Vince Logan DISC THREE: Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 In D Minor (movement six) Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven and performed by Berlin Philharmoniker, Wiener Singverein and conducted by Herbert von Karajan DISC FOUR: Brazil – Geoff Muldaur DISC FIVE: Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder DISC SIX: Groove Is in the Heart - Deee-Lite DISC SEVEN: Eclipse - Pink Floyd DISC EIGHT: Take Five - Dave Brubeck BOOK CHOICE: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Complete Books by Douglas Adams LUXURY ITEM: A set of art materials and a storage box CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Eclipse - Pink Floyd Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast other costume designers away to the island over the years including Oscar winners Jenny Beavan and Sandy Powell. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Professor Michele Dougherty is President of the Institute of Physics and Professor of Space Physics at Imperial College London. She was appointed Astronomer Royal last year – the first woman to hold the post in its 350-year history.She was brought up in Durban in South Africa and studied for a Bachelor of Science degree in applied maths at Natal University. After completing a Master's and PhD she took up a fellowship at the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany where she investigated solar wind and galactic wind outflows.In 1991 she joined Imperial College London where she helped devise a magnetic field model for the Ulysses mission. In 1997 she became principal investigator for the magnetometer instrument on board the Cassini probe which was sent to study Saturn and its system.She is currently lead investigator for the J-MAG magnetometer instrument on the European Space Agency's JUICE mission (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) which launched in 2023. It will reach Jupiter in 2031 and spend at least three years observing the planet and three of its largest moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa.Michele was appointed CBE in the 2018 New Years Honours List for services to UK Physical Science Research.DISC ONE: Puccini: Turandot, Act III: Nessun dorma! Performed by Luciano Pavarotti (tenor), John Alldis Choir, Wandsworth School Boys Choir and London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Zubin Mehta DISC TWO: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85: III. Adagio. Composed by Elgar. Performed by Jacqueline du Pré (cello) and London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli DISC THREE: Violin Concerto No. 1 in D Major, Op. 19: III. Moderato. Composed by Tchaikovsky. Performed by Frank Peters Zimmerman (violin), and Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Lorin Maazel DISC FOUR: We Three Kings of Orient Are - Robert Shaw Chamber Singers DISC FIVE: Dancing Queen - ABBA DISC SIX: Dance With My Father - Luther Vandross DISC SEVEN: Franck: Panis Angelicus. Performed by Dame Kiri Te Kanawa (soprano), English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Barry Rose DISC EIGHT: Pie Jesu (From Requiem) Composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Performed by Malakai Bayoh, Schola Cantorum of the Cardinal Vaughan Memorial School and London Mozart Players, directed by Scott Price BOOK CHOICE: The Lord of The Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien LUXURY ITEM: An assortment of wine CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85: III. Adagio. Composed by Elgar. Performed by Jacqueline du Pré (cello) and London Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Sir John Barbirolli Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDesert Island Discs has cast many space experts away to the island over the years including NASA's Dr Nicola Fox, the astronomer Carl Sagan and the astronauts Tim Peake and Chris Hadfield. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Adeel Akhtar is an award-winning actor whose breakthrough role came in 2010 when he starred in Chris Morris's black comedy Four Lions. He won his first BAFTA for Best Actor in 2017 for his role in the BBC drama Murdered by My Father. His second, for Best Supporting Actor, came in 2023 playing Andy Fisher in the BBC series Sherwood.Adeel was born in Hounslow in West London and grew up in Buckinghamshire. He discovered a love of acting at school when he and a group of friends put on a production of Harold Pinter's play The Homecoming. He read law at university but in 2002 followed his true passion and took a drama course at The Actors Studio in New York.He got his first screen part playing one of the four hijackers of United Airlines Flight 93 in the television docudrama Let's Roll: the Story of Flight 93. He has gone on to stretch his talents playing roles in the television series Fool Me Once, The Night Manager and Killing Eve. More recently he appeared on stage in The Cherry Orchard and a new play called The Empire.Adeel lives in London with his wife, documentary maker Alexis Burke, and their two children.DISC ONE: The Weight - Aretha Franklin DISC TWO: Jamaica Farewell - Harry Belafonte DISC THREE: Danny Nedelko - Idles DISC FOUR: First Big Weekend - Arab Strap DISC FIVE: After Hours - Velvet Underground DISC SIX: Time to Pretend - MGMT DISC SEVEN: People's Faces - Kae Tempest DISC EIGHT: Do You Realize?? - The Flaming Lips BOOK CHOICE: A Swim in the Pond in the Rain by George Saunders LUXURY ITEM: A solar-powered air fryer CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Do You Realize?? - The Flaming Lips Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDesert Island Discs has cast many actors away to the island over the years including Cillian Murphy, Stephen Graham, Lesley Manville and Helen McCrory. Adeel's friend Meera Syall is in our archive too. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:45:00 GMT http://relay.fm/tc/131 http://relay.fm/tc/131 Dan Provost, Tom Gerhardt, and Myke Hurley Myke, Tom, and Dan chat about the latest Limited Edition Mark One, and then have a long discussion about adding personality and authenticity into marketing efforts. Myke, Tom, and Dan chat about the latest Limited Edition Mark One, and then have a long discussion about adding personality and authenticity into marketing efforts. clean 2664 Myke, Tom, and Dan chat about the latest Limited Edition Mark One, and then have a long discussion about adding personality and authenticity into marketing efforts. Links and Show Notes: Support Thoroughly Considered with a Relay Membership Limited Edition 018 – Studio Neat Craighill on Instagram BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sir Jony Ive, designer

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 11:45:00 GMT http://relay.fm/tc/131 http://relay.fm/tc/131 Authenticity in Marketing 131 Dan Provost, Tom Gerhardt, and Myke Hurley Myke, Tom, and Dan chat about the latest Limited Edition Mark One, and then have a long discussion about adding personality and authenticity into marketing efforts. Myke, Tom, and Dan chat about the latest Limited Edition Mark One, and then have a long discussion about adding personality and authenticity into marketing efforts. clean 2664 Myke, Tom, and Dan chat about the latest Limited Edition Mark One, and then have a long discussion about adding personality and authenticity into marketing efforts. Links and Show Notes: Support Thoroughly Considered with a Relay Membership Limited Edition 018 – Studio Neat Craighill on Instagram BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sir Jony Ive, designer Jo

The BBC broadcast the first ever edition of Roy Plomley's ‘Desert Island Discs' - the world's longest-running interview programme - on 29th January, 1942.  Opening, as the show still does, with Eric Coates's theme music ‘By the Sleepy Lagoon', the episode welcomed comedian Vic Oliver as the series' first ‘castaway'. Plomely would go on to present a further 1,785 editions of the show until his death in 1985. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider the metaphor of an abundant and sunlit desert island in the context of the horrors of the Blitz; discover how BBC censors ensured early episodes lacked the free-wheeling quality modern listeners expect; and reveal the most-chosen artists across the show's incredible archive…  Further Reading: • ‘The History of Desert Island Discs' (BBC): https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/59YrnYM0Tw8J7WJ0MGKVfh7/the-history-of-desert-island-discs • ‘Seven Decades of Desert Island Discs' (The New Yorker, 2012)' https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/seven-decades-of-desert-island-discs • ‘Kirsty Young introduces Desert Island Discs: 70 Years of Castaways' (Waterstones, 2012): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AD7NwCAAAgM #40s #Celebrity #Arts Love the show? Support us!  Join 

"you'll never be lonely if you play a musical instrument"

The team discuss Keir Starmer's controversial decision to block Andy Burnham from running as an MP, reportedly over fears it could threaten his leadership, before playing the ‘King of the North' game. They then cover Kemi Badenoch's appearance on Desert Island Discs, Suella Braverman's defection to Reform and Labour's plans to create a UK police body similar to the FBI.In Round 2, we learn more about policing matters but this time it's with the Official Marathon Time Integrity Unit calling out suspicious running influencers followed by a story about Alex Honnold, the unflappable climber who scaled a 101-floor skyscraper in 91 minutes.Finally, in the missing words round, they tackle a penis-related scandal at the 2026 Winter Olympics, camels causing chaos in Australia and what to do if you're still hungry after a meal.If you enjoy the podcast, please give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and make sure you subscribe there so you don't miss an episode!For updates on the show, make sure you're following Have I Got News for You on Instagram, TikTok and X (formerly known as twitter) and get in touch with us there using #HIGNFYpod or emailing podcasts@hattrick.com. Your host is Mike RaymentWith Jack HarrisEmerald Paston And Queenie Miller who is back next week!The Producer is Diggory WaiteThe Executive Producer is Claire BroughtonThe Music is by Big GeorgeIn the News This Week is a Hat Trick Podcast

Kate Winslet is an actor who achieved global fame playing Rose DeWitt Bukater, opposite Leonard DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, in the 1997 James Cameron epic Titanic. During her career she has won five BAFTAs, two Emmys, five Golden Globes and an Academy Award for her role in the Reader. Kate was born in Reading in 1975 and attended Redroofs School for the Performing Arts in Maidenhead, Berkshire. Her film debut came in 1994 when she played a teenage killer in Peter Jackson's film Heavenly Creatures. The following year she played Marianne Dashwood opposite Emma Thompson's Elinor in Sense and Sensibility, directed by Ang Lee. Kate's performance earned her a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She went on to consolidate her reputation as one of the most versatile actors of her generation by starring in a list of popular and critically acclaimed films including Hideous Kinky, Iris, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and The Holiday.Last year Kate directed her first film, Goodbye June, starring Helen Mirren, Timothy Spall and Andrea Riseborough. Kate has three children and lives in West Sussex with her husband Ned and her family.DISC ONE: Georgia on my Mind - Roger Winslet and Sophie Breakenridge DISC TWO: Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs - Brian and Michael DISC THREE: Kiss from a Rose - Seal DISC FOUR: Summertime - Ella Fitzgerald DISC FIVE: Nuvole Bianche - Ludovico Einaudi DISC SIX: Weird Fishes/ Arpeggi - Radiohead DISC SEVEN: Blue Ridge Mountains - Fleet Foxes DISC EIGHT: Pump up the Jam - Technotronic BOOK CHOICE: Outside: Recipes for a Wilder Way of Eating by Gill Meller LUXURY ITEM: Freshly ground coffee CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Georgia on my Mind – Roger Winslet and Sophie Breakenridge Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDesert Island Discs has cast many actors away over the years including Dame Emma Thompson, Cate Blanchett and Dame Helen Mirren. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Susan's Desert Island Discs with Lauren Laverne doesn't go to plan...

Does Plato matter? An ancient philosopher whose work has inspired and informed countless thinkers and poets across the centuries, his ideas are no longer taught as widely as they once were. But, as Angie Hobbs argues in this clear-sighted book Why Plato Matters Now (Bloomsbury, 2025), that is a mistake.If we want to understand the world we live in – from democracy, autocracy and fake news to celebrity, cancel culture and what money can and cannot do – there is no better place to start than Plato. Exploring the intersection between the ancient and the modern, Professor Hobbs shows how Plato can help us address key questions concerning the nature of a flourishing life and community, healthcare, love and friendship, heroism, reality, art and myth-making. She also shows us how Plato's adaptation of the Socratic method and dialogue form can enable us to deal with contested issues more constructively.Plato's methodology, arguments, ideas and vivid images are explained with a clarity suitable both for readers familiar with his work and for those approaching Plato for the first time. This book shows why Plato really matters, now more than ever. Angie Hobbs is emerita Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. She gained a degree in Classics and a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, and her chief interests are in ancient philosophy and literature, and ethics and political theory from classical thought to the present, and she has published widely in these areas, including Plato and the Hero. She works in a number of policy sectors, and contributes regularly to media around the world, including many appearances on In Our Time on Radio 4; she has spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Athens Democracy Forum, the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Abbey and been the guest on Desert Island Discs and Private Passions. Website here Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Does Plato matter? An ancient philosopher whose work has inspired and informed countless thinkers and poets across the centuries, his ideas are no longer taught as widely as they once were. But, as Angie Hobbs argues in this clear-sighted book Why Plato Matters Now (Bloomsbury, 2025), that is a mistake.If we want to understand the world we live in – from democracy, autocracy and fake news to celebrity, cancel culture and what money can and cannot do – there is no better place to start than Plato. Exploring the intersection between the ancient and the modern, Professor Hobbs shows how Plato can help us address key questions concerning the nature of a flourishing life and community, healthcare, love and friendship, heroism, reality, art and myth-making. She also shows us how Plato's adaptation of the Socratic method and dialogue form can enable us to deal with contested issues more constructively.Plato's methodology, arguments, ideas and vivid images are explained with a clarity suitable both for readers familiar with his work and for those approaching Plato for the first time. This book shows why Plato really matters, now more than ever. Angie Hobbs is emerita Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. She gained a degree in Classics and a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, and her chief interests are in ancient philosophy and literature, and ethics and political theory from classical thought to the present, and she has published widely in these areas, including Plato and the Hero. She works in a number of policy sectors, and contributes regularly to media around the world, including many appearances on In Our Time on Radio 4; she has spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Athens Democracy Forum, the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Abbey and been the guest on Desert Island Discs and Private Passions. Website here Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/critical-theory

Does Plato matter? An ancient philosopher whose work has inspired and informed countless thinkers and poets across the centuries, his ideas are no longer taught as widely as they once were. But, as Angie Hobbs argues in this clear-sighted book Why Plato Matters Now (Bloomsbury, 2025), that is a mistake.If we want to understand the world we live in – from democracy, autocracy and fake news to celebrity, cancel culture and what money can and cannot do – there is no better place to start than Plato. Exploring the intersection between the ancient and the modern, Professor Hobbs shows how Plato can help us address key questions concerning the nature of a flourishing life and community, healthcare, love and friendship, heroism, reality, art and myth-making. She also shows us how Plato's adaptation of the Socratic method and dialogue form can enable us to deal with contested issues more constructively.Plato's methodology, arguments, ideas and vivid images are explained with a clarity suitable both for readers familiar with his work and for those approaching Plato for the first time. This book shows why Plato really matters, now more than ever. Angie Hobbs is emerita Professor of the Public Understanding of Philosophy at the University of Sheffield. She gained a degree in Classics and a PhD in Ancient Philosophy at the University of Cambridge, and her chief interests are in ancient philosophy and literature, and ethics and political theory from classical thought to the present, and she has published widely in these areas, including Plato and the Hero. She works in a number of policy sectors, and contributes regularly to media around the world, including many appearances on In Our Time on Radio 4; she has spoken at the World Economic Forum at Davos, the Athens Democracy Forum, the Houses of Parliament, the Scottish Parliament and Westminster Abbey and been the guest on Desert Island Discs and Private Passions. Website here Morteza Hajizadeh is a Ph.D. graduate in English from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. His research interests are Cultural Studies; Critical Theory; Environmental History; Medieval (Intellectual) History; Gothic Studies; 18th and 19th Century British Literature. YouTube Channel: here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/intellectual-history

Gordon Buchanan is a wildlife cameraman and TV presenter. He is best known for the Animal Family & Me series of BBC documentaries in which he gets up close to wild bears, Arctic wolves, elephants and reindeer among other species.Gordon was brought up in Tobermory on the Isle of Mull where he spent his days exploring the island and developed his lifelong love of the outdoors. In 1988, when he was 17, he met the charismatic wildlife cameraman Nick Gordon who invited him to become his assistant for a project to film primates on the island of Tiwai in Sierra Leone. Gordon spent 18 months in Sierra Leone working with Nick and after that the two of them worked in West Africa and South America. At 22 Gordon set up on his own – his first job was a year-long assignment to make three half-hour programmes for a 14-part wildlife series called Wild Islands. In 2001 he made his debut as a presenter on the BBC's Natural World strand. He was appointed an MBE for services to conservation and wildlife filmmaking in 2020. Gordon lives in Glasgow with his wife Wendy. They have two children. DISC ONE: Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver DISC TWO: Brandy in the Airidh - Peat & Diesel DISC THREE: Purple Haze – The Jimi Hendrix Experience DISC FOUR: Heart-Shaped Box - Nirvana DISC FIVE: High and Dry - Radiohead DISC SIX: Last Nite - The Strokes DISC SEVEN: Electrical Storm - U2 DISC EIGHT: Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - Beyoncé BOOK CHOICE: Teach Yourself Tap Dancing by Derek Hartley LUXURY ITEM: A mask, snorkel and fins CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: High and Dry - RadioheadPresenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDesert Island Discs has cast many wildlife experts and broadcasters away including Dr George McGavin, Professor Carl Jones, Sir David Attenborough and Dr Jane Goodall. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Matthew Bannister onRob Reiner, the film director, screenwriter and actor behind pictures like “This Is Spinal Tap”, “Stand By Me” and “When Harry Met Sally”.Stanley Baxter, the Scottish comedian best known for his impersonations of Hollywood stars and royalty. The actor Bill Paterson pays tribute. And Joanna Trollope and Sophie Kinsella, two best-selling novelists who, in their different ways, told stories of modern life and relationships.Interviewee: Hadley Freeman Interviewee: Linda Evans Interviewee: Bill Paterson Interviewee: Brian Beacom Interviewee: Bill Scott-KerrProducer: Gareth Nelson-Davies Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Glyn TansleyArchive used: Rob Reiner interview, HardTalk, BBC News, 06/05/1998; All In The Family trailer, Tandem Productions, 1975; This is Spinal Tap, Sony Pictures Entrainment, uploaded to YouTube 31/07/2025; Stand By Me, Film Trailer, Castle Rock 1986, Dir: Rob Reiner; When Harry Met Sally, Official Film Trailer, 1989, Director: Rob Reiner; Joanna Trollope interview, BBC Four, 23/03/2014; Stanley Baxter: Compilation of Best Sketches and Impressions, BBC Scotland 1962; Stanley Baxter interview, Desert Island Discs, BBC Radio 4, 02/02/1970; Stanley Baxter, Best of Show, BBC Television, 14/02/1961; Sophie Kinsella reads a second extract from her novel Mini Shopaholic, Transworld Books, uploaded to YouTube 08/09/2010; Confessions of a Shopaholic Trailer 2009, Touchstone Pictures, Director P.J. Hogan; Sophie Kinsella interview, Loose Ends, BBC Radio 4, 22/04/2013; Meet the Author: Sophie Kinsella, BBC News, 05/02/2017; Sophie Kinsella, Extract from book preview, What Does It Feel Like?, Read by Sally Phillips, Penguin Random House;

Sir Tim Berners-Lee is a computer scientist and the inventor of the World Wide Web. He was born in 1955, a golden year for technology innovators. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were also born in the same year. A curious child, he learned about electronics from his train set and spent his pocket money on transistors. His first significant connecting invention was building an intercom as a teenager for the family home before moving on to build his first computer. His parents were both mathematicians and coders who met whilst building one of the first commercially available computers in the early nineteen fifties. Sir Tim came up with the idea of the World Wide Web whilst working at CERN and insisted that the technology be released to the world without commercial reward so that it would be free for everyone to use. He was knighted for his world changing invention and also appointed to the Order of Merit. In 2016 he was given the Turing Award. Sir Tim Berners-Lee divides his time between the US, the UK and Canada with his wife Rosemary, who is also a technology entrepreneur.Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast many computer scientists away over the years including Dame Wendy Hall and Sir Demis Hassibis. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Sally Mann is a photographer and a New York Times bestselling writer. She is best known for making large-format black and white photographs of the people and places in her immediate surroundings: her children, her husband, and the rural landscape of her home state and the American South. Sally was born in Lexington, Virginia, the youngest of three children to Robert and Elizabeth Munger. Her father was a doctor and gave Sally his old Leica camera to play with. After university, she wanted to be a poet but she spent more than a decade as a commercial photographer while starting a family of her own and exhibiting her work on a small scale. She published her first book of photographs in 1984. That same year, she began taking pictures of her three children for a series called Immediate Family, which brought her both renown as well as infamy for touching on ordinary moments in their daily lives – playing, sleeping, and eating, sometimes while naked – but also speaking to larger themes such as death and cultural perceptions of childhood, rendering familiar subjects “both sublime and disquieting”. In the mid-1990s, she began to move away from the family pictures in favour of photographing the landscape around her. Much of Sally's body of work comes from observing what is closest at hand because, she says, “The things that are close to you are the things that you can photograph the best.” She has explored the identity of the American South, and her relationship with her place of origin, as well as mortality and decay, and the effects of muscular dystrophy on her husband. In her latest book, Art Work, she considers the challenges and pleasures of the creative process. Sally continues to live on the 800-acre family farm near Lexington with her husband Larry and a number of dogs. DISC ONE: Köln, January 24, 1975, Part I - Keith Jarrett DISC TWO: Take This Hammer - Odetta DISC THREE: Trustful Hands - The Dø DISC FOUR: Oh Holy Night. Composed by Adolphe Adam and performed by Concert Choir of St Andrew's School, Delaware and Virginia Mann (Soprano) DISC FIVE: Moby Dick (an extract of Chapter 3) Written by Herman Melville and narrated by Frank Muller DISC SIX: County Seat - Emmett Mann DISC SEVEN: Vivaldi: Oboe Concerto in C major, RV 452: 2. Adagio. Performed by Heinz Holliger (Oboe), I Musici (Ensemble) DISC EIGHT: You Are My Friend (Live) - Sylvester BOOK CHOICE: In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust LUXURY ITEM: Paper and a pencil CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: You Are My Friend (Live) - Sylvester Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast many photographers away over the years including Eve Arnold, Val Wilmer and Vanley Burke. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Lorraine Kelly is a journalist and broadcaster who has been a mainstay of daytime television for over 40 years. She has hosted her own show Lorraine since its launch in 2010 and she was awarded a lifetime achievement BAFTA in 2024.Lorraine was born in Glasgow and later moved with her family to the new town of East Kilbride. She became a junior reporter at the East Kilbride News when she was in her teens and in 1983 joined the BBC as a researcher. In 1984 she started at TV-am as a reporter covering Scottish news. During her time there she reported on some of the biggest stories in the UK including the Piper Alpha disaster and the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie. In January 1990 she became a co-presenter of Good Morning Britain on TV-am alongside Mike Morris. In 1996 Lorraine and Eamonn Holmes reported for GMTV on the Dunblane school shooting in which sixteen pupils and their teacher were killed. The tragedy left a lasting impact on Lorraine, who formed a lasting bond with several affected families. She returned to Dunblane in 2021 to mark the 25th anniversary with a commemorative documentary.Lorraine lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband Steve.DISC ONE: Starman - Davie Bowie DISC TWO: Mama Said - Dusty Springfield DISC THREE: Careful - Horse DISC FOUR: Rock the Casbah - The Clash DISC FIVE: Truth - Hue & Cry DISC SIX: Warm Leatherette - Grace Jones DISC SEVEN: Love is All Around - Wet Wet Wet DISC EIGHT: That's When He Told Her - The ProclaimersBOOK CHOICE: South: The Last Antarctic Expedition of Shackleton and the Endurance by Sir Ernest Shackleton LUXURY ITEM: A solar-powered digital photo album CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Careful - Horse Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyThere are more than 2000 programmes in our archive available for you to listen to. We have cast away other journalists and presenters including Sir Terry Wogan, Christiane Amanpour, Lindsey Hilsum and Clive Myrie. You can find their episodes on BBC Sounds or on our Desert Island Discs website.

Lennie James is a British actor and writer. In 2025, he received the BAFTA for Leading Actor for his portrayal of Barrington Walker in the TV adaptation of Bernadine Evaristo's novel Mr. Loverman.This award adds to his collection, which also includes accolades for writing. At seventeen, he wrote Trial and Error and won the National Youth Theatre–Texaco Playwriting Competition, earning the title of Most Prominent Playwright Under 21.For a decade, Lennie played Morgan Jones in The Walking Dead and its spin-off Fear the Walking Dead, gaining such global recognition that he was even recognised by Vatican guards.He also created and starred in the critically acclaimed Sky Atlantic drama Save Me, which premiered in 2018. Its second season, Save Me Too, won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Drama Series in 2021.Raised by his mother Phyllis, who emigrated from Trinidad to work as a nurse, Lennie faced hardship after her death when he was eleven. He and his brother Kestor were placed in a children's home, and later Lennie moved into foster care after the home was sold by Wandsworth Council.Encouraged by a youth theatre group, Lennie pursued acting and later trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.He met his wife, Giselle, at seventeen in the same youth theatre group. They have three daughters and divide their time between the US and the UK.DISC ONE: Touch The Hem Of His Garment - Gene Martin DISC TWO: I Found Lovin' - Fatback Band DISC THREE: Doesn't Make It Alright - The Specials DISC FOUR: Living For The City - Stevie Wonder DISC FIVE: Any Old Time - Artie Shaw and his Orchestra with Billie Holiday DISC SIX: For me... Formidable - Charles Aznavour DISC SEVEN: Champagne Supernova - Oasis DISC EIGHT: Try a Little Tenderness - Otis Redding BOOK CHOICE: The Collected Novels of Toni Morrison LUXURY ITEM: A guitar CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: For me... Formidable - Charles Aznavour Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah TaylorDesert Island Discs has cast many actors and writers away including the author of Mr. Loverman, Booker Prize winner Bernadine Evaristo and the creator of Line of Duty, Jed Mercurio. You can hear their programmes if you search through BBC Sounds or our own Desert Island Discs website.

Mary Greenwell is a makeup artist who has worked with some of the most famous faces in the world including Christy Turlington, Linda Evangelista, David Bowie and Cate Blanchett. Her less-is-more approach has won her plaudits in the beauty industry and she became Princess Diana's makeup artist of choice.Mary was born in Sussex and left school at 16. By the mid-1970s she was living in Los Angeles where she started out on the door at the legendary Joe Allen restaurant, escorting the likes of Paul Newman and Jack Lemmon to their tables. She received her one and only makeup lesson from the award-winning Ilana Harkavi and shortly afterwards created a look for 12-year-old actor Brooke Shields.Mary's big break came when she moved to Paris in 1984 and began working with the original supermodels; Christy Turlingon, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Tatiana Patitz. In 1990 she met Princess Diana on a Vogue photo shoot and became her go-to makeup artist and friend.In 2025 Mary was appointed an MBE for services to the beauty and fashion industries and her charity work.Mary lives in London. DISC ONE: Lay Lady Lay - Bob Dylan DISC TWO: I Am Enough - Tallulah Rendall DISC THREE: Suzanne - Leonard Cohen DISC FOUR: Walk on the Wild Side - Lou Reed DISC FIVE: Wish You Were Here - Pink Floyd DISC SIX: Cold Little Heart - Michael Kiwanuka DISC SEVEN: Diamonds - Rihanna DISC EIGHT: Heroes - David Bowie BOOK CHOICE: The Temple of the Golden Pavilion by Yukio Mishima LUXURY ITEM: A bed CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I Am Enough - Tallulah Rendall Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyThere are more than 2000 programmes in our archive available for you to listen to. We've cast away other hair and beauty experts including the makeup artist Pat McGrath, and hairdressers Vidal Sassoon and Trevor Sorbie. Cate Blanchett, one of Mary's clients, is in our archive too. You can find their episodes on BBC Sounds or on our Desert Island Discs website.

Ronnie Wood is a musician and artist who has been a major player on the UK music scene for over 60 years. In 1975 Ronnie became a member of the Rolling Stones, one of the most influential and enduring bands of the rock era.Ronnie's parents were born and worked on barges moving cargo up and down the canals between Manchester, Stratford-upon-Avon and London. Ronnie and his two older brothers were the first in the family to be born on dry land.Ronnie's brothers, Ted and Art, were accomplished musicians and played in highly respected bands. Ronnie made his debut at nine-years-old when he played the washboard in Ted's band during a performance at their local cinema. Ronnie formed his first band, The Birds, with some friends. In 1967 he joined the Jeff Beck Group with his lifelong friend Rod Stewart. Two years later they formed the Faces with the remaining members of the Small Faces. Ronnie joined the Rolling Stones in 1975, replacing the band's previous guitarist Mick Taylor. Ronnie's love of art developed in childhood and he studied at Ealing College of Art. His work has been shown in exhibitions around the world.Ronnie lives in Hertfordshire with his wife Sally and their two children.Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Paula McGinleyDISC ONE: Guitar Shuffle - Big Bill Broonzy DISC TWO: Shame, Shame, Shame - Jimmy Reed DISC THREE: Smokestack Lightnin' - Howlin' Wolf DISC FOUR: You Need Love - Muddy Waters DISC FIVE: Adelaide - Frank Sinatra DISC SIX: Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467: II. Andante "Elvira Madigan". Performed by Géza Anda (piano) and Camerata Salzburg (Orchestra) DISC SEVEN: Roll Over Beethoven – Chuck Berry DISC EIGHT: Maybe I'm Amazed - Paul McCartney BOOK CHOICE: Just for Today: Daily Meditations for Recovering Addicts by Narcotics Anonymous LUXURY ITEM: A chest containing art materials and a carpet CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Smokestack Lightnin' - Howlin' Wolf There are more than 2000 programmes in our archive available for you to listen to. We have cast away other musicians and songwriters including Mark Knopfler, Bruce Springsteen and Cyndi Lauper. Ronnie's fellow Stones, Keith Richards and Charlie Watts, are in our archive too along with Ronnie's friend Paul McCartney. You can find their episodes on BBC Sounds or on our Desert Island Discs website.

Angela Harding is an artist, printmaker and illustrator. Based in Rutland, Angela's work is inspired by the countryside of the British Isles, and in particular British birds. Alongside her many prints and artistic creations, her award-willing illustrations can be found adorning many a book cover.Angela was born in Stoke-on-Trent in June 1960, the middle of three daughters to Stephen and Joan Harding. It was an artistic household: her father, a headteacher, passed on his love of poetry to Angela, her mother taught pottery, and all three sisters would end up going to art college. She left school at sixteen and, at her mother's behest, did a pre-nursing course before pursuing her passion for art. She studied Fine Art at Leicester Polytechnic from where she graduated with a first in 1982. After indulging her love of travel – both on her bike around Britain as well as on a Magic Bus across Europe – Angela spent twenty years working in the art world, from teaching to consultancy. During these years, she married and raised two children, then divorced and married her second husband, Mark.In 2008, she made the life changing decision to pursue a career as a professional artist: she abandoned the media she had previously worked in and concentrated on linocuts and silkscreen printing. She has worked as a magazine illustrator and today her prints can be found on everything from book covers to tea towels and greeting cards. Her advent calendars – first produced in 2015 – have become a collector's item. She has also published several books of her own.When she's not on her boat sailing around the British Isles, Angela lives in Rutland, with her husband Mark and her whippet, Oaty. DISC ONE: I Wanna Thank Ya (featuring Snoop Dogg) - Angie Stone DISC TWO: The Thought Fox. Written and read by Ted Hughes DISC THREE: Britten: Songs from "Friday Afternoons", Op. 7: Songs From Friday Afternoons, Op. 7: "Cuckoo!". Performed by Choir of Downside School, Purley, Viola Tunnard (piano), Benjamin Britten (conductor) DISC FOUR: Rise - Public Image Ltd. DISC FIVE: My Lady Story - Anohni and the Johnsons DISC SIX: La conga blicoti - Joséphine Baker DISC SEVEN: Skeleton Tree - LYR DISC EIGHT: Marie douceur - Marie colère - Marie Laforêt BOOK CHOICE: Complete Poetical Works and Letters of Edward Thomas LUXURY ITEM: A lino printing set with champagne CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I Wanna Thank Ya (featuring Snoop Dogg) - Angie Stone Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah TaylorThere are more than 2000 programmes in our archive available for you to listen to. We have cast away other notable artists including Helen Oxenbury, Maggie Hambling and Quentin Blake. You'll also find the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage in our archive too. You can find their episodes on BBC Sounds or on our Desert Island Discs website.

The broadcasting legend Sir David Attenborough was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2012 for the 70th anniversary of Desert Island Discs.Sir David told Kirsty about his passion for fossils, which began as a child and inspired his love of the natural world.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.