Desert Island Discs

Chris Bonington

06 Jun 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Chris Bonington. In a climbing career spanning 48 years he has stood astride British mountaineering 'like a hairy colo...

Anthony Howard

30 May 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the journalist Anthony Howard. He's worked on The New Statesman, The Observer and The Sunday Times, where as Obituarie...

Christopher Bruce

23 May 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the artistic director of the Rambert Dance Company Christopher Bruce. As a child he was sent to dance lessons to stren...

Michael Green

16 May 1999

Contributed by Lukas

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is Michael Green. As Chairman of Carlton Communications he is one of the most powerful men in British te...

Richard Dreyfuss

09 May 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Richard Dreyfuss. He was already the youngest actor ever to win an Oscar when he starred in the phenomenally successfu...

Helen Bamber

02 May 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Helen Bamber. In 1945, at the age of 20, she travelled to Belsen with the Jewish Relief agency. There she learnt how i...

Stan Tracey

25 Apr 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the jazz musician Stan Tracey. He's been at the heart of the British Jazz scene since the 1960s when he was resident p...

Ken Loach

18 Apr 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the film director Ken Loach. Probably best known for his film Kes, his recent film, My Name Is Joe has just won the aw...

Paco Peña

11 Apr 1999

Contributed by Lukas

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the flamenco guitarist Paco Peña. Celebrated thoughout the world for his authentic performances, he ...

Richard Dunwoody

04 Apr 1999

Contributed by Lukas

"Sue Lawley's guest this week is the jockey Richard Dunwoody. He's been champion jockey three times and has won the Grand National twice. Now he's hot...

Luise Rainer

28 Mar 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the actress Luise Rainer who recently appeared in the film The Gambler. In 1936 she won the first of two Oscars for he...

Rt Hon Mo Mowlam MP

21 Mar 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway is Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam.Favourite track: Chicago by Frank Sinatra Book: The collected works by Seamus Heaney Lux...

Fay Maschler

14 Mar 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the award-winning restaurant critic Fay Maschler. Twenty-seven years after she won a competition to write a column for...

Richard Curtis

28 Feb 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway is scriptwriter & Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis.Favourite track: And I Love Her by The Beatles Book: Guinness Book of ...

Maria Ewing

21 Feb 1999

Contributed by Lukas

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the opera singer Maria Ewing. Renowned for her acting ability as much as her voice - she portrayed Ca...

Nina Cassian

14 Feb 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the Romanian poet Nina Cassian. She was forbidden to return home, after a visit to New York, because of her outspoken ...

Andras Schiff

07 Feb 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the pianist Andras Schiff. Born in Hungary, Bartok was the first composer he fell in love with and his music is still ...

Bill Bryson

31 Jan 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the American travel writer Bill Bryson. His inspiration was his father; a great traveller who never quite made it to h...

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala

24 Jan 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the writer Ruth Prawer Jhabvala. Born in Germany, she came to England as a refugee and moved to India as a young bride...

David Shepherd

17 Jan 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the wildlife artist David Shepherd.Rejected from the Slade Art School on the grounds of having 'no talent whatsoever' ...

Clare Hollingworth

10 Jan 1999

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the war correspondent Clare Hollingworth. In a career spanning 60 years, her scoops have included identifying Kim Phil...

Dave Brubeck

03 Jan 1999

Contributed by Lukas

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the jazz pianist Dave Brubeck. One of the most successful musicians of our time, it's nearly 40 years...

David Attenborough

25 Dec 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is Sir David Attenborough. He brought the blue-footed booby into our sitting rooms, and revealed the secret lives o...

Bob Monkhouse

20 Dec 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the comedian and television host Bob Monkhouse. He began his career as a schoolboy writing jokes for established...

Dick Francis

13 Dec 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the novelist Dick Francis. In what he calls "the best years of my life" as a professional jockey, he broke his n...

John Keegan

06 Dec 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the military historian John Keegan. As a boy, he would listen to his father's tales of war on the Western Front....

Eileen Atkins

29 Nov 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the actress Eileen Atkins. From dancing in working men's clubs as a child to portraying Virginia Woolf on Broadw...

Bill Morris

22 Nov 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' union, Bill Morris. As a small boy growing up in Jam...

Nicole Kidman

15 Nov 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the actress Nicole Kidman. Fresh from her West End triumph in The Blue Room, she traces her life from her suburb...

Joseph Rotblat

08 Nov 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the nuclear physicist and Nobel Peace Laureate, Professor Sir Joseph Rotblat. During World War II he quit the no...

Paul Daniel

01 Nov 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the conductor Paul Daniel. Within weeks of becoming Music Director of the English National Opera his boss had re...

Lucy Gannon

30 Aug 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the television script writer Lucy Gannon. Her life informs much of her work. When she created Soldier Soldier sh...

Ralph Koltai

23 Aug 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the stage designer Ralph Koltai. He says his work is not about art, but about ideas. His stage sets are a metaph...

Les Murray

16 Aug 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the Australian poet Les Murray. He began writing when he realised that poetry didn't have to be about daffodils ...

David Hempleman Adams

09 Aug 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the explorer David Hempleman Adams. This year he completed the Adventurer's Grand Slam. It took 18 years. When h...

Ralph Steadman

02 Aug 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the political cartoonist Ralph Steadman. His career was launched in 1961 with a five-pound cheque from the satir...

Chris De Burgh

26 Jul 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the singer-songwriter Chris de Burgh. Best known for his ballad Lady in Red, he began his career playing to gues...

Howard Brenton

19 Jul 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway is the playwright Howard Brenton. In the 1960s he was part of a movement called the New Jacobeans. They took drama out of the dr...

Rt Hon Jack Straw MP

12 Jul 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway is Home Secretary Jack Straw.Favourite track: Soave Sia il Vento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: The Franco Prussian War - the ...

Sybille Bedford

05 Jul 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the writer Sybille Bedford. Born the daughter of a German baron in 1911, her childhood brought her into contact wit...

Jack Rosenthal

28 Jun 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the playwright Jack Rosenthal. Bar Mitzvah Boy, and The Evacuees are among his many successes. His work often refle...

John Bird

21 Jun 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Big Issue, John Bird. From a childhood in orphanages and approved schools, h...

Bill Kenwright

14 Jun 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the theatre producer Bill Kenwright. His West End successes include Shirley Valentine, Medea and Stepping Out. A ga...

Geoffrey Smith

07 Jun 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the gardener and broadcaster Geoffrey Smith. He learnt his craft at his father's knee growing fruit and vegetables ...

John Harle

24 May 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the most-recorded saxophonist in the world. Inspired by Duke Ellington and encouraged by Jack Brymer, John Harle is...

Sir David Willcocks

17 May 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is 'England's choir master', Sir David Willcocks. For some 38 years he trained the Bach Choir - the most popular amate...

Antony Gormley

10 May 1998

Contributed by Lukas

"Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the sculptor Antony Gormley. His Angel of the North towers over the A1 just outside Gateshead. Elsewhere, his figu...

Susan Blackmore

03 May 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week says changing her mind was one of the most difficult things she's ever had to do. After an out-of-body experience, psy...

Sir Ernest Hall

26 Apr 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the businessman Sir Ernest Hall.His life is like a fairytale. From a sickly boy, living in the one room he and his ...

Sir Terry Frost

19 Apr 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the abstract artist Sir Terry Frost.He first became interested in art as a prisoner of war, when lack of food and f...

Judi Dench

12 Apr 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the actress Dame Judi Dench.She's been delighting audiences for some 40 years, on film, television and the stage. I...

Gavin Bryars

05 Apr 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the experimental composer Gavin Bryars. One of his best-known works, The Sinking of the Titanic, pays tribute to th...

Alice Thomas Ellis

29 Mar 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the novelist Alice Thomas Ellis.A devout and traditional Catholic, she didn't begin writing until she was 42. The S...

Andrew Motion

22 Mar 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the poet Andrew Motion. He describes his writing as a "biological thing" - like developing a headache or the flu - ...

Ian Stewart

15 Mar 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week believes he has the answer to "life, the universe and everything". According to mathematician Ian Stewart, it's 137-an...

Sir Anthony Dowell

08 Mar 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet, Sir Anthony Dowell. His future was determined as a child when he stood b...

Archie Norman MP

01 Mar 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week has turned around a failing supermarket chain by introducing his staff to 'black-bin Mondays' and 'dress-down Fridays'...

David Pountney

22 Feb 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the opera producer David Pountney. Alongside Mark Elder and Peter Jonas at the ENO, he tried to make opera more att...

Richard Noble

15 Feb 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the man who broke the British land speed records, Richard Noble. His thirst for speed began when he was six years o...

Colin Dexter

01 Feb 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week has murdered 75 people, and although he wants to retire, his fans are begging him for just one more. He's the creator ...

Helena Kennedy QC

25 Jan 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the QC Helena Kennedy. In 1992 she published a book which drew attention to the way English law discriminates again...

John Tomlinson

18 Jan 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the British bass John Tomlinson. He is most famous as Wotan - ruler of the gods in Wagner's Ring Cycle. In fact, it...

Paul Hogarth

11 Jan 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the artist and illustrator Paul Hogarth. He has portrayed A Year in Provence for Peter Mayle, depicted Doris Lessin...

Professor Heinz Wolff

04 Jan 1998

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the scientist Professor Heinz Wolff. He came to public attention when he presented the television programme The Gre...

Glenda Jackson MP

28 Dec 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the politician and Transport Minister Glenda Jackson. Politics is her third job. At 16, she left school to work in ...

Sir Harry Secombe

21 Dec 1997

Contributed by Lukas

This is an archive edition of Desert Island Discs. What follows is what was said about the programme at the time:Sue Lawley's castaway this week has ...

Chris Haskins

14 Dec 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the Chairman of Northern Foods, Chris Haskins. Until recently he was something of a curiosity - a big businessman w...

Paula Rego

07 Dec 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the artist Paula Rego. Born in Portugal, she was an only child, and spent her days sitting with the maids as they t...

Loyd Grossman

30 Nov 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the television presenter Loyd Grossman. His career has allowed him to peer through the keyholes of the rich and fam...

Thelma Holt

23 Nov 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the theatre producer Thelma Holt. Famed for introducing some of the best international productions to this country,...

Anthony Minghella

09 Nov 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the playwright and film director Anthony Minghella. He grew up on the Isle of Wight in a close-knit family of Itali...

John Julius Norwich

02 Nov 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the broadcaster and popular historian, John Julius Norwich. Closely associated with Venice, he talks about his love...

Richard Mabey

26 Oct 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the naturalist and writer Richard Mabey. A romantic at heart, he regrets that so much written about nature these da...

Richard Rodney Bennett

19 Oct 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the composer and performer Richard Rodney Bennett. A versatile musician, he is equally at home playing jazz, writin...

Rose Tremain

12 Oct 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the novelist Rose Tremain. She began writing as a child soon after her father left home. It became a kind of therap...

Jools Holland

05 Oct 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the musician and presenter Jools Holland. He first shot into the public eye when he made what he still calls "a bit...

Peter O'Sullevan

28 Sep 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week has been the voice of racing for half a century. Due to retire in November 1997, Peter O'Sullevan calculates that he h...

Mike Leigh OBE

21 Sep 1997

Contributed by Lukas

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is the filmmaker and director Mike Leigh. He first came to public attention on a dark and stormy evening...

Ursula Owen

14 Sep 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the editor and publisher, Ursula Owen. Twenty-five years ago she helped create Virago - the feminist publishing hou...

Sir Frank Kermode

07 Sep 1997

Contributed by Lukas

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is the literary critic, Sir Frank Kermode. One of the most influential teachers of his age, he is credit...

Cleo Laine

31 Aug 1997

Contributed by Lukas

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is the jazz singer Cleo Laine. Although driven by a great desire to be a performer, and travelling from ...

Iain Banks

24 Aug 1997

Contributed by Lukas

This week's castaway is an author. In his book The Wasp Factory, the teenage protagonist tortures insects, experiments with bombs and kills a brother ...

Eric Sykes

22 Jun 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian Eric Sykes.Favourite track: Messiah Hallelujah by George Frideric Handel Book: Ripley's Believe It Or Not by Ripley ...

Christina Noble

15 Jun 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway is campaigner Christina Noble.Favourite track: This Is My Life by Shirley Bassey Book: The Book of Kells Luxury: Photo of an Iri...

Benjamin Zephaniah

08 Jun 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah. As well as talking about his work as a performance poet often...

Joanna MacGregor

01 Jun 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is concert pianist Joanna MacGregor. As well as talking about her work as a champion of New M...

Sian Phillips

25 May 1997

Contributed by Lukas

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is actress Sian Phillips. Sian talks about her award-winning career and her most recent performance as M...

Harry Enfield

18 May 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is comedian Harry Enfield. As well as talking about characters such as Loadsamoney, Kevin the...

David Wynne

11 May 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is sculptor David Wynne. As well as talking about his sculptures Boy with a Dolphin and Guy t...

Sir Martin Rees

04 May 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees. As well as choosing his eight records, book and luxury, ...

Andy Hamilton

27 Apr 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian and broadcaster Andy Hamilton.Favourite track: Sloop John B by The Beach Boys Book: The Physics of Immortality by Fr...

Saeed Jaffrey

20 Apr 1997

Contributed by Lukas

This week's castaway on Desert Island Discs is an actor. In Britain, he's best known for his appearances in My Beautiful Laundrette, The Chess Players...

Virginia Ironside

30 Mar 1997

Contributed by Lukas

This week's castaway on Desert Island Discs has all the qualifications she needs for her job. A journalist, she learnt her craft in the 1960s when she...

Peter Blake

23 Mar 1997

Contributed by Lukas

Only this week's castaway on Desert Island Discs could place the singer Madonna in the same picture as the Madonna and Child, or follow a painting of ...

Nina Campbell

16 Mar 1997

Contributed by Lukas

When designing the interior of Sunninghill for the Duke and Duchess of York, this week's castaway on Desert Island Discs rummaged through the cellars ...

Redmond O'Hanlon

09 Mar 1997

Contributed by Lukas

This week's castaway is an adventurer - the travel writer Redmond O'Hanlon. He's trekked to deserted mountain tops for a glimpse of the rare Borneo rh...

Dr Susan Greenfield

02 Mar 1997

Contributed by Lukas

It was while studying for a degree in psychology that this week's castaway decided to change the direction of her life and become a neuroscientist. As...

Nico Ladenis

23 Feb 1997

Contributed by Lukas

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is a chef. His food is the culinary equivalent of haute couture, but in the 1980s Nico Ladenis was known...

Mary Benson

16 Feb 1997

Contributed by Lukas

This week's castaway on Desert Island Discs grew up in a conventional white South African family. Shielded from the true history of her country under ...

Terry Pratchett

09 Feb 1997

Contributed by Lukas

He's created a world full of wizards and witches, and his most popular character is Death. The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is one of Bri...