Paco Peña
11 Apr 1999
Contributed by Lukas
This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the flamenco guitarist Paco Peña. Celebrated thoug...
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 ...
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 Gambl...
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 Sina...
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...
Richard Curtis
28 Feb 1999
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway is scriptwriter & Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis.Favourite track: And...
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 acti...
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, af...
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 com...
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 fath...
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 Englan...
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 Schoo...
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 ye...
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 succ...
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 ...
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 c...
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...
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 ...
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...
Bill Morris
22 Nov 1998
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers' un...
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 ...
Joseph Rotblat
08 Nov 1998
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the nuclear physicist and Nobel Peace Laureate, Professor Sir ...
Paul Daniel
01 Nov 1998
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the conductor Paul Daniel. Within weeks of becoming Music Dire...
Lucy Gannon
30 Aug 1998
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the television script writer Lucy Gannon. Her life informs muc...
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...
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 reali...
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...
Ralph Steadman
02 Aug 1998
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway this morning is the political cartoonist Ralph Steadman. His career was launch...
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 balla...
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 calle...
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 A...
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 i...
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 ...
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...
Bill Kenwright
14 Jun 1998
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the theatre producer Bill Kenwright. His West End successes inclu...
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 ...
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 Elli...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ev...
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. Fro...
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...
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 s...
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 wor...
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...
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...
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". A...
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. Hi...
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 sta...
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...
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. ...
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 ar...
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 at...
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 - rul...
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 ...
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 ...
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...
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 programm...
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 ...
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, a...
Loyd Grossman
30 Nov 1997
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the television presenter Loyd Grossman. His career has allowed hi...
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 t...
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...
John Julius Norwich
02 Nov 1997
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the broadcaster and popular historian, John Julius Norwich. Close...
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 ...
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 mu...
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 afte...
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 ...
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 No...
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 cam...
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 ...
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 ...
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 gr...
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 in...
Eric Sykes
22 Jun 1997
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian Eric Sykes.Favourite track: Messiah Hallelujah by George Frideric ...
Christina Noble
15 Jun 1997
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway is campaigner Christina Noble.Favourite track: This Is My Life by Shirley Bass...
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 ...
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 wel...
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-w...
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 talki...
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...
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 wel...
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...
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 appeara...
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 jour...
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 ...
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...
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...
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 dir...
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 haut...
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. Sh...
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 casta...
Gene Wilder
02 Feb 1997
Contributed by Lukas
When this week's castaway was a child his mother had a heart attack. Her doctor gave him two pieces ...
Irene Thomas
26 Jan 1997
Contributed by Lukas
She's an expert on sauce bottles, remembers the small print on British Rail timetables, and for 30 y...
John Cleese
05 Jan 1997
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian and actor John Cleese.Favourite track: Easter Hymn from Cavalleria...
Martin Amis
29 Dec 1996
Contributed by Lukas
Sue Lawley's guest on Desert Island Discs today is the writer Martin Amis. He describes his books as...
Jennifer Saunders
22 Dec 1996
Contributed by Lukas
The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is Absolutely Fabulous! Jennifer Saunders began "doing...
Ian Dury
15 Dec 1996
Contributed by Lukas
Today's castaway on Desert Island Discs confused the rock critics in the late 1970s with songs like ...
Robert Winston
08 Dec 1996
Contributed by Lukas
On Desert Island Discs today the castaway is Robert Winston.As Professor of Fertility Studies at Ham...
Bruce Forsyth
01 Dec 1996
Contributed by Lukas
This week's castaway on Desert Island Discs may be nearing 70, but he knows how to play The Generati...