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Desert Island Discs — Personal Journals
Desert Island Discs

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

Copyright: © (C) BBC 2023

Latest Episodes:

Suggs May 19, 2002

Show notes

Suggs made his name as front man of 80s pop phenomenon Madness and impressed a whole generation with his unique style of singing, silly dancing and fondness for making the mundane the subject of his songs, such as Baggy Trousers, inspired by memories of school. Although his cockney accent is part of his singing style, he was actually born in Hastings and moved to London as a child. His singer mother was perhaps a subconscious inspiration, but Suggs didn't have any particular ambitions in his teens. He dropped out of school and did what a lot of teenage boys do - formed a band with his friends.

Madness, a seven-piece gang of friends, became a huge success. Their first single 'The Prince' went to number 16 in 1979 and three years later they had a number one with House of Fun. In seven years they had 20 singles in the top twenty UK chart and travelled the world playing to large audiences. Now Madness occasionally meet up and play their hits list, and Suggs has launched a successful solo career and is also working in TV, hosting Night Fever on Channel 5 and captaining a team on BBC1's A Question of Pop.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Is That All There Is? by Peggy Lee Book: A concise book of Italian verbs Luxury: A nucleus of bees

Sir Aaron Klug May 12, 2002

Show notes

Sir Aaron Klug grew up in Durban, South Africa on the edge of the Bush, which provided him with enough snakes and monkeys to satisfy his curiosity. A bright child, he read anything that was available and enjoyed an idyllic childhood. He started studying medicine at university level in Johannesburg at the age of fifteen, but soon switched to chemistry, physics and mathematics, which provided more stimulus for his enquiring mind.

He began to research at Cape Town University and later Cambridge, where he joined the world-famous Cavendish Laboratory and later the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. His work led to him winning the Nobel prize for Chemistry in 1982 for his work on cell structure.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: The Ode to Joy (Symphony No 9) by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: A set of books on Roman Republican and Imperial coinage Luxury: A set of mixed Greek and Roman coinage

Jude Kelly May 05, 2002

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the theatre director Jude Kelly. Currently based at the West Yorkshire Playhouse - which under her creative directorship has become The National Theatre of the North, Kelly is known for her enthusiasm to bring the arts to everyone, and embracing new ideas in the creative arts.

In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: In A Landscape by John Cage Book: A specially commissioned complete history of art book, with sections by John Berger, David Hockney and Jeanette Winterson among others Luxury: A notebook and pencil

Betty Jackson Apr 28, 2002

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the fashion designer Betty Jackson. For three decades Betty Jackson has been at the cutting edge of the British Fashion scene and this year presented her 40th show at London Fashion week. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: You Don't Have To Say You Love Me by Dusty Springfield Book: Vision: 50 Years of Creativity by Melvyn Bragg Luxury: Red lipstick

Wayne Marshall Apr 21, 2002

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the organist Wayne Marshall. He describes himself as a virtuosic performer, preferring to play "loud and fast". The energy he brings to his performances has brought him fans from around the world. He is a renowned interpreter of Gershwin on the piano, also conducts and he has turned his hand to composing - his first work was published in 2001. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F by George Gershwin Book: Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians Luxury: A Steinway model D piano, specially conditioned to deal with all weathers

Sir Christopher Bland Apr 14, 2002

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the Chairman of BT, Sir Christopher Bland. Passionately interested in business, Sir Christopher's business career maps a total of 18 different business and industries, about which he says "I was shocked!" It also includes Chairmanships of LWT and the BBC. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Write Myself a Letter by Fats Waller Book: The collected works by John Donne Luxury: Two and half miles of the Hampshire Chalk Stream

Fiona Reynolds Apr 07, 2002

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the Director General of the National Trust, Fiona Reynolds. Passionate about the countryside, the job at the National Trust was a dream come true for Fiona, but six weeks into the job she was faced with Foot and Mouth and had to make the drastic decision to close almost all of the National Trust properties.

In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: The Salutation from Dies Natalis by Finzi Book: The Making of the English Landscape by W G Hoskins Luxury: The full collection of Ordnance Survey maps of the British Isles

Gordon Ramsay Mar 31, 2002

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the chef Gordon Ramsay, the only British chef in the country to have three Michelin stars, at his eponymous restaurant in London. He has recently become 'chef Patron' (head chef) at the restaurant at Claridges, owns two more restaurants, Pétrus in London and Amaryllis in Glasgow and is the author of four books. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Yellow by Coldplay Book: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain Luxury: A fresh vanilla pod

Dorothy Rowe Mar 24, 2002

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the psychologist Dorothy Rowe, author of groundbreaking books on depression such as Choosing not Losing, Breaking the Bonds and The Courage to Live. Translated into 12 languages, her books have helped many people round the world learn about themselves. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Finale (Allegro vivace) by Franz Schubert Book: The Oxford Companion to the Body by Professor Colin Blakemore Luxury: A snorkelling suit with prescription goggles

Fay Godwin Mar 17, 2002

Show notes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the landscape photographer Fay Godwin. Her evocative pictures brought Fay Godwin to the notice of the poet Ted Hughes and their collaboration Remains of Elmet led Fay to "discover Britain through the soles of her feet", taking photographs as she walked the length and breadth of the British Isles. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: 5th movement, String Quartet No 13 in Bflat by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: The Rattlebag: An Anthology of Poetry by Ted Hughes Luxury: Egg tempura paints, brushes, and boards to paint on

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