Desert Island Discs

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J K Rowling Nov 05, 2000

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway is the writer and creator of Harry Potter J K Rowling.

Favourite track: First movement-Violin Concerto in D Major by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Book: SAS Survival Guide Luxury: Pen and unlimited paper

Ronald Harwood Aug 27, 2000

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the writer Ronald Harwood. At the age of 17 Ronald Harwood left his home in South Africa and set sail for England, determined to become an actor. When that failed he turned his hand successfully to writing. Some plays, like The Dresser, draw on his theatrical experiences, others, like Articles of Faith deal with the political dilemmas. He leaves behind his thought-provoking work to join Sue Lawley on the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Emperor Concerto No 5 in E Flat, Opus 73 by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh Luxury: My bathroom

Christopher Lloyd Aug 20, 2000

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the gardener and writer Christopher Lloyd. Well known for his forthright opinions, Christopher Lloyd has tended his family garden at Great Dixter in Sussex for nearly 70 years. It's been the source of inspiration for his many books and his column in the magazine Country Life, which he's written without a break since 1963.

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

Favourite track: Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Letters by Gustave Flaubert Luxury: Syndicate whisky

Robert Swan Aug 13, 2000

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the explorer and environmentalist, Robert Swan. When he was a boy Robert Swan became fascinated by Scott's attempt to conquer Antarctica and after university he decided not only to follow in his footsteps - but go one further and travel across the Arctic as well. In 1989 he achieved his dream - becoming the first man ever to walk unsupported to both the North and South Poles.

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

Favourite track: Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay Book: Huge copy of Times Atlas - largest available so I can see where I have been (168 countries so far) Luxury: An accountancy course

Sir Norman Wisdom Aug 06, 2000

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the actor and comedian Sir Norman Wisdom. His cloth cap and tight-fitting jacket became his screen trademark in the 1950s and 1960s and characters like Norman Pitkin won him fans all over the world. Sir Norman talks to Sue Lawley about a career that's spanned more than 60 years and chooses eight records to take with him the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Don't Laugh at Me 'Cos I'm a Fool by Norman Wisdom Book: Reach for the Skies by Sir Douglas Bader Luxury: Pot of stew with two dumplings

General Sir Charles Guthrie Jul 30, 2000

Show notes

This week, Sue Lawley's castaway on Desert Island Discs is General Sir Charles Guthrie.

Favourite track: The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves by Giuseppe Verdi Book: Vol 1 of biography of the Duke of Wellington - Year of the Sword by Lady Longford Luxury: Surfboard

Sir Roger Penrose Jul 23, 2000

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the mathematician Sir Roger Penrose. His prize-winning work with Stephen Hawking on the nature of black holes brought his name to public attention in the 1960s. Since then he has made a controversial contribution to the debate over human consciousness and whether or not computers will ever be able to mimic the workings of the human mind.

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

Favourite track: Crucifixion from B Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: The fattest book by Michael Frayne Luxury: 19-note piano

Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP Jul 16, 2000

Show notes

This week, Sue Lawley's castaway on Desert Island Discs is Michael Portillo.

Favourite track: Viene la Sera by Giacomo Puccini Book: Proust: Time Regained by Alain de Botton Luxury: Solar-powered laptop

Alan Parker Jul 09, 2000

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is Alan Parker. When Alan Parker's Bugsy Malone came out in 1975, it marked the beginning of a very successful and sometimes controversial career. Films like Midnight Express, Fame and The Commitments underline his versatility and have won him countless awards all over the world.

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

Favourite track: Nimrod by Edward Elgar Book: A giant photo album of his four children and grandchildren that goes back over twenty years. Luxury: Watercolour paint box (plus brush and pad)

Peter Nichols Jul 02, 2000

Show notes

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the playwright Peter Nichols. His award winning work, including Privates on Parade and A Day in The Death of Joe Egg has left audiences in stitches and sometimes in tears. With the recent revival of Passion Play, his darkly comic tale about adultery, Peter Nichols talks to Sue Lawley about his life and writing, and chooses eight records to take to the mythical desert island.

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

Favourite track: Hostias (from Requiem in D Minor) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: His diary which he has kept since he was 18 - to relive life since 1945 Luxury: Cyanide tablet (if he can't have a tower and telescope or a full-size snooker table)

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