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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:

Vernon Scannell Nov 29, 1987

Show notes

Vernon Scannell's colourful career has included prize-fighting, a controversial spell in the Army, confinement to a mental institution for insisting on becoming a writer and a subsequent award of a civil list pension for his services to literature. In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he looks back on these aspects of his life and also selects the eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: St Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Compiled anthology of English poetry Luxury: Enormous amount of A4 paper

In memory of comedian and writer Barry Cryer Nov 22, 1987

Show notes

Barry Cryer is one of our best-known comedy writers who has, for 30 years, survived the quick-fire world that he sums up with the phrase "We don't want it good - we want it Monday". In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he looks back on his career, both as performer and writer, and he also selects eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Hoffnung by Hoffnung Book: The complete works by J B Priestley Luxury: Tape recorder with a cassette of recordings from home

Robert Carrier Nov 15, 1987

Show notes

As a restaurateur, broadcaster and writer, Robert Carrier's name has become synonymous with good food. In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he looks back on a 25 year career and chooses music to remind him of some of the places he has lived during that time, including his native America, Paris, England and Morocco.

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

Favourite track: Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi Book: The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell Luxury: Tajine

Sue Lawley Nov 08, 1987

Show notes

Sue Lawley admits to being the kind of person whose tummy goes ping when she hears a certain tune and thinks "Ah yes, I remember that, it brings back lovely memories." In conversation with Michael Parkinson, she looks back on her upbringing in Worcestershire, her early days as a journalist and subsequent career as one of our most popular television presenters. She also chooses her eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninov Book: French Provincial Cooking by Elizabeth David Luxury: Iron and ironing board

Bamber Gascoigne Nov 01, 1987

Show notes

"My wife and I are great opera buffs" says Bamber Gascoigne, who became a household name when he first became the question master of BBC television's University Challenge some 25 years ago. In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he looks back on his career as a writer and broadcaster and reveals a novel approach to assembling his package of records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Soave Sia Il Vento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne Luxury: Carpentry tools

Bernard Levin Oct 25, 1987

Show notes

"Music would be absolutely essential on my desert island" says Bernard Levin, "I don't know what my life would be without music". In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he looks back on his career as a journalist and critic and, in narrowing his choice of music to eight records, reveals a penchant for opera.

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

Book: The Michelin Guide to France Luxury: Laptop computer

Sir James Callaghan Oct 18, 1987

Show notes

Sir James Callaghan has the distinction of being the only politician to have held the four highest offices in the state. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary, before becoming Prime Minister in 1976. In an interview with Michael Parkinson recorded in April 1987, he looks back on his career and chooses the eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Jupiter Symphony: 3rd Movement by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Luxury: Telescope and a star-gazing book

Lord Killanin Oct 11, 1987

Show notes

Lord Killanin's career has embraced journalism, the Army, film-making and writing books. He was also, from 1972 to 1980, President of the International Olympic Committee. In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he looks back on his varied life and also chooses the eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Polonaise No 3 in A by Frédéric Chopin Book: A Vanished Arcadia by Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham Luxury: Olympic gold medal and award

Lulu Oct 04, 1987

Show notes

The castaway this week is Lulu, who, in conversation with Michael Parkinson, recalls her upbringing in a Glasgow tenement and her subsequent career as a singer and actress. In choosing her eight records to take to the island, she reveals an admiration for the vocal styles of Ella Fitzgerald and Ray Charles.

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

Favourite track: The Greatest Love Of All by Whitney Houston Book: Where Are You Going? by Swami Muktananda Luxury: Telephone

Jacques Loussier Sep 27, 1987

Show notes

The pianist Jacques Loussier has won fame and fortune with a style that blends jazz with the music of J S Bach. In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he looks back at a career of some 30 years, and also selects his eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Brandenburg Concerto No 3 in D Major by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Beasts, Men and Gods by Ferdinand Ossendowski Luxury: Piano

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