Desert Island Discs
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Desert Island Discs is a long running BBC Radio 4 programme. It was first broadcast on January 29 1942 and is said by the Guinness Book of Records to be the longest running music programme in the history of radio. Guests are invited to imagine themselves as castaways on a desert island, and asked to choose the eight pieces of music they would take with them; discussion of their choices permits a review of their life. They also choose one book (excluding the Bible or other religious work and the works of Shakespeare which are already deemed present on the island) and one luxury item which must be inanimate and have no practical use.
The last five Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom have all been guests on the programme, although only John Major appeared while in office (choosing Lord's Cricket Ground as his luxury). The first "castaway" was Vic Oliver, and other guests have included Noël Coward, Dame Judi Dench, John Malkovich, Princess Margaret, George Clooney, Stephen Hawking, and Rowan Williams.
Desert Island Discs was devised by its original presenter, Roy Plomley. After Plomley's death in 1985, it was presented first by Michael Parkinson, and since 1988 by Sue Lawley. Lawley has recently announced she is to step down as presenter in August 2006 (after 18 years of hosting the programme). Although broadcasters Sue MacGregor and Jonathan Dimbleby were tipped as potential replacements,[link] Kirsty Young was selected on June 27 2006 [link].
The programme's theme music is Eric Coates' "By the Sleepy Lagoon".
Unlike most Radio 4 programmes, Desert Island Discs cannot be heard on the BBC's [Listen Again] service (which allows most programmes to be listened to up to a week after transmission via the website) because of unresolved rights issues between the BBC and the owners of the format of the programme.
External links
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