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BBC Radio 4


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


Desert Island Discs

The great American writer Maya Angelou was cast away back in 1987.

She told Michael Parkinson about the disturbing reason she became temporarily mute during her childhood, which in turn led to her love of poetry. Some listeners may find her description of events upsetting.

You can find the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Details of organisations offering information and support with child sexual abuse are available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Maya Angelou on the trauma that made her mute

The surgeon David Nott was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016 shortly after returning from war-torn Syria.

He spoke to Kirsty about his experiences of working in a warzone for the first time back in the early 90s.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

David Nott on working in war zones

The actor Dame Judi Dench has been cast away to the desert island three times, most recently in 2015.

She spoke to Kirsty Young about her first performances in an amateur dramatic group which included her parents as members.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Judi Dench on her childhood days in amateur dramatics

The singer Adele was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.

In 2008, she released her debut album, 19, and the following year she won the first of many Grammys. Her next three albums, 21, 25 and 30, consolidated her superstar status.

She told Lauren about the day she signed her first record deal.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Adele on her first record deal

In 2015, the forensic anthropologist, Professor Dame Sue Black, was cast away by Kirsty Young.

Brought up on the west coast of Scotland and in Inverness, she fell in love with biology at secondary school and read Human Anatomy at the University of Aberdeen. After graduation, she worked at London's St Thomas' Hospital as an anatomist, and police began to call on her to help identify bones.

She spoke to Kirsty about the mysteries of the human body.

You can find the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Professor Sue Black on the mysteries of the human body

The poet Lemm Sissay was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2015.

As a poet, writer and playwright, much of his work tells the story of his search for his birth parents. Born to a young Ethiopian woman who wanted him temporarily looked after while she completed her studies, he was with a foster family until he was 12.

Lemn told Kirsty how he felt after his foster family broke ties with him.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Lemn Sissay on his foster family

The former footballer Jill Scott was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.

Jill was part of the Lionesses’ winning team at the Euros 2022.

When Jill was starting out in her career, the women players had to settle for second-hand kit and miserly wages.

She spoke to Lauren about the challenges she faced when she started her senior career at Sunderland aged 17.

You can find the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Jill Scott on her start in football

In 2023, the comedian and writer Adrian Edmondson was cast away by Lauren Laverne.

Adrian met his comedy partner, the late Rik Mayall, at university. They bonded over their shared interests in double acts, violent slapstick and the plays of Samuel Beckett. It was the start of a long performing partnership and friendship.

Adrian spoke to Lauren about the creative process behind the anarchic TV comedy and long-running touring show Bottom.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Adrian Edmondson on working with Rik Mayall

After completing her PhD, Dr Fox took up a post-doctoral fellowship at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Centre in Maryland. In 2010, she became the project scientist for the Parker Solar Probe, humanity’s first mission to a star.

Shortly after she began working on the Parker Solar Probe project, she was away on work business when her husband died suddenly, leaving their very young children home alone. She told Lauren about that fateful day.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Dr Nicola Fox on the tragedy that changed her life

As a singer and songwriter, George sold more than 100 million records, won two Grammy awards and notched up countless number one hits.

He told Kirsty about how an accident played a pivotal role in his love for music.

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

George Michael on his accidental start in music

Roy Plomley's castaway is RAF pilot Sir Douglas Bader.

Favourite track: I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing by The New Seekers
Book: Complete works by Lord Tennyson
Luxury: Sand iron and golf balls

Sir Douglas Bader

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