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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

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

Davina is best known as the host of popular TV shows such as Big Brother, Long Lost Family and Streetmate.

She spoke to Kirsty about how she struggled with drugs in her teenage years.

You can find the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Davina McCall on addiction

Before his career in broadcasting, Ade was an international wheelchair basketball player who won a gold medal at the 2005 Paralympic World Cup.

He spoke to Kirsty about a fashion faux pas he made on his first day at school.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Ade Adepitan on his first day at school

Ruth is perhaps best known as Nessa from Gavin and Stacey, the show she co-created with James Corden.

She told Lauren about her early career struggles and how she got her foot on the acting ladder.

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

Ruth Jones on her start in acting

The Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016.

Tom’s parents split up when he was five, and he went to live with his father. By the age of 10 he'd lived in 10 different houses in five different cities.Tom spoke to Kirsty about his complicated childhood, his parents’ divorce and how he managed his overwhelming feelings of loneliness.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Tom Hanks on loneliness

In 2013 the Scottish writer Val McDermid was cast away by Kirsty Young.

Crime fiction is Val's chosen genre, and the millions of novels she sells examine and dissect the darkest recesses of human behaviour. Val spoke to Kirsty about her childhood love of libraries.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Val McDermid on her childhood love of libraries

The activist Malala Yousafzai was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2021.

Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize when she was 17, becoming the youngest winner in its history. She spoke to Lauren about why equal access to education for girls matters so much to her and her family.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Malala on campaigning for equal access to education

In 2016 the novelist Jilly Cooper was cast away by Kirsty Young.

Jilly is perhaps best known as the author of Rivals but her writing career also spans newspaper columns, non-fiction books on class, marriage and animals in war, and novels that sell in their millions. Jilly told Kirsty Young about her theory on what makes a successful marriage.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Jilly Cooper on the secret to a successful marriage

The former footballer and pundit Ian Wright was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2020.

Born to Jamaican parents in south-east London, Ian grew up with his mother and stepfather. His biological father had left the family before Ian was two years old. Things at home were difficult, and Ian spent as much time as possible outside playing football. Ian spoke to Lauren about his childhood love of football and how one inspirational teacher, Mr. Pigden, changed everything.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Ian Wright on his inspirational teacher

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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