Desert Island Discs

1,321

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

Recent Episodes
  • Jenny Sealey, theatre director
    Apr 13, 2024 – 34:47
  • James Graham, playwright
    Apr 7, 2024 – 50:35
  • Rita Rae, Lady Rae, lawyer and judge
    Mar 31, 2024 – 38:15
  • Sandy Powell, costume designer
    Mar 24, 2024 – 36:04
  • Clive Oppenheimer, volcanologist
    Mar 17, 2024 – 38:02
  • Cillian Murphy, actor
    Mar 10, 2024 – 35:47
  • Val Wilmer, writer and photographer
    Mar 3, 2024 – 38:32
  • Jamie Dornan, actor
    Feb 25, 2024 – 36:23
  • Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cellist
    Feb 18, 2024 – 37:55
  • Guli Francis-Dehqani, Church of England Bishop
    Feb 11, 2024 – 36:58
  • Graham Nash, musician
    Feb 4, 2024 – 36:26
  • Delia Smith, CH, CBE, cookery writer and broadcaster
    Jan 21, 2024 – 37:38
  • Greta Gerwig, writer and director
    Jan 14, 2024 – 35:41
  • Shirley Ballas, dance judge
    Jan 7, 2024 – 36:16
  • Marina Abramović, performance artist
    Dec 31, 2023 – 39:17
  • Dr Nicola Fox, head of science at Nasa
    Dec 24, 2023 – 36:55
  • Pia Sinha, Director Prison Reform Trust
    Dec 17, 2023 – 35:21
  • Peter White, broadcaster
    Dec 10, 2023 – 35:48
  • Lea Salonga, singer and actor
    Dec 3, 2023 – 36:17
  • Professor Dame Lesley Regan, obstetrician and gynaecologist
    Nov 26, 2023 – 37:16
  • Patrick Grant, designer and broadcaster
    Nov 19, 2023 – 36:01
  • Dame Donna Langley, film studio executive
    Nov 12, 2023 – 36:00
  • Greg Jackson, entrepreneur
    Nov 5, 2023 – 36:08
  • Katherine Ryan, comedian
    Oct 29, 2023 – 36:42
  • Lucinda Russell, horse trainer
    Oct 22, 2023 – 35:56
  • Adrian Edmondson, actor, writer
    Oct 14, 2023 – 59:41
  • Shirley Collins, folk singer
    Sep 2, 2023 – 37:08
  • Toto Wolff, Formula 1 executive
    Aug 27, 2023 – 35:57
  • Simon Woolley, crossbench peer
    Aug 20, 2023 – 35:58
  • Jill Scott, footballer
    Aug 12, 2023 – 36:51
  • Peter Doig, artist
    Aug 5, 2023 – 36:13
  • Stanley Tucci, actor
    Jul 30, 2023 – 35:53
  • Kate Mosse, writer
    Jul 22, 2023 – 38:16
  • Adam Kay, writer
    Jul 16, 2023 – 36:55
  • Claudia Rankine, poet
    Jul 9, 2023 – 36:53
  • Jeremy Bowen, journalist
    Jul 2, 2023 – 37:35
  • Ronnie O'Sullivan, snooker player
    Jun 24, 2023 – 55:15
  • Professor Sharon Peacock, scientist
    Jun 18, 2023 – 37:34
  • Simon Pegg, actor
    Jun 11, 2023 – 35:19
  • Professor Peter Hennessy, historian
    Jun 4, 2023 – 36:58
  • Dara Ó Briain, comedian and television presenter
    Apr 23, 2023 – 37:49
  • Liz Carr, actor and activist
    Apr 19, 2023 – 37:17
  • Amanda Blanc, businesswoman
    Apr 9, 2023 – 35:58
  • Robert Webb, comedian
    Apr 1, 2023 – 36:57
  • Sonia Boyce, artist
    Mar 26, 2023 – 35:20
  • Jenny Beavan, costume designer
    Mar 19, 2023 – 38:51
  • David Sedaris, writer
    Mar 12, 2023 – 36:28
  • Lesley Manville, actor
    Mar 5, 2023 – 36:35
  • Professor Corinne Le Quéré, climate scientist
    Feb 26, 2023 – 37:11
  • Michael Pollan, writer
    Feb 19, 2023 – 35:55
Recent Reviews
  • Flying1901
    Good but
    I want to hear more about the music of choice and fun things. No more explaining political agendas please. Not EVERYONE has to be a victim. Can we leave political agenda for less classy shows. Can we make it more about the music choices?
  • Klingrid
    Jamie Dornan
    Wow! What a touching interview. I was brought to tears! What a beautiful soul.
  • Mikehillslasveg
    What happened?
    Can we return the show to being about the music the guest likes and not some political agender the host want to force down the mic. This show used to be fun and interesting, now every guest turns into a victim.
  • Yeppers2029
    Ok
    Can we keep it about the person and not political agendas etc? Let’s talk about their career and music.
  • Phantomark
    Great podcast!!
    Loved the Greta Gerwig interview and her music snippets. The host has great energy and connection with her guests!
  • the other Dell
    Inaccurate time frame
    Having enjoyed the interview with Michael Pollan, I tuned into the Netflix series “How to Change Your Mind” I was dismayed to hear Pollan imply that Bill Wilson (cofounder of A.A.) had his Spiritual Awakening as the result of LSD trials. This is patently false. His God Experience came in 1935 and he participated in the trials in the late ‘50s. This misinformation could confuse or cause harm to Alcoholics seeking help through A.A.
  • eatsleepswim
    Kirsty Young
    So great to hear your voice again.
  • NeverAReviewer
    Excellent series
    Grateful these are available on podcasts. The interviews are in depth and the guests are all fascinating in their own right.
  • N. Chaturv3di
    Excellent show. I wish the songs were longer
    Love the guests, the host, and way the conversations flow. This is a wonderful way to discover new music. I only wish that the music were longer.
  • LondonBizOwner
    Fabulous
    This is the best way to spend a good part of an hour any day of the week. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy!!
  • fromdc2va
    what a gem!
    If I were sent off to an island, my luxury item would be this series. I discovered it only a few weeks ago, and had no idea of it’s rich history. Better late than never!
  • JulesClay
    Treasure Trove
    I’ve spent the past month of lockdown listening to episode after episode dating back to the earliest days of the show. What a gift! It’s endlessly inspiring and entertaining. Thank you.
  • JMac1970
    All time favorite
    I love this show. One of the best ever and a huge favorite.
  • spdebi
    My favorite !!!!
    Discovered it during the pandemic and it has become my “place to go to” Archives have fantastics interviews An endless source of delight, entertainment and culture John Barry’s interview is delicious! So surprises await us with this fantastic show
  • Cdddddffff
    DESERT ISLAND DISKS
    The more interesting show. Ever?! I love hearing about real peoples lives and loves.
  • Britchiclet
    So many memories
    I so love DID being a Brit living in America this show evokes so many amazing memories of growing up in England with everyone’s favorite tunes! The added bonus of people who you never would meet revealing so many tidbits of their own lives - walking the dog has never been so fun 🇬🇧🥰
  • love being dad and husband
    It use to be good
    Somethings missing...seems like it use to be better. The production is off and Lauren doesn’t seem to connect with the person being interviewed. That makes for a very surface interview. If we are preserving these for posterity as we were in earlier years, then the show needs to step up and build a better program. Other wise we are just going through the motions in order to preserve a program...and not focusing on delivering a memorable one.
  • STinamonster88
    The Best Radio Program of all time
    I love love love DID. You get a raw, vulnerable survey of someone’s whole life — the meatiest bits — punctuated by song. As a writer, I am steeped in this show. It’s about character... how it’s made and tested and revealed/released in music. Ian Wright’s episode absolutely gutted me. Wendell Pierce’s is another must. Keep DID in your rotation... it’ll make you more human.
  • hickory duff
    Great pod
    Ian Wright’s one made me cry
  • Eryk Moz'
    Wrighty made me feel human again
    Listened to this program for so many years. Sometimes a real gem crops up that sticks in the mind and make me reflect Yes I know Ian Wright wears his heart on this sleeve. However his episode for someone in a bit of a dark place felt like being taken by the hand back towards feeling a little bit like a person again
  • avm1406
    Gary Barlow edition moved me to tears.
    Brilliant program. How about going beyond the Western Hemisphere and looking at Asian and African artists and leaders.
  • paulgagnon
    Very good podcast!
    Loved listening to it. Will continue!
  • Hamilton Fan 06
    My favorite podcast
    This is an amazing podcast! I love all the informative podcasts with some many interesting people like Lin Manuel Miranda.
  • DID listener
    Louis
    Why is Louis Theroux the artwork for Desert Island Discs?
  • cocoloba
    Desert Island Discs
    Love, love, love this program, remember it from childhood but had no idea it still existed!
  • BooksinNewYork
    One of the best podcasts ever !
    Kirsty Young is a remarkable host. This show is brilliant.
  • nquincampoix
    Simply delightful
    Such a simple premise but so many fantastic stories and confessions come of it. Kirsty is a wonderful interviewer with a gentle manner who illicits wonderful gems and never makes the show about her. It's the perfect antidote for today's overly-produced, and super fast paced society.
  • elverro
    Little heard voices
    I love this for the chance to hear from middle aged and older people, particularly women. In the U.S., most popular interview shows are devoted to young actors and the occasional older male celebrity. It feels as if women’s voices disappear from popular culture at about aged 40, which is just when people start getting interesting!
  • MFSH
    Mini Autobiographies
    It enriches one’s life to delf a little into the lives of people whose accomplishments raise them above the crowds. And then there’s the music. Their choice of music has expanded the scope of my listening, suggested beautiful diversions from my usual “repertoire” and improved my life. The Archives are a revelation. Thank you to 4 or 5 remarkable presenters who gave us this over 6 or more decades.
  • jtingle
    A brilliant start to the day
    A mentor once told me: to be fully human, I should be so moved by life as to both laugh and cry, at least once a day. Desert Island Discs, no matter the guest, is the perfect podcast. I love hearing amazing people, tell real stories about their fears, hopes, motivations, and passions. During every episode there’s at least one laugh out loud moment; but, there is also at least one story in every episode that lets me have a good cry. Oh - and THE MUSIC!
  • USelaine
    Something For Everyone
    If someone has never listened to podcasts before, this is the first one I recommend. The structure is a charming way in to the life paths people take, and how they view their lives. Different guests regard the selection process with varying levels of seriousness, and that’s revelatory as well. The ‘one luxury’ choice is an entertaining wild card to close out the conversation, with choices having ranged from a telescope to the Taj Mahal. With music and memory at its center, guests may become emotional, yet the host remains a sensitive guide. These shows never fail to inspire my imagination.
  • Dr. Jura
    Wonderful. Unique. A mini-Vacation for the brain.
    This is a treasure among podcasts. Put it at the top of your list, above the anxiety-ridden news podcasts, the comedy, all the rest. Sit back and enjoy this little slice of life’s best peasures.
  • Uk Karen
    Love it
    Loved it years ago, love it now.
  • Jaleana
    Favorite Podcast!
    You’ll laugh, cry, swoon, and/or be in awe of the guests and their music selections. After a while, you’ll consider your own 8 pieces of music and realize you’ve had your own soundtrack accompanying your life.
  • Drocchio
    Time well spent
    These interviews are thoughtful, interesting, insightful, and make me think. It’s like turning to the people around you on a train and learning how they became who they are and learning that they are fascinating. Wonderful way to spend some time.
  • Ukskaks
    Such a delightful programme
    DID with Kirsty Young is a sheer joy. She does so much homework on her guests, and draws so many secrets out of them, that we begin to feel we actually know them. And the variety of music is a delight, bringing back memories or introducing new pleasures.
  • wheezyhanoi
    Music, yes, but great interviews too
    It is interesting to know what music interests and inspires other people and the wide variety of music people listen to. I love that BBC includes people who are well known in their fields for this podcast but not celebrities quite often. Lovely program.
  • Borgkde
    Happy I found this Podcast
    My first introduction to Desert Island was when I did a search on Ed Sheehan. I loved it and have been listening since. I listen to people I have never even heard of and find most interviewees to be so interesting and entertaining. I really like how Kristy Young conducts her interviews. Try it - you have MANY options !! Enjoy !!!
  • Walking stick 2
    My happy place
    Listening to DID is my own personal selected luxury item. Before or after work it is my “me” time and never disappoints! Insightful perspectives, personal stories and the context to a diverse range of people we may know only a very little of. The central theme of the discs is the “piece de la resistance” - enlightening, immersive and joyous - they too remind us of the diversity of music and the intensely enjoyable emotional places it can take us. Obviously a classic of our time - may it run forever!
  • noreenjw
    Desert Island Discs
    The greatest radio show ever.
  • Sammylscott
    Perfect radio!
    This is simply perfect radio and I download the podcast every week. Kirsty is such an insightful interviewer - she always gets the most information out of the guests. I love that the guests I haven’t heard of are often the ones I enjoy the most!
  • Monkey Architect
    It's Great
    Have a listen, there are many interesting people you can get to know something about.
  • cheena baterbonia
    A classic, now in podcast form.
    Simple concept for a radio show that have withstood the test of time. It’s a nice peek into what the music taste of famous people. I love the emotion that comes through when the castaways share something greatly personal. I listened to the Sheryl Sandberg episode brought tears to my eyes.
  • BetsGrizzly
    Entertaining, educational and an escape
    I love listening to these podcasts, never mind that I don't know who most of the people are. I've learned so much, been exposed to wonderful and different and sometimes unappealing music, and been provided with fodder for great dinner table conversations. Perfect length for a good long walk or a commute to work. Highly recommend!!
  • ike_dif
    5 stars
    A new favorite!
  • Steve Bellamy
    Incisive and entertaining interviews, with music!
    This is another programme that I grew up in England listening to every week, and now, far away from hom sunny California I can still do so, at my ;leisure, whenever and wherever I want through the magic of the downloadable podcast. Also, I could listen to Kirsty's intelligent and mellifluous Scottish accent for ever. Even if I've never heard of the guest, I learn something and sometimes even hear some great new music that I haven't come actoss before. Actually, that last point is the only unfortunate aspect of the show - the music excerpts are way too short.
  • Haire58
    Desert Island Disc
    I just discovered this podicast .. a great break from political news of the day and insightful interviews of subject matter experts of all walks of life
  • Rtufton
    Homely sounds
    I live in Texas now and love this podcast as it makes me feel so British! Thanks Kirsty, always an inspirational listen. My favorite.
  • the molluskhead
    A National Treasure
    If one was stuck on a desert island all they would need is this podcast. Always entertaining and interesting.
  • Sneeeedeker
    Matchless
    It is an incomparable programme, I've been listening to it since the 70's when Mr Plomley was host, then a short gap in the 80's when away from England, think it was carried on the World Service, much longer gap when I moved to the US in 90's. Now on the internet can listen, and podcasts are magical, have done the last several years. Fascinating stories, come to know people one would never hear of outside England, and some prominent. And Kirsty Young is excellent, the best since Roy, Sue Lawley was good, Parky not so much. The archives are a treasure trove. Can only try to catch up on missed decades! Thanks so much for this.
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