Desert Island Discs Podcast
Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.
Episodes to download
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How Nick Cave's songs reveal themselves painfully to him—Postcards
Fri 18 Sep 2026
The singer songwriter Nick Cave was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.
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Meera Syal on holding up a mirror to British society in Goodness Gracious Me—Postcards
Thu 17 Sep 2026
The actor and writer Meera Syal was cast away by Sue Lawley in 2003.
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Why Lyse Doucet doesn't want to be called a war reporter—Postcards
Wed 16 Sep 2026
The BBC's international correspondent Lyse Doucet was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.
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Gareth Southgate on putting on the England shirt for the first time—Postcards
Tue 15 Sep 2026
The former England manager Gareth Southgate was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2024.
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Michael Sheen on his father's time as a Jack Nicholson impersonator—Postcards
Mon 14 Sep 2026
The actor Michael Sheen was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.
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Rick Rubin on finding the magic in music—Postcards
Fri 11 Sep 2026
Record producer Rick Rubin was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.
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Caitlin Moran on the smells that defined her childhood—Postcards
Thu 10 Sep 2026
The writer and journalist Caitlin Moran was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2017.
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Romesh Ranganathan on finding his comedy sweet spot—Postcards
Wed 9 Sep 2026
The comedian Romesh Ranganathan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.
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Tanni Grey-Thompson on winning four Olympic golds in Sydney—Postcards
Tue 8 Sep 2026
The wheelchair athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson was cast away by Sue Lawley in 2001.
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Greta Gerwig on her childhood enthusiasm for putting on plays—Postcards
Mon 7 Sep 2026
The film director Greta Gerwig was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.
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James Graham on his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine—Postcards
Fri 4 Sep 2026
The playwright James Graham was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2024.
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Jessica Ennis-Hill on the moment she won Olympic gold—Postcards
Thu 3 Sep 2026
The Olympic heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2021.
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Warwick Davis on his first role as an Ewok in Star Wars—Postcards
Wed 2 Sep 2026
The actor Warwick Davis was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016.
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How Lily Allen brought the house down with a Disney song aged 11—Postcards
Tue 1 Sep 2026
The singer-songwriter Lily Allen was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2014.
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How hiding in a toilet helped Steven Spielberg get into the movie business—Postcards
Mon 31 Aug 2026
The film director Steven Spielberg was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.
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Malorie Blackman on receiving 82 rejection letters from publishers—Postcards
Fri 28 Aug 2026
The writer Malorie Blackman was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2013.
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How snooker halls became Ronnie O'Sullivan's "creche" from a young age—Postcards
Thu 27 Aug 2026
The World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.
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Delia Smith on her catchphrase - "Let's be havin' you!"—Postcards
Wed 26 Aug 2026
The cookery writer Delia Smith was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.
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How Kate Moss's modelling break came at an unexpected moment—Postcards
Tue 25 Aug 2026
The model Kate Moss was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.
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Keith Richards on writing "Satisfaction" in his sleep—Postcards
Mon 24 Aug 2026
The Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2015.
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Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter
Sun 16 Aug 2026
Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
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Professor Dame Pamela Shaw
Sun 9 Aug 2026
Neurologist Professor Dame Pamela Shaw joins Lauren Laverne.
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Emma Grede, businesswoman
Sun 2 Aug 2026
Emma Grede, businesswoman, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
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Sir Roger Deakins, cinematographer
Sun 26 Jul 2026
Sir Roger Deakins, cinematographer, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
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Shania Twain, musician
Sun 19 Jul 2026
Shania Twain, musician, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
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Paul Farmer, charity leader
Sun 12 Jul 2026
Paul Farmer, charity leader, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
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Professor Liz Morris, glaciologist
Sun 5 Jul 2026
Professor Liz Morris, glaciologist, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
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Norman Cook, DJ and musician
Sun 28 Jun 2026
Norman Cook, DJ and musician, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
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Jo Nesbø, writer
Sun 21 Jun 2026
Jo Nesbø, writer, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.
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Anna Maxwell Martin, actor
Sun 14 Jun 2026
Anna Maxwell Martin, actor, shares the soundtrack of her life with Lauren Laverne.
The Desert Island Discs podcast
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Articles
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