BBC Radio 4 Extra

Desert Island Discs at 75

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: Life Stories

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Desert Island Discs at 75

Desert Island Discs at 75 - a celebration presented by Kirsty Young

Kirsty Young celebrates 75 years of one of radio's longest-running programmes with her pick of the castaways from the archives, along with her own favourite interviews. From 2017.

Kirsty Young celebrates 75 years of Desert Island Discs with some of the wonderful voices in the archive and chooses some of her favourite interviews from her 10 years as presenter.

From Dustin Hoffman to Maya Angelou, Stephen Hawking to Victoria Wood, we have glimpses into the castaways’ lives and times. 

Coronation Street stalwart, Betty Driver explains why she chose a song she hates to take with her to the island, Dawn French recalls the infamous ‘puddle’ scene in the Vicar of Dibley and legendary broadcaster Richard Dimbleby describes his very early days in broadcasting. Cilla Black, interviewed in 1964, describes how her career began, Ian Fleming talks about the early days of James Bond and Louis Armstrong reveals how he first began playing the trumpet. 

Extracts from the programmes of all the previous presenters - Roy Plomley, Sue Lawley and Sir Michael Parkinson – include the voices of Baroness Barbara Castle, Alfred Wainwright, Russell Harty, Jacqueline de Pre, Catherine Cookson and Lady Thatcher. 

Kirsty’s favourite moments include Noel Gallagher remembering being forced to dance at his wedding, Sarah Millican explaining why she chose the Frog Chorus and Sir David Attenborough’s choice of disc – the Lyre Bird. 

Castaways also explain their choice of luxury, introduce a diverse selection of their choice of discs and describe what they would do to survive on the desert island.

Producer: Cathy Drysdale  

Made for BBC Radio 4 Extra  and first broadcast in January 2017.

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