Desert Island Discs

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Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

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

BBC Radio 4 LW

Desert Island Discs: Simon Pegg, actor

19/05/2023

Simon Pegg, actor

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Simon Pegg, actor

Simon Pegg, actor, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.

Simon Pegg, actor, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would take with him if cast away to a desert island.  With Lauren Laverne.

Simon Pegg is an actor and screenwriter who became a household name after appearing in two of Hollywood’s most successful film franchises – Mission: Impossible and Star Trek.  He also won many fans for co-creating the so-called Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy of films – Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and the World’s End.

Simon was born in Gloucester and studied theatre, film and television at the University of Bristol.  As a student he started performing stand-up routines with his pet goldfish called Roger who was a Marxist poet – albeit a silent one.  

Simon first appeared on television in the mid-1990s and made a name for himself by co-creating the sitcom Spaced with the actor Jessica Hynes and the director Edgar Wright.  He is one of the few performers to have achieved what Radio Times calls the “Holy Grail of Nerdom” – playing roles in Doctor Who, Star Trek – as Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott – and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.  He also co-wrote the screenplay for Star Trek Beyond.  

In 2006 Simon played the British technician Benji Dunn in Mission: Impossible III and has appeared in every Mission: Impossible film since. He is currently filming the eighth instalment alongside Tom Cruise.     

Simon lives in Hertfordshire with his wife Maureen, daughter Tilly and their dogs. 

DISC ONE: A Day in the Life – The Beatles
DISC TWO: Rosalinda’s Eyes  – Billy Joel
DISC THREE: The Asteroid Field. Composed and conducted by John Williams and performed by London Symphony Orchestra
DISC FOUR: Accept Yourself – The Smiths 
DISC FIVE: Marian (Version) – The Sisters of Mercy
DISC SIX: I Feel For You – Chaka Khan
DISC SEVEN: I Bloom Blaum – Coldplay
DISC EIGHT: Salt In The Wound - Boygenius  
   
BOOK CHOICE: The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks 
LUXURY ITEM: A coffee maker 
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: A Day in the Life – The Beatles

Presenter  Lauren Laverne
Producer  Paula McGinley

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