Desert Island Discs Revisited

Original version

BBC Radio 4 Extra

Factual: Life Stories

Selected castaway gems from the BBC Desert Island Discs archive.

Desert Island Discs Revisited: Absent Friends 2023: John Motson

John Motson

Absent Friends 2023

Desert Island Discs

BBC Radio 4 Extra - Desert Island Discs Revisited, Absent Friends 2023, John Motson

Football commentator John Motson is castaway by Kirsty Young.

From Henry Francis Lyte to Paul Simon. Football broadcaster John Motson shares his castaway choices with Kirsty Young. From 2018.

Football broadcaster John Walker Motson, OBE is castaway by Kirsty Young.

Motty began commentating on football in 1971. He covered more than 2000 games on TV and radio, including all the major football championships, 29 FA Cup finals (with an additional five replays), 10 World Cups, 10 European Championships and 200 England games. At the age of 72, he retired in 2018.

Known not only for his footballing knowledge and his voice, he is often recognised by his knee-length sheepskin coat. His passion for football was ignited by his father, a Methodist minister for 40 years, who on his one day off each week would take his only son to watch football. The first game John attended was at Charlton Athletic when he was seven, and the excitement of it inspired him to create scrapbooks of footballing facts and collect match programmes. 

After five years at boarding school, where he wasn't allowed to play football, he left at 16 after one term doing A levels. He joined the Barnet Press as a trainee reporter and then moved onto the Sheffield Telegraph. When BBC Radio Sheffield, one of the first six local radio stations, came on air, he was one of the reporters pulled in to give match summaries. He then moved to the BBC as a sports assistant in radio, before joining the Match of the Day team on BBC TV. 

He has been supported in his career by his solicitor wife, Annie, who meticulously kept details of every match in thick A4 books which John used for his preparation. He was awarded an OBE for services to football and in 2018 he was honoured by BAFTA with a Special Award for his lifetime's work. 

DISC ONE: Three Lions - David Baddiel, Frank Skinner & The Lightning Seeds
DISC TWO: The Red Red Robin - Billy Cotton & The Johnston Singers
DISC THREE: Diana - Paul Anka
DISC FOUR: Daniel - Elton John
DISC FIVE: Annie's Song - John Denver
DISC SIX: Don't Cry for Me Argentina - Elaine Paige
DISC SEVEN: Abide With Me - Choir of Westminster Abbey, conducted by Martin Neary
DISC EIGHT: The Boy in the Bubble - Paul Simon

BOOK CHOICE: The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger  
LUXURY CHOICE: Running shoes   
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Three Lions - David Baddiel, Frank Skinner & The Lightning Seeds

Producer: Cathy Drysdale

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in June 2018.

Desert Island Discs Revisited: Absent Friends 2023

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama

Your digital radio entertainment station showcasing the best in comedy and drama. With recent favourites from BBC Radio 4.

Remembering some castaways from Desert Island Discs who passed away in 2023.

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