BBC Radio 4 LW

Desert Island Discs

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.

Desert Island Discs: Barbara Taylor Bradford

27/04/1985

Barbara Taylor Bradford

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Barbara Taylor Bradford

Roy Plomley's castaway is novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford

Roy Plomley's castaway is novelist Barbara Taylor Bradford.

Barbara Taylor Bradford's first novel, A Woman of Substance, which was published in 1980, quickly became a huge international success. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she recalls her childhood in Leeds, her first job as a reporter on the Yorkshire Evening Post at the age of 16, becoming a Fleet Street journalist, and her eventual move to New York.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] 

Favourite track: Jerusalem by Blake/Parry
Book: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
Luxury: Family photograph album

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke - Letter from America

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: Contra aid cut off

06/06/2014

Contra aid cut off

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Contra aid cut off

Blow to Reagan as House ends aid to Nicaragua's Contras.

Defeat for the president as House cuts off aid to Nicaragua's Contras amid fears of another Vietnam.

Defeat for the president as House cuts off aid to Nicaragua's Contras amid fears of another Vietnam.

This archive edition of Letter from America was recorded by one of two listeners, who between them taped and labelled over 650 Letter From America programmes from 1973 to 1989. It was restored by the BBC in 2014.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Contra aid cut off

Contributors

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4

About this data