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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: Sir Ian MacGregor

05/10/1986

Sir Ian MacGregor

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sir Ian MacGregor

Michael Parkinson's castaway is industrialist Sir Ian MacGregor

Michael Parkinson's castaway is industrialist Sir Ian MacGregor.

Sir Ian McGregor was suddenly thrust into the spotlight when he was asked to create a more efficient steel industry in this country. In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he talks about his upbringing in Scotland, his move to America to further his career, and the problems he faced in managing first the steel, and then the coal industries in Britain.

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

Favourite track: The Hebrides - Overture (Fingles Cave) by Felix Mendelssohn
Book: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Luxury: Thermos jug

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: The Third Man

07/06/2014

The Third Man

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, The Third Man

The resignation of Bernard Kalb, a man of principle.

Remembering three great men who resigned high office on points of principle.

Remembering three great men who resigned high office on points of principle.

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.

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