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: Sir Fred Hoyle

12/10/1986

Sir Fred Hoyle

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sir Fred Hoyle

Michael Parkinson's castaway is astronomer and mathematician Sir Fred Hoyle

Michael Parkinson's castaway is astronomer and mathematician Sir Fred Hoyle.

Sir Fred Hoyle has been described as "unquestionably one of the most gifted astronomers and mathematicians of our times", and "the maverick genius of British science". In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he recalls his upbringing in Yorkshire and talks about his career as a scientist and as a writer - he has produced some 15 novels, a pantomime and the libretto for an opera.

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

Favourite track: String Quartet No 16 in F, Opus 135 by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: Handbook of physics
Luxury: Portable telescope

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.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: Reykjavik Summit, October 1986

Reykjavik Summit, October 1986

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Reykjavik Summit, October 1986

Reagan and Gorbachev's disarmament summit in Reykjavik ends in failure.

President Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev's disarmament summit in Reykjavik ends in failure after Reagan's refusal to abandon the Strategic Defence Initiative.

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

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Reykjavik Summit, October 1986

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