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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 James Callaghan

18/10/1987

Sir James Callaghan

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sir James Callaghan

Michael Parkinson's castaway is former Prime Minister Sir James Callaghan

Michael Parkinson's castaway is former Prime Minister Sir James Callaghan.

Sir James Callaghan has the distinction of being the only politician to have held the four highest offices in the state. He was Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary and Foreign Secretary, before becoming Prime Minister in 1976. In an interview with Michael Parkinson recorded in April 1987, he looks back on his career and chooses the eight records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Jupiter Symphony: 3rd Movement by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Luxury: Telescope and a star-gazing book

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: Black Monday 1987, Black Tuesday 1929

Black Monday 1987, Black Tuesday 1929

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Black Monday 1987, Black Tuesday 1929

How does the stock market crash of October 1987 compare to the 1929 Wall Street Crash? 

What caused the global stock market to crash on 19th October 1987, how are ordinary people affected, and how does it compare with the Wall Street Crash of October 1929?

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

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