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: Bamber Gascoigne

01/11/1987

Bamber Gascoigne

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Bamber Gascoigne

Michael Parkinson's castaway is broadcaster and writer Bamber Gascoigne

Michael Parkinson's castaway is broadcaster and writer Bamber Gascoigne.

"My wife and I are great opera buffs" says Bamber Gascoigne, who became a household name when he first became the question master of BBC television's University Challenge some 25 years ago. In conversation with Michael Parkinson, he looks back on his career as a writer and broadcaster and reveals a novel approach to assembling his package of records to take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Soave Sia Il Vento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
Luxury: Carpentry tools

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: Gorbachev wants economic change

08/06/2014

Gorbachev wants economic change

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Gorbachev wants economic change

West startled by revisionist speech from Soviet leader.

Fiery speech from President Gorbachev before December summit outlines arms limitation and hopes for a new economy in Russia.

Fiery speech from President Gorbachev before December summit outlines arms limitation and hopes for a new economy in Russia.

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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