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: James Burke

06/03/1988

James Burke

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, James Burke

Michael Parkinson's castaway is writer and broadcaster James Burke

Michael Parkinson's castaway is writer and broadcaster James Burke.

The castaway this week is James Burke, whose broadcasting style has been described as "turning science into show-biz". But, paradoxically, he admits to being immensely impractical and reveals to Michael Parkinson, while choosing his eight records to take to the island, that he at one time planned to make music his career.

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

Favourite track: Suite No 1 in G Major For Solo Cello by Johann Sebastian Bach
Book: Works by Homer
Luxury: Guitar and strings

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: 1988 presidential primaries

1988 presidential primaries

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, 1988 presidential primaries

As the primaries begin, the Democrats are still ambivalent about their contenders.

The 1988 presidential primaries are underway, the Democrats are ambivalent about their contenders, and California aims to curb developers in Orange County.

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

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