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: Brian Sewell

19/06/1994

Brian Sewell

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Brian Sewell

Sue Lawley's castaway is art critic Brian Sewell

Sue Lawley's castaway is art critic Brian Sewell.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the controversial art critic Brian Sewell. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about how he did not go to school until he was 11, hated it when he got there, but managed, much against the wishes of the school, to teach himself history of art. He'll also be describing how he felt when his friend and mentor, Sir Anthony Blunt, the Keeper of the Queen's Pictures, was denounced as a spy in 1979. Sewell was thrust into the public eye as Blunt's protector. He's been there ever since - attacking what he regards as the excesses of contemporary art, and attracting much criticism himself as a result of his attitudes.

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

Favourite track: Fidelio Aria - 'Komm Hoffnung' by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: Songs from the 1880s with piano accompaniment by Franz Schubert
Luxury: Pieta sculpture by Michelangelo

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: American sport

American sport

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, American sport

The start of the World Cup 1994 in the US, and an overview of the state of American sport.

The state of sport in America is assessed by Alistair Cooke as the 1994 World Cup commences. And he commemorates the final allied troops leaving Berlin.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

American sport

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 LW

About BBC Radio 4

About this data