Barbara Cook

desert is.landest. 1942

Find a castaway Most requested Browse the archive About Report a fault

Tuning in…

desert is.land

“And if you could take only one…” — a semantic wireless tuned to the Desert Island Discs archive.

The listing

Find a castaway
Most requested
Browse the archive
About

Transmission

Broadcasting since 1942
Long wave 198 kHz
An unofficial archive companion
Report a fault

Not affiliated with the BBC · Built for the love of the long wave · Made by Daniel Hails

Barbara Cook — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

Find a castaway Most requested Browse the archive About Report a fault

Artist

9 episodes

Chosen over the decades

Total castaways

1980s

Peak decade

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Anne Reid
David Croft
Dora Bryan
Gorden Kaye
Joss Ackland
Julia McKenzie
Michael Codron
Sian Phillips
Tom Lehrer

Anne Reid
Anne Reid on crying in the hedge while caring for her family
Castaway · 13 July 2014Kirsty Young
Joss Ackland
Joss Ackland on never being cast in a school play
Castaway · 12 August 2001Sue Lawley
Sian Phillips

desert is.land

“And if you could take only one…” — a semantic wireless tuned to the Desert Island Discs archive.

The listing

Find a castaway
Most requested
Browse the archive
About

Transmission

Broadcasting since 1942
Long wave 198 kHz
An unofficial archive companion
Report a fault

Not affiliated with the BBC · Built for the love of the long wave · Made by Daniel Hails

Sian Phillips on seeing her first pantomime with her grandmother

Castaway · 25 May 1997Sue Lawley

David Croft

17°42′S 130°37′W

David Croft

David Croft on how Jimmy Perry got the idea for Dad's Army from the Home Guard at Buckingham Palace

Castaway · 14 March 1993Sue Lawley

Gorden Kaye

11°16′S 117°55′W

Gorden Kaye

Gorden Kaye on threatening to jump off a balcony if his secret was exposed

Castaway · 22 December 1991Sue Lawley

Michael Codron

15°55′S 048°14′W

Michael Codron

Michael Codron on his father's deadline to prove himself in theatre

Castaway · 12 November 1989Sue Lawley

Dora Bryan

07°35′S 005°17′W

Dora Bryan

Dora Bryan on naming herself after a box of matches

Castaway · 15 March 1987Michael Parkinson

Julia McKenzie

06°38′S 129°05′W

Julia McKenzie

Julia McKenzie on her first job as an understudy after only seeing the show three times

Castaway · 10 April 1982Roy Plomley

Tom Lehrer

16°55′S 059°23′W

Tom Lehrer

Tom Lehrer on his parents finding him a popular music teacher

Castaway · 12 July 1980Roy Plomley