Charles Aznavour — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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desert is.land

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

The listing

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Transmission

Broadcasting since 1942
Long wave 198 kHz
An unofficial archive companion
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Not affiliated with the BBC · Built for the love of the long wave · Made by Daniel Hails

Charles Aznavour — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Artist

Charles Aznavour

15 episodes

Chosen over the decades

15

Total castaways

2000s

Peak decade

6

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Beryl Reid
Dame Daphne Du Maurier
Derek Jacobi
Erich Segal
Harry Rabinowitz
Herbert Kretzmer
Lennie James
Paco Peña
Piers Morgan
Robert Webb
Rose Tremain
Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP
Simon Cowell
Tidjane Thiam
Vidal Sassoon

Lennie James
Lennie James on writing a letter to the council after his home was taken away
Castaway · 26 October 2025Lauren Laverne
Robert Webb
Robert Webb on making a mixtape of his mother's favourite songs
Castaway · 5 March 2023Lauren Laverne
Harry Rabinowitz

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

How Harry Rabinowitz signed the wrong contract and missed out on royalties

Castaway · 28 June 2015Kirsty Young

23°32′S 043°34′W

Tidjane Thiam

Tidjane Thiam on his assistant stopping rebels from looting his office

Castaway · 4 November 2012Kirsty Young

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Vidal Sassoon

How Vidal Sassoon fought fascists on the streets of London at 17

Castaway · 9 October 2011Kirsty Young

23°24′S 069°18′W

Piers Morgan

Piers Morgan on walking barefoot on Miami Beach with Rupert Murdoch

Castaway · 7 June 2009Kirsty Young

21°46′S 059°14′W

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell on his Eureka moment at 40 for judging hits

Castaway · 13 August 2006Sue Lawley

Herbert Kretzmer

07°53′S 067°39′W

Herbert Kretzmer

Herbert Kretzmer on causing Cameron Mackintosh to faint with 'She'

Castaway · 12 October 2003Sue Lawley

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP

13°15′S 004°52′W

Rt Hon Iain Duncan Smith MP

Iain Duncan Smith on deciding to run for leader after talking to his wife

Castaway · 24 November 2002Sue Lawley

19°40′S 062°44′W

Rose Tremain

Rose Tremain on filling a vacuum created by her father's leaving home

Castaway · 12 October 1997Sue Lawley

13°14′S 132°04′W

Beryl Reid

How dyslexia forced Beryl Reid to work twenty times harder

Castaway · 5 February 1983Roy Plomley

23°10′S 094°24′W

Erich Segal

Erich Segal on being the fortieth writer on Yellow Submarine

Castaway · 19 April 1980Roy Plomley

03°15′S 042°02′W

Derek Jacobi

Derek Jacobi on portraying old Claudius before young Claudius

Castaway · 10 June 1978Roy Plomley

16°20′S 035°25′W

Paco Peña

Paco Peña on being moved to tears by flamenco as a child

Castaway · 4 March 1978Roy Plomley

Dame Daphne Du Maurier

02°54′S 168°42′W

Dame Daphne Du Maurier

Daphne Du Maurier on discovering Cornwall in the 1920s

Castaway · 3 September 1977Roy Plomley