Dusty Springfield — Artist · desert is.land

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

Dusty Springfield — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Artist

Dusty Springfield

16 episodes

Chosen over the decades

16

Total castaways

2010s

Peak decade

6

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Ali Smith
Betty Jackson
Billie Jean King
Cressida Dick
Dame Katherine Grainger
Eleanor Bron
Glynis Johns
Jacqueline Wilson
Jasper Conran
Lesley Manville
Liz Lochhead
Lorraine Kelly
Maggi Hambling
Neil Tennant
Stephen Poliakoff
Tom Hanks

Lorraine Kelly
Lorraine Kelly on a maternity leave phone call that ended her contract
Castaway · 2 November 2025Lauren Laverne
Lesley Manville
Lesley Manville on listening to Princess Margaret's Desert Island Discs for The Crown
Castaway · 5 February 2023Lauren Laverne

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

Cressida Dick

How a phone call from Amber Rudd confirmed Cressida Dick as Met Commissioner

Castaway · 10 February 2019Lauren Laverne

Billie Jean King

15°33′S 092°04′W

Billie Jean King

Billie Jean King on sleeping with her purple tennis racket

Castaway · 15 July 2018Kirsty Young

21°31′S 001°07′W

Liz Lochhead

Liz Lochhead on the Queen's giggling story about Edith Sitwell

Castaway · 14 May 2017Kirsty Young

Dame Katherine Grainger

08°40′S 010°49′W

Dame Katherine Grainger

Katherine Grainger on the day she failed to make the senior rowing team despite being convinced she would

Castaway · 26 February 2017Kirsty Young

03°06′S 161°21′W

Ali Smith

Ali Smith on her mother turning into the witches Gertie and Bella

Castaway · 6 November 2016Kirsty Young

18°32′S 118°10′W

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks on what his teacher Mrs Castle saw in him

Castaway · 8 May 2016Kirsty Young

07°47′S 160°53′W

Neil Tennant

How Chris Lowe hissed "don't look triumphant" at Neil Tennant on Top of the Pops

Castaway · 4 February 2007Kirsty Young

17°22′S 046°48′W

Maggi Hambling

Maggi Hambling on drawing her mother in her coffin

Castaway · 18 December 2005Sue Lawley

Jacqueline Wilson

21°23′S 035°45′W

Jacqueline Wilson

How an advert for foster children gave Jacqueline Wilson the idea for Tracy Beaker

Castaway · 16 October 2005Sue Lawley

Stephen Poliakoff

16°05′S 060°35′W

Stephen Poliakoff

Stephen Poliakoff on his father lifting the dining table over peas

Castaway · 13 March 2005Sue Lawley

03°33′S 103°00′W

Betty Jackson

Betty Jackson on driving into a tree after her car's steering failed

Castaway · 28 April 2002Sue Lawley

02°03′S 131°42′W

Jasper Conran

How Jasper Conran's rent suddenly multiplied six times overnight

Castaway · 25 June 1995Sue Lawley

08°31′S 095°26′W

Glynis Johns

Glynis Johns on making her first stage appearance at a few days old

Castaway · 24 April 1976Roy Plomley

05°36′S 062°00′W

Eleanor Bron

Eleanor Bron on realising there was nothing on the other side of the wall

Castaway · 24 June 1968Roy Plomley