Ethel Merman — 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

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Artist

Ethel Merman

20 episodes

Chosen over the decades

19

Total castaways

1980s

Peak decade

7

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Annie Nightingale
Carmen Callil
David McVicar
Donna Ockenden
Elijah Moshinsky
Eve Stewart
James Bolam
Jan Morris
Joseph Cotten
Julia McKenzie
Margaret Kelly - Miss Bluebell
Marvin Hamlisch
Ralph Reader
Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd MP
Rt. Hon. Douglas Hurd
Sian Phillips
Sir Ian McKellen
Taki
Willie Rushton

Donna Ockenden
Castaway · 23 March 2025Lauren Laverne
Annie Nightingale
Castaway · 19 July 2020Lauren Laverne
Eve Stewart

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

Castaway · 4 August 2013

12°43′S 092°12′W

David McVicar

Castaway · 5 October 2008Kirsty Young

Sir Ian McKellen

19°00′S 131°38′W

Sir Ian McKellen

Castaway · 9 February 2003Sue Lawley

10°41′S 148°10′W

Jan Morris

Castaway · 16 June 2002Sue Lawley

22°39′S 118°16′W

Taki

Castaway · 28 November 1993Sue Lawley

Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd MP

07°45′S 014°28′W

Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd MP

Castaway · 13 June 1993Sue Lawley

Elijah Moshinsky

19°01′S 112°21′W

Elijah Moshinsky

Castaway · 28 February 1993Sue Lawley

20°11′S 101°38′W

Carmen Callil

Castaway · 6 December 1992Sue Lawley

Rt. Hon. Douglas Hurd

07°14′S 038°19′W

Rt. Hon. Douglas Hurd

Castaway · 12 June 1988Michael Parkinson

Margaret Kelly - Miss Bluebell

22°06′S 150°54′W

Margaret Kelly - Miss Bluebell

Castaway · 7 February 1988Michael Parkinson

03°57′S 014°30′W

Willie Rushton

Castaway · 18 August 1984Roy Plomley

Marvin Hamlisch

14°47′S 010°38′W

Marvin Hamlisch

Castaway · 3 December 1983Roy Plomley

09°09′S 004°22′W

Duke & Duchess of Devonshire

Castaway · 28 August 1982Roy Plomley

06°38′S 129°05′W

Julia McKenzie

Castaway · 10 April 1982Roy Plomley

00°00′S 168°27′W

Joseph Cotten

Castaway · 24 October 1981Roy Plomley

17°30′S 155°25′W

Sian Phillips

Castaway · 3 November 1979Roy Plomley

07°42′S 047°22′W

James Bolam

Castaway · 12 March 1977Roy Plomley

19°10′S 079°32′W

Ralph Reader

Castaway · 8 May 1961Roy Plomley

Ethel Merman — Artist · desert is.land