Ian Dury and the Blockheads — 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
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Not affiliated with the BBC · Built for the love of the long wave · Made by Daniel Hails

Ian Dury and the Blockheads — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Artist

Ian Dury and the Blockheads

11 episodes

Chosen over the decades

11

Total castaways

2010s

Peak decade

6

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Brian Moore
Christopher Frayling
Dr Gwen Adshead
Hugh Laurie
Mina Smallman
Nick Danziger
Nigel Kennedy
Peter Blake
Sir Bradley Wiggins
Victoria Wood

Mina Smallman
Mina Smallman on her primal scream of grief
Castaway · 16 February 2025Lauren Laverne
Sir Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins on being mobbed while taking his daughter to buy a mini iPod
Castaway · 10 May 2015Kirsty Young
Brian Moore

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

Brian Moore on seeking out his birth mother

Castaway · 26 February 2012Kirsty Young

Dr Gwen Adshead

21°47′S 111°29′W

Dr Gwen Adshead

Gwen Adshead on the moment she says 'when you killed' to a patient

Castaway · 11 July 2010Kirsty Young

Christopher Frayling

00°10′S 023°59′W

Christopher Frayling

Christopher Frayling on choosing Singing in the Rain over Wagner's Ring

Castaway · 2 November 2003Sue Lawley

08°12′S 000°53′W

Nick Danziger

Nick Danziger on running away to Paris aged 13 without a passport

Castaway · 16 March 2003Sue Lawley

06°40′S 077°09′W

Peter Blake

Peter Blake on being paid £200 for the Sgt. Pepper album cover

Castaway · 23 March 1997Sue Lawley

00°13′S 117°57′W

Hugh Laurie

How an envelope from Stephen Fry revealed his disappearance to Hugh Laurie

Castaway · 12 May 1996Sue Lawley

21°50′S 093°11′W

Victoria Wood

Victoria Wood on writing a song after being rejected for a part in Loot

Castaway · 8 February 1987Michael Parkinson

13°25′S 091°54′W

Nigel Kennedy

Nigel Kennedy on getting a perfect score after his teacher warned him against playing jazz

Castaway · 12 January 1986Michael Parkinson

00°25′S 177°48′W

Peter Blake

Peter Blake on starting art school in short trousers

Castaway · 12 May 1979Roy Plomley