Joan Sutherland — 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
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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

Joan Sutherland — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Artist

Joan Sutherland

21 episodes

Chosen over the decades

21

Total castaways

1970s

Peak decade

7

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Baroness Trumpington
Burl Ives
Charlie Cairoli
Colm Toibin
Dame Edith Evans
Dame Norma Major
David Croft
Derek Jameson
Dorothy Byrne
Franco Zeffirelli
Gerry Robinson
Heather Rabbatts
Janet Street-Porter
Janet Suzman
John Hurt
John Major
Jude Kelly
Julian Fellowes
Kenneth Macmillan
Molly Weir
Rt. Hon. Lord Shinwell

Dorothy Byrne
How standing on a table taught Dorothy Byrne to keep talking through abuse
Castaway · 1 March 2020Lauren Laverne
Colm Toibin
Colm Toibin on his mother asking if he is happy
Castaway · 3 January 2016Kirsty Young

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

Julian Fellowes

How a surprise phone call led Julian Fellowes to write for Robert Altman

Castaway · 18 December 2011Kirsty Young

Heather Rabbatts

10°20′S 061°40′W

Heather Rabbatts

Heather Rabbatts on being called monkey and half breed at school

Castaway · 24 July 2011Kirsty Young

Janet Street-Porter

18°50′S 040°49′W

Janet Street-Porter

Janet Street-Porter on her childhood fantasy of being a swapped baby

Castaway · 23 November 2008Kirsty Young

16°12′S 094°52′W

Jude Kelly

Jude Kelly on making up plays in the back garden as a child

Castaway · 5 May 2002Sue Lawley

Dame Norma Major

12°52′S 085°01′W

Dame Norma Major

Norma Major on crying during her first six months in Downing Street

Castaway · 21 May 2000Sue Lawley

09°15′S 143°21′W

Gerry Robinson

Gerry Robinson on his mother asking if he had his own office

Castaway · 2 June 1996Sue Lawley

14°19′S 049°36′W

Derek Jameson

How Derek Jameson's invented war-hero father story collapsed when he did the maths

Castaway · 3 July 1994Sue Lawley

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

04°33′S 073°15′W

John Major

John Major on how his father's debt forced them to sell their home

Castaway · 26 January 1992Sue Lawley

Baroness Trumpington

13°26′S 125°43′W

Baroness Trumpington

How the crown jewels could rescue Baroness Trumpington

Castaway · 25 November 1990Sue Lawley

21°01′S 067°18′W

John Hurt

John Hurt on first stepping on stage at age nine

Castaway · 29 September 1984Roy Plomley

Kenneth Macmillan

14°10′S 041°49′W

Kenneth Macmillan

How a schoolboy letter helped Kenneth Macmillan get into ballet school

Castaway · 5 March 1983Roy Plomley

17°33′S 140°51′W

Burl Ives

Burl Ives on singing hymns on pitch at the family pump organ

Castaway · 31 March 1979Roy Plomley

21°41′S 118°20′W

Janet Suzman

Janet Suzman on the phone call offering her an RSC part

Castaway · 12 August 1978Roy Plomley

Rt. Hon. Lord Shinwell

14°35′S 050°10′W

Rt. Hon. Lord Shinwell

Shinwell on the generals who threatened to resign when he arrived at the War Office

Castaway · 20 May 1978Roy Plomley

Franco Zeffirelli

15°24′S 125°40′W

Franco Zeffirelli

Franco Zeffirelli on being discovered by ballet critic Richard Buckle

Castaway · 7 January 1978Roy Plomley

20°00′S 071°16′W

Molly Weir

Molly Weir on coming second in a talent contest

Castaway · 8 October 1977Roy Plomley

Charlie Cairoli

17°25′S 132°19′W

Charlie Cairoli

Charlie Cairoli on his father’s verdict after his first performance

Castaway · 25 December 1976Roy Plomley

Dame Edith Evans

11°29′S 005°11′W

Dame Edith Evans

Edith Evans on playing Lady Bracknell underwater

Castaway · 18 May 1964Roy Plomley