John Williams — 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

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Most requested
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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

John Williams — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Artist

John Williams

25 episodes

Chosen over the decades

24

Total castaways

1990s

Peak decade

6

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Alison Steadman
Chris Tarrant
Claire Rayner
David Nott
Eric Sykes
Eve Arnold
Howard Goodall
Jack Thorne
Jack Whitehall
James Cameron
Janet Holmes à Court
John Cleese
John Dankworth
Michael Crawford
Michael Deeley
Paco Peña
Peter Sallis
Prof David Phillips
Professor Jim Al-Khalili
Ronnie Scott
Rt Hon Tony Blair MP
Sarah Millican
Sir Alec Guinness

Jack Thorne
Jack Thorne on being cast as Carrot Bum for being lonely and weird
Castaway · 12 December 2021Lauren Laverne
Jack Whitehall
Jack Whitehall on dressing up as Robin Hood for every family function
Castaway · 4 February 2018Kirsty 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

David Nott on operating on an IS fighter as six gunmen burst into the operating theatre

Castaway · 5 June 2016Kirsty Young

15°10′S 038°09′W

Sarah Millican

Sarah Millican on waking up to a blood-soaked bed because her shoes were too tight

Castaway · 14 December 2014Kirsty Young

Prof David Phillips

11°16′S 151°25′W

Prof David Phillips

David Phillips on being interrogated by the KGB for five hours

Castaway · 1 May 2011Kirsty Young

Professor Jim Al-Khalili

01°16′S 042°03′W

Professor Jim Al-Khalili

How a 4,000-volt near-miss sent Jim Al-Khalili from the lab to theory

Castaway · 14 February 2010Kirsty Young

16°41′S 025°38′W

Peter Sallis

Peter Sallis on being cast as the lead in a RAF production of Hay Fever

Castaway · 17 May 2009Kirsty Young

09°49′S 014°25′W

Michael Deeley

Michael Deeley on the secret exhilaration of surviving a shooting in Malaya

Castaway · 14 December 2008Kirsty Young

23°40′S 077°50′W

Howard Goodall

Howard Goodall on the first time a choir sang his music

Castaway · 25 May 2008Kirsty Young

16°08′S 109°23′W

Chris Tarrant

Chris Tarrant on his son telling him his job is just a bit of sitting down

Castaway · 22 April 2001Sue Lawley

15°49′S 021°27′W

Paco Peña

How a boy's guitar melody in Cordoba inspired Paco Peña

Castaway · 11 April 1999Sue Lawley

03°55′S 172°40′W

Eric Sykes

Eric Sykes on crying from homesickness on his first night in the RAF

Castaway · 22 June 1997Sue Lawley

09°46′S 156°21′W

John Cleese

John Cleese on fleeing the Footlights desk in confusion

Castaway · 5 January 1997Sue Lawley

Rt Hon Tony Blair MP

18°14′S 012°44′W

Rt Hon Tony Blair MP

Tony Blair on the morning his father had a stroke

Castaway · 24 November 1996Sue Lawley

Janet Holmes à Court

11°34′S 125°05′W

Janet Holmes à Court

Janet Holmes à Court on making cups of tea for her husband

Castaway · 19 May 1996Sue Lawley

02°55′S 123°10′W

Eve Arnold

Eve Arnold on Marilyn Monroe asking her 'Where do I go from here?'

Castaway · 4 February 1996Sue Lawley

Alison Steadman

22°43′S 122°18′W

Alison Steadman

Alison Steadman on her son taking a newspaper to stop her crying over a bad review

Castaway · 3 December 1995Sue Lawley

03°12′S 075°13′W

John Dankworth

John Dankworth on pretending his saxophone was a bassoon

Castaway · 2 March 1986Michael Parkinson

11°46′S 006°56′W

James Cameron

How a six-pound weekly budget sent James Cameron to France

Castaway · 5 May 1979Roy Plomley

Michael Crawford

15°54′S 164°25′W

Michael Crawford

Michael Crawford on forgetting to put his ragged pants on during an opera

Castaway · 11 November 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

Sir Alec Guinness

17°43′S 107°24′W

Sir Alec Guinness

How Nellie Wallace's rude noises inspired Alec Guinness to become an actor

Castaway · 24 December 1977Roy Plomley

22°19′S 053°00′W

Claire Rayner

Claire Rayner on being too pregnant for a tight-waisted uniform

Castaway · 22 October 1977Roy Plomley

15°37′S 163°36′W

Ronnie Scott

How Ronnie Scott chose a saxophone over an inflatable Faye Dunaway doll

Castaway · 31 January 1976Roy Plomley

Michael Crawford

18°49′S 115°57′W

Michael Crawford

Michael Crawford on the first frontal nudity in Lambeth Town Hall

Castaway · 3 July 1971Roy Plomley