Johnny Mathis

desert is.landest. 1942

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desert is.land

“And if you could take only one…” — a semantic wireless tuned to the Desert Island Discs archive.

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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

Johnny Mathis — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Artist

8 episodes

Chosen over the decades

Total castaways

1980s

Peak decade

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Alfred Wainwright
Dennis Taylor
Diana Dors
Greta Gerwig
Julie Goodyear
Peggy Mount
Virginia Holgate

Julie Goodyear
Julie Goodyear on being taught how to cry in hospital
Castaway · 11 January 2026Lauren Laverne
Greta Gerwig
Greta Gerwig on the seventh-grade math test story her teacher pinned up
Castaway · 17 December 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

Julie Goodyear

Julie Goodyear on learning her son was saving pocket money for a dad

Castaway · 17 March 2013Kirsty Young

Peggy Mount

12°20′S 042°33′W

Peggy Mount

Peggy Mount on being told she had a character face

Castaway · 9 June 1996Sue Lawley

Alfred Wainwright

04°32′S 163°36′W

Alfred Wainwright

Alfred Wainwright on his wife walking out and taking the dog

Castaway · 4 September 1988Michael Parkinson

Virginia Holgate

07°06′S 019°17′W

Virginia Holgate

Virginia Holgate on her mother's ultimatum: eat or stop riding

Castaway · 10 August 1986Michael Parkinson

Dennis Taylor

23°35′S 110°45′W

Dennis Taylor

Dennis Taylor on standing on a lemonade crate to play snooker for the first time

Castaway · 2 February 1986Michael Parkinson

Diana Dors

20°22′S 023°59′W

Diana Dors

How a secret about her age helped Diana Dors land her first film role

Castaway · 21 November 1981Roy Plomley

Julie Goodyear

Greta Gerwig

Peggy Mount

Alfred Wainwright

Virginia Holgate

Dennis Taylor

Diana Dors