Jussi Björling — 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

Jussi Björling — Artist · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Artist

Jussi Björling

14 episodes

Chosen over the decades

14

Total castaways

1980s

Peak decade

6

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Christopher Lee
David Niven
Donald Sinden
Geoffrey Parsons
Ian Richardson
Joan Baez
Jon Vickers
Jose Carreras
Kirsten Flagstad
Pauline Collins
Polly James
Rt Hon David Mellor MP
Stanley McMurtry
Vincent Price

Stanley McMurtry
How a little boy's Pokemon cards put Stanley McMurtry in his place
Castaway · 23 March 2008Kirsty Young
Christopher Lee
Christopher Lee on being told he was playing all the parts in the play
Castaway · 26 February 1995Sue Lawley
Joan Baez

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

Joan Baez on first seeing Bob Dylan at Gertie's Folk City

Castaway · 20 June 1993Sue Lawley

Rt Hon David Mellor MP

06°09′S 038°47′W

Rt Hon David Mellor MP

How Margaret Thatcher told David Mellor he'd never make a living at the Chancery Bar

Castaway · 26 July 1992Sue Lawley

Pauline Collins

11°18′S 083°46′W

Pauline Collins

Pauline Collins on giving up a child for adoption

Castaway · 17 December 1989Sue Lawley

07°27′S 170°27′W

Ian Richardson

Ian Richardson on dropping his rifle on a polished boot and being knocked unconscious

Castaway · 24 September 1983Roy Plomley

07°50′S 021°38′W

Donald Sinden

How John Ford told Donald Sinden: 'We'll soon knock the hell out of that'

Castaway · 14 August 1982Roy Plomley

09°07′S 030°33′W

Jose Carreras

How The Great Caruso inspired Jose Carreras to sing

Castaway · 6 December 1980Roy Plomley

02°18′S 166°26′W

David Niven

How being rude to a general helped David Niven leave the army

Castaway · 30 April 1977Roy Plomley

20°48′S 123°59′W

Polly James

How Polly James was left on the quayside while filming a boat scene

Castaway · 19 October 1974Roy Plomley

Geoffrey Parsons

21°14′S 173°59′W

Geoffrey Parsons

Geoffrey Parsons on his childhood Saturday mornings of music lessons and clean sheets

Castaway · 20 May 1972Roy Plomley

19°44′S 025°42′W

Vincent Price

Vincent Price on his walk-on role as a policeman in the play Chicago

Castaway · 14 July 1969Roy Plomley

16°34′S 047°39′W

Jon Vickers

Jon Vickers on the ball he bounced on a nail that his father thought he'd broken on purpose

Castaway · 23 March 1968Roy Plomley

Kirsten Flagstad

02°30′S 073°18′W

Kirsten Flagstad

Kirsten Flagstad on using her reading spectacles as a burning glass

Castaway · 29 April 1952Roy Plomley