Vanity Fair

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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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

Vanity Fair — Book · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Book

6 episodes

Chosen over the decades

Total castaways

2000s

Peak decade

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

David McVicar
Diana Athill
John Sutherland
Kemi Badenoch MP
Michael Palin
Richard Griffiths

Kemi Badenoch MP
Kemi Badenoch on how her father's death freed her to run for leader
Castaway · 25 January 2026Lauren Laverne
David McVicar
David McVicar on being hospitalised mid-opera run
Castaway · 5 October 2008Kirsty Young
John Sutherland

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

John Sutherland on putting his nose in a book after his father's death

Castaway · 22 January 2006Sue Lawley

Richard Griffiths

02°24′S 072°12′W

Richard Griffiths

Richard Griffiths on learning of his father's pride only after his death

Castaway · 8 January 2006Sue Lawley

Diana Athill

20°58′S 059°01′W

Diana Athill

Diana Athill on discovering the facts of life at age 11 in a book by Mary Stopes

Castaway · 20 June 2004Sue Lawley

Michael Palin

19°49′S 138°09′W

Michael Palin

How a terrible piano lesson put Michael Palin off playing

Castaway · 17 November 1979Roy Plomley

Kemi Badenoch MP

David McVicar

John Sutherland

Richard Griffiths

Diana Athill

Michael Palin