Enoch Sontonga — Composer · desert is.land

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.

The listing

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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

Enoch Sontonga — Composer · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Composer

Enoch Sontonga

13 episodes

Chosen over the decades

13

Total castaways

2000s

Peak decade

6

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Albie Sachs
Dame Anne Owers
Deborah Levy
Diane Abbott
Herbert Kretzmer
Iain Banks
Janet Suzman
John Humphrys
Ken Follett
Lord Deedes
Lord Joffe
Rt Hon Ed Miliband
Sheila Steafel

Deborah Levy
Deborah Levy on being asked if she was dumb at school
Castaway · 16 January 2022Lauren Laverne
Rt Hon Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband on the only time he ever prayed
Castaway · 24 November 2013Kirsty Young
Dame Anne Owers

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

Anne Owers on the panic attack at university that traced back to her father's death

Castaway · 27 February 2011Kirsty Young

10°01′S 086°58′W

Diane Abbott

Diane Abbott on her civil service interview answer: 'Because I want power'

Castaway · 18 May 2008Kirsty Young

08°43′S 070°38′W

John Humphrys

John Humphrys on fearing his career was over after Jonathan Aitken's accusation

Castaway · 6 January 2008Kirsty Young

01°23′S 050°27′W

Lord Joffe

Joffe on first meeting Nelson Mandela in a prison consulting room

Castaway · 28 October 2007Kirsty Young

Herbert Kretzmer

07°53′S 067°39′W

Herbert Kretzmer

Herbert Kretzmer on causing Cameron Mackintosh to faint with 'She'

Castaway · 12 October 2003Sue Lawley

11°34′S 080°54′W

Ken Follett

Ken Follett on reading his first James Bond story at age 12

Castaway · 25 November 2001Sue Lawley

16°45′S 085°54′W

Lord Deedes

How a gun deal landed Bill Deedes his first journalism job

Castaway · 5 August 2001Sue Lawley

08°59′S 142°57′W

Albie Sachs

Albie Sachs on how the bomb that maimed him gave him optimism

Castaway · 26 November 2000Sue Lawley

16°35′S 163°32′W

Iain Banks

Iain Banks on building bombs from sodium chlorate and sugar

Castaway · 24 August 1997Sue Lawley

15°43′S 073°38′W

Sheila Steafel

Sheila Steafel on her father wishing she were Janet Baker

Castaway · 11 May 1985Roy 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