Marvin Hamlisch — Composer · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

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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

Find a castaway
Most requested
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About

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

Marvin Hamlisch — Composer · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Composer

Marvin Hamlisch

14 episodes

Chosen over the decades

14

Total castaways

1980s

Peak decade

5

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Beryl Vertue
Dickie Bird
Dora Bryan
Ed Mirvish (Honest)
Felicity Green
Felicity Kendal
Martin Pipe
Marvin Hamlisch
Michael Crawford
Monica Dolan
Nicole Kidman
Peter Barkworth
Sheila Steafel
Sir Howard Stringer

Monica Dolan
Monica Dolan on secretly withdrawing her university application
Castaway · 27 July 2025Lauren Laverne
Beryl Vertue
Beryl Vertue on playing cards with matches for money with Tony Hancock
Castaway · 20 January 2013Kirsty 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

Sir Howard Stringer

Howard Stringer on having lunch with Henry VIII

Castaway · 6 January 2013Kirsty Young

05°19′S 023°13′W

Felicity Green

How wearing skirts helped Felicity Green navigate Fleet Street's boardroom

Castaway · 17 April 2011Kirsty Young

04°52′S 037°48′W

Martin Pipe

Martin Pipe on buying a cheap racehorse with three legs

Castaway · 18 July 1999Sue Lawley

21°40′S 006°08′W

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman on her naked handshake deal with Sam Mendes

Castaway · 15 November 1998Sue Lawley

18°40′S 013°14′W

Dickie Bird

How Yorkshire players convinced Dickie Bird to become an umpire

Castaway · 7 April 1996Sue Lawley

07°35′S 005°17′W

Dora Bryan

Dora Bryan on naming herself after a box of matches

Castaway · 15 March 1987Michael Parkinson

15°43′S 073°38′W

Sheila Steafel

Sheila Steafel on her father wishing she were Janet Baker

Castaway · 11 May 1985Roy Plomley

Ed Mirvish (Honest)

06°35′S 110°29′W

'Honest' Ed Mirvish

Ed Mirvish on buying a theatre 3,000 miles away sight unseen

Castaway · 24 March 1984Roy Plomley

Marvin Hamlisch

14°47′S 010°38′W

Marvin Hamlisch

Marvin Hamlisch on the concert where his pajamas showed beneath his trousers

Castaway · 3 December 1983Roy Plomley

Peter Barkworth

22°04′S 037°03′W

Peter Barkworth

Peter Barkworth on his father offering £2.15 a week for drama school

Castaway · 1 September 1979Roy Plomley

Felicity Kendal

12°42′S 070°57′W

Felicity Kendal

Felicity Kendal on being thrown on stage by her father aged nine

Castaway · 1 April 1978Roy 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