Willy Russell

Tuning in…

desert is.land

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

The listing

Transmission

Not affiliated with the BBC · Built for the love of the long wave · Made by Daniel Hails

Willy Russell — Composer · desert is.land

Composer

4 episodes

Chosen over the decades

Total castaways

1990s

Peak decade

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Mina Smallman
Mina Smallman on her primal scream of grief
Castaway · 16 February 2025Lauren Laverne
Bill Kenwright
Bill Kenwright on giving his mother and aunt postcards that made them cry
Castaway · 14 June 1998Sue Lawley

desert is.land

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

The listing

Transmission

Not affiliated with the BBC · Built for the love of the long wave · Made by Daniel Hails

Petula Clark on coming close to a nervous breakdown as a teenager

Castaway · 24 December 1995Sue Lawley

08°44′S 044°56′W

Roger McGough on having his mind opened by French poets at Hull University

Castaway · 10 April 1994Sue Lawley