Computer — Luxury · 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
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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

Computer — Luxury · desert is.land

desert is.landest. 1942

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

Luxury

Computer

10 episodes

Chosen over the decades

10

Total castaways

1990s

Peak decade

6

Decades seen

Castaways who chose this

Bernard Levin
Caitlin Moran
Dame Norma Major
Dr George Carey
Dr W Grey Walter
John Julius Norwich
Penelope Hobhouse
Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP
Steven Knight
Umberto Eco

Steven Knight
Steven Knight on writing to a Native American school as a 12-year-old
Castaway · 11 August 2024Lauren Laverne
Caitlin Moran
Caitlin Moran on washing a dirty wall and talking to her future self
Castaway · 22 January 2017Kirsty 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

Rt Hon Michael Portillo MP

Michael Portillo on feeling relief when he lost his seat

Castaway · 16 July 2000Sue Lawley

Dame Norma Major

12°52′S 085°01′W

Dame Norma Major

Norma Major on crying during her first six months in Downing Street

Castaway · 21 May 2000Sue Lawley

John Julius Norwich

13°46′S 145°19′W

John Julius Norwich

John Julius Norwich on leaving Venice with a haunting sense of regret

Castaway · 2 November 1997Sue Lawley

00°02′S 105°02′W

Umberto Eco

How a friend's request for a short story led Umberto Eco to write The Name of the Rose

Castaway · 12 November 1995Sue Lawley

Dr George Carey

23°58′S 052°30′W

Dr George Carey

George Carey on finding his friend missing after a bombing raid

Castaway · 7 May 1995Sue Lawley

Penelope Hobhouse

16°13′S 030°49′W

Penelope Hobhouse

Penelope Hobhouse on writing her first book after buying a typewriter at Woolworths

Castaway · 18 December 1994Sue Lawley

16°47′S 179°13′W

Bernard Levin

Bernard Levin on how being forced to learn the violin nearly poisoned him for music

Castaway · 25 October 1987Michael Parkinson

Dr W Grey Walter

21°31′S 148°56′W

Dr W Grey Walter

Castaway · 19 June 1961Roy Plomley