Desert Island Discs

Desert Island Discs is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It was first broadcast on the BBC Forces Programme on 29 January 1942. Each week a guest, called a "castaway" during the programme, is asked to choose eight recordings, a book and a luxury item that they would take if they were to be cast away on a desert island, whilst discussing their life and the reasons for their choices. It was devised and originally presented by Roy Plomley. Since 2018 the programme has been presented by Lauren Laverne. More than 3,000 episodes have been recorded, with some guests having appeared more than once and some episodes featuring more than one guest. An example of a guest who falls into both categories is Bob Monkhouse, who appeared with his co-writer Denis Goodwin on 12 December 1955 and in his own right on 20 December 1998. In February 2019 a panel of broadcasting industry experts named Desert Island Discs the "greatest radio programme of all time".

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Jamie Dornan moves listeners to tears as he discusses his mother's death when he was 16 during 'emotional' appearance on Desert Island Discs

Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan tells BBC's Desert Island Discs he went into 'hiding' to avoid ridicule after film's release - but The Fall actor still doesn't regret playing Christian Grey

Kirsty Young admits her fibromyalgia struggles made her feel like she was 'going mental' as she discusses quitting Desert Island Discs because of her ill health

John Legend reveals trauma of losing child in Desert Island Discs

Desert Island Discs Lauren Laverne on her friendship with the “heavenly” Myleene Klass

Cliff Richard on Desert Island Discs: Star ‘feared he would die’ after police raid and admits he will ‘never get over it’