Kirsty Young was the award-winning presenter of Desert Island Discs between 2006 and 2018, interviewing 496 castaways. Her TV work includes BAFTA-winning coverage of events marking the centenary of World War One, and memorable live presentation from Windsor of the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II earlier this year.
Kirsty was born in East Kilbride in Scotland. After a chance meeting with a freelance TV cameraman, she became interested in a media career, and worked as a runner and then a researcher for an independent production company, before joining BBC Radio Scotland as a trainee news and continuity announcer, beating 700 other applicants.
She moved to Scottish Television in 1992, and five years later she was part of the launch of Channel 5, presenting its main news programme while famously perching on the studio desk rather than sitting behind it. She also presented the BBC’s Crimewatch for many years.
In 2018, Kirsty had to step back from broadcasting, to undergo treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia. After four years away from the microphone, she returned to present coverage of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June this year.
She is married to Nick Jones, CEO of Soho House and they have four children.
DISC ONE: Cello Suite No.1 in G Major, BWV1007: I. Prelude [J.S.Bach] performed by Steven Isserlis
DISC TWO: My Baby Just Cares for Me by Nina Simone
DISC THREE: Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell
DISC FOUR: Caledonia by Dougie MacLean
DISC FIVE: I Happen to Like New York Bobby Short, performer. [Cole Porter, composer]
DISC SIX: Songbird by Fleetwood Mac
DISC SEVEN: O Magnum Mysterium by [Tomás Luis de Victoria] sung by The Voices of Ascension choir, directed by Dennis Keene
DISC EIGHT: Count Me Out by Kendrick Lamar
BOOK CHOICE: The Most of Nora Ephron by Nora Ephron
LUXURY ITEM: A cinema and film archive
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Cello Suite No.1 in G Major, BWV1007: I. Prelude [J.S.BACH] performed by Steven Isserlis
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor
