Desert Island Discs

Renowned art historian Sir Ernst Gombrich discusses his life and work, recalling his impressions of England, translating German propaganda broadcasts during WWII, and his preference for helping people appreciate art. He reflects on his family's musical roots, experiences with antisemitism, and the decline of art appreciation in modern society. Gombrich shares his admiration for Mozart, insights into art history, and essentials for a desert island including endless hot water in a bathtub.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Lady Soames, historian and only surviving child of Winston Churchill. A distinguished author and now Chairman of the Board of the National Theatre, she'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her extraordinary life - recalling her blissful childhood spent at Chartwell, the family's country home. She'll also be talking about the many state visits she made with her father and her husband - and remembering a conversation she had with General de Gaulle, who gave her lots of good advice on the best places to walk dogs in Paris.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Symphony No 6 In F Major Op 68 Pastoral by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Memories From Beyond The Grave by Chateaubriand Luxury: Supply of fine Havana cigars

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is philosopher and historian Sir Isaiah Berlin. Born in Latvia 80 years ago, he was brought to England by his family when he was ten years old and barely able to speak English. He is now internationally regarded as one of the most brilliant scholars of his age.He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his early years in Russia, his commitment to, and respect for, this country, and explaining the philosophical implications of liberalism - his guiding principle for 60 years.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: String Quartet in C Sharp Minor Op 131 by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Works, prose and verse by Aleksandr Pushkin Luxury: Large armchair stacked with cushions

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is entrepreneur, newspaperman and public servant Jocelyn Stevens. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his love of life - he works in London and spends his weekends in Gstaad - and his impressive career: he revitalised Queen Magazine, launched Radio Caroline, saved the Evening Standard and served as Managing Director of Express Newspapers.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Siegfried Funeral March by Richard Wagner Book: Other Men's Flowers by Lord A P Wavell Luxury: One mile stretch of the River Test in Hampshire

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is geneticist Dr Steve Jones. Eminent in his field, he's made a lifelong study of the evolution of the snail, the reproduction of the fruit fly and the sex life of the slug. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about the study of genetics, reflecting on its disreputable past, analysing the problems of genetic engineering and discussing the research that inspired his recent Reith Lectures, particularly the evidence that proves that most of the world has descended from 10 Africans.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Fossils by Camille Saint-Saëns Book: Valley of Bones by Anthony Powell Luxury: Stuffed body of the Minister of Education

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. Widely regarded as one of the best British songwriters of recent years, he comes from a musical family - both his father and grandfather were trumpeters.He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his eclectic taste in music, comparing classical singers to pop stars, and choosing eight records, not for pleasure, but to provide sustenance on his desert island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Vivace String Quartet in F Major by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Selected Works by James Thurber Luxury: Upright piano

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Sir Roger Bannister, the man who first ran the four-minute mile. Now an eminent neurologist, he is as proud of his research during the last 15 years into the effects of low blood pressure, as he is of his achievements on the athletics field.Master of Pembroke College, he's taken up sculling, and with a night school qualification in navigation as well, he'll be telling Sue Lawley how he plans to escape from the desert island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Violin Concerto in D Major by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Anthology of Russian, American & English Stories Luxury: Solar-powered receiver to receive Radio 4

In memory of Robbie Coltrane. The actor was Sue Lawley's castaway in Desert Island Discs in 1992. He first became noticed in the early 1980s in television programmes such as The Comic Strip, The Young Ones and Saturday Night Live. After that he became an international star. He talked to Sue Lawley about, amongst other things, his love of Scotland, his passion for vintage cars and his fear of live performances.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Letter From America by The Proclaimers Book: Lady In The Lake by Raymond Chandler Luxury: Pencil and paper

This week's Desert Island Discs castaway is writer JG Ballard. Since the early 1960s, he has been well-known as a science fiction writer. But more recently he has reached an even wider audience with his autobiographical novels Empire of the Sun and The Kindness of Women.He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his extraordinary life - his childhood in Shanghai, his adolescence spent in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp and how, after the sudden and tragic death of his wife, he raised his three young children alone.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Falling In Love Again by Marlene Dietrich Book: Moby Dick by Herman Melville Luxury: Unicycle

Few people will be surprised to hear that the castaway in this week's special 50th anniversary edition of Desert Island Discs is the Prime Minister John Major. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his very happy childhood years, his more traumatic adolescence and his transformation into the perfect Conservative parliamentary candidate. He'll also be discussing his love of music and books, and revealing the luxury that was a surprise even to Sue Lawley.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: O Giusto Cielo (Lucia Di Lammermoor) by Gaetano Donizetti Book: The Small House At Allington by Anthony Trollope Luxury: Oval cricket ground replica and bowling machine