

Desert Island Discs
BBC Radio 4
Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 3, 1983 • 43min
Paul Jones
Paul Jones first made his name as the lead singer with the group Manfred Mann. Later, he formed the Blues Band, but in the meantime he had started a second career as an actor when he appeared in the film Privilege. Since then, he has played Hamlet, Cassio in Othello and Macheath in The Beggar's Opera, and he even finds time to do session work on his harmonica.In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about the many facets of his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Libiamo Ne'Lieti Calici by Giuseppe Verdi
Book: Political works and music criticism by George Bernard Shaw
Luxury: Harmonica

Aug 27, 1983 • 46min
Cindy Buxton & Annie Price
Cindy Buxton made several successful wildlife films in Africa for television. Then, in 1978, she decided to film on the Falkland Islands and managed to persuade Annie Price to give up photographing children to become her assistant. In conversation with Roy Plomley, they talk about their experiences, about their life during the invasion, and they choose the four records each which they would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Sailing by Rod Stewart
Book: A book on explorers and Jonathan Livingstone's Seagull by Richard Bach
Luxury: Cow and a box of soap

Aug 20, 1983 • 38min
Malcolm Bradbury
Malcolm Bradbury is Professor of American Studies at the University of East Anglia, but he is better known perhaps for his novels, The History Man and Eating People is Wrong, and for his academic books on literature. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Don Giovanni Act 1 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: If on a Winter's Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino
Luxury: Word processor

Aug 13, 1983 • 40min
Peter Bull
Peter Bull has become known in recent years as a teddy bear expert and the owner of Aloysius who appeared in Brideshead Revisited, but he has also had a long career as an actor, notably in plays such as Luther and Waiting for Godot. He has also made several forays into theatrical management. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his diverse career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Slowly Slowly by Lola Tsakiri
Book: Brideshead Revisited (in Greek) by Evelyn Waugh
Luxury: Crystal ball

Aug 6, 1983 • 43min
Sir Frederick Gibberd
Sir Frederick Gibberd includes among his designs a bridge, Liverpool Cathedral, the mosque in Regent's Park and Harlow New Town, but he says of himself "had I been less interested in people and more interested in building a monument, I'd probably have been a better architect".In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career, his enthusiasm for landscape gardening, and he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Marriage of Figaro Act 3 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: Scrapbook of poetry
Luxury: Bottle of sleeping tablets

Jul 30, 1983 • 37min
Keith Waterhouse
Keith Waterhouse started his writing career on the Yorkshire Evening Post but it was not long before he had a huge success with a novel - Billy Liar. For many years, in a prolific partnership with Willis Hall, he wrote plays, television scripts and screenplays, although now he concentrates on his novels and his regular columns in Punch and the Daily Mirror. In conversation with Roy Plomley, this versatile writer talks about his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Guys and Dolls (Title Song) by The Guys and Dolls Orchestra
Book: A year's supply of the Exchange & Mart
Luxury: Solar-powered television, video and eight films

Jul 23, 1983 • 39min
John Gunter
John Gunter has been a set designer in the theatre for many years, but his astounding sets for two productions at the National Theatre - Guys and Dolls and The Rivals - have focused attention on him. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career as a designer and of its many problems, and he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Symphony No 1 in B Flat Minor by William Walton
Book: The complete works by Flann O'Brien
Luxury: More William Walton records

Jul 16, 1983 • 44min
Sir John Pritchard
Sir John Pritchard, now Chief Conductor of the BBC Symphony Orchestra, has worked with many orchestras in many countries, but he remembers above all the many happy summers he spent with Glyndebourne Opera, where he started as a repetiteur and eventually became the Musical Director. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his long career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Don Giovanni Act 2 Scene 5 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: Lucia novels by E F Benson
Luxury: Italian wine

Jul 9, 1983 • 33min
Julian Bream
Julian Bream first played the guitar on radio in Children's Hour when he was only 13. This led to guest appearances in a series on the Light Programme, and so his career took off. Before long he also took up the lute and played his part in the revival of interest in early music. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his long career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Jul 2, 1983 • 41min
Terry Jones
Terry Jones first became well-known as one of the performers in Monty Python's Flying Circus in 1969. He had spent several years before that as a television script writer. More recently, he has been directing the Monty Python feature films, writing books and hosting a television chat show.In conversation with Roy Plomley, he discusses these multifarious activities and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Five Salted Peanuts by Tony Pastor and his Orchestra
Book: The complete works by Geoffrey Chaucer
Luxury: Pencil and paper


