Desert Island Discs

Actor Cillian Murphy discusses his roles in Oppenheimer and Peaky Blinders, his music background, and creative journey. He reflects on early theater experiences, impact of Radiohead, and challenges of intense acting roles. Murphy also talks about family support, solitude, and shares favorite music and literary picks for a desert island.

Photographer and writer Val Wilmer shares her experiences meeting iconic musicians like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. Her love for jazz and photography began at a young age, leading to a lifelong passion. She co-founded an all-female photographic agency and her work is held in prestigious collections. Val's Desert Island Discs choices include Langston Hughes' poetry and a music selection by Thelonious Monk.

Jamie Dornan, known for roles in Fifty Shades of Grey and The Fall, discusses his childhood in Holywood, County Down, and his journey from model to actor. He opens up about challenges in acting, memories of his obstetrician father, and emotional struggles while filming. Jamie shares his desert island music picks and reflects on his career and personal life.

Internationally renowned cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason shares his musical journey from a young age, overcoming racial prejudice in the classical music world, and his family's sacrifices for his success. He discusses his favorite music pieces and reveals his passion for playing the cello.

Bishop Guli Francis-Dehqani, a refugee from Iranian Revolution, shares her experiences and discusses topics like quiet contemplation, faith and identity, growing up in a Muslim family, and making sense of her story. She also reflects on the podcast experience and shares health tips.

Graham Nash, a musician known for his work with The Hollies and Crosby, Stills and Nash, discusses his songwriting and hit songs like 'Our House', reflects on his early days as a musician and meeting the Everly Brothers, and shares his admiration for Peter Gabriel's song 'Don't Give Up'.

Delia Smith, one of Britain's most popular cookery writers and broadcasters, talks about her passion for teaching cooking, the impact of her TV programs on people's cooking habits, and her love for Norwich City football club. She also discusses being cast away on a desert island and the fear of water.

Greta Gerwig, director of the feature film Barbie, discusses her journey from actress to filmmaker and shares childhood experiences with Barbie dolls. She reflects on embarrassing moments, the importance of creating a safe environment on film sets, and her belief in humanity. Gerwig also talks about living in New York and shares her plan to memorize all of Shakespeare if stranded on a desert island.

Shirley Ballas is the head judge on Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC’s Saturday night entertainment show, which regularly attracts an audience of many millions. Known as the Queen of Latin dancing, she joined the show in 2017 after a long career as a competitive dancer and teacher. Shirley was born in Wallasey in 1960. She discovered dance as a seven-year-old when she started taking classes in her local church hall. With a combination of natural flair and hard graft she began winning competitions with her partners. In 1980, while she was still an amateur, she met Sammy Stopford who was ranked seventh in the world as a professional Latin dancer. Together they shot up the rankings and became known as the ‘non-stop Stopfords’.In 1984 she divorced Sammy and the following year she married Corky Ballas, an amateur dancer from Houston. Shirley set about training Corky to become a professional and in 1995 they won the British Open to the World Championships – a feat they repeated the following year.In 1996 Shirley retired from competitive dancing to concentrate on coaching dancers and judging competitions. In 2017 she joined Strictly Come Dancing, replacing her friend and former teacher Len Goodman as head judge. Shirley lives in south London with her mother Audrey and her boyfriend, the actor Danny Taylor.DISC ONE: Get Lucky - Daft Punk feat. Pharrell Williams and Nile Rodgers DISC TWO: Ring of Fire - Johnny Cash DISC THREE: Moon River - Frank Sinatra DISC FOUR: Sherry - The Four Seasons DISC FIVE: Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana DISC SIX: You To Me Are Everything - The Real Thing DISC SEVEN: Highs and Lows - Alexander Jean DISC EIGHT: We’ve Only Just Begun - The Carpenters BOOK CHOICE: Unleash the Power Within by Tony Robbins LUXURY ITEM: Cotton knickers CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Highs and Lows - Alexander Jean Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Paula McGinley

Marina Abramović is an artist renowned for performances and feats of endurance, in which her body is pushed to its limits. She has moved, scandalised and delighted audiences for half a century, and is now celebrated by world-leading galleries and institutions. Marina was born in Belgrade in 1946. Her parents were honoured as war heroes for their work for the Partisan resistance movement, and both took up senior roles in the post-war Yugoslav government. Marina became interested in painting during her childhood, and went on to study art. She first made her name as a performance artist in her 20s, creating events which often shocked viewers – and were equally traumatic for her. In 1974 she placed 72 objects, including sharp tools, a whip and a loaded pistol, on a table and invited gallery goers to use them on her, however they wished. She was attacked and left scarred, and part of her hair went white. For many years she led a nomadic existence, creating works with her partner, the German artist Ulay. In 1997, in response to the war in Bosnia, she created a prize-winning work for the Venice Biennale, in which for four days she attempted to scrub the blood from a vast pile of cow bones. In 2010 her exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York attracted almost a million people, many queuing for hours for a chance to sit opposite her in silence as part of her marathon performance The Artist is Present. More recently her work has been celebrated in a major retrospective exhibition at the Royal Academy in London, along with performances at English National Opera, marking the centenary of Maria Callas. DISC ONE: Aria from The Goldberg Variations. Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach German composer and musician, performed by Igor Levit DISC TWO: Norma, Act 1: "Casta diva". Composed by Vincenzo Bellini, performed by Maria Callas (soprano) and Coro del Teatro alla Scala di Milano DISC THREE: 4 Degrees - Anohni DISC FOUR: Paloma Negra - Chavela Vargas DISC FIVE: Private Dancer - Tina Turner DISC SIX: Sherab Nyingpo Mantra (The Heart Sutra) - Tashi Lhumpo Monks DISC SEVEN: Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K. 467 - 2. Andante. Composed by Mozart and performed by Mitsuko Uchida (piano), with the English Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Jeffrey Tate DISC EIGHT: Rum And Coca-Cola - The Andrews Sisters BOOK CHOICE: In Search of the Miraculous by Peter D Ouspensky LUXURY ITEM: A cashmere blanket CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Sherab Nyingpo Mantra (The Heart Sutra) - Tashi Lhunpo MonksPresenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah Taylor