Desert Island Discs

Updated: 22 Sep 2025 • 2130 episodes
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qnmr

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

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The former footballer and pundit Ian Wright was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2020. Born to Jamaican parents in south-east London, Ian grew up with his mother and stepfather. His biological father had left the family before Ian was two years old. Things at home were difficult, and Ian spent as much time as possible ou

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Maggie Alphonsi is a broadcaster and former rugby player. She was part of the England team which took home the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and by the time she retired she’d won 74 caps for her country. Maggie was brought up in north London and when she was 14 her PE teacher suggested she give the sport of rugby union

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Professor Dame Carol Robinson is a scientist who was the first female professor of Chemistry at both Cambridge and Oxford Universities. She has been awarded scientific prizes from all over the world for her pioneering work studying complex macromolecules using an instrument called the mass spectrometer. Carol was drawn

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31 Aug 2025 • EN

Harry Hill, comedian

Harry Hill is a comedian, writer and broadcaster best known for presenting popular television shows including You’ve Been Framed, Junior Bake Off and the multi award-winning TV Burp. He was born Matthew Hall in Surrey and brought up in Kent. He became a Cub Scout and got a taste for performing when he was nine after pl

50 min
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23 Aug 2025 • EN

Monica Dolan, actor

Monica Dolan is a BAFTA and Olivier award winning actor. She is equally at home playing a wrongfully accused postmistress in Mr Bates Vs the Post Office as she is playing the serial killer Rosemary West. Alongside her many roles in TV, stage and screen, Monica has also written and performed in her award winning one wom

50 min
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16 Aug 2025 • EN

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor

Gustavo Dudamel is a Venezuelan conductor, violinist and composer. He is known for bringing humour and joy to the podium. He is currently director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Simon Bolivar Symphony Orchestra and in 2026 will take up the post of music director of the New York Philharmonic, following in the f

51 min
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