Desert Island Discs

BBC Radio 4
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Dec 3, 2000 • 36min

Tina Brown

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the editor of Talk magazine, Tina Brown. Her reputation as a formidable magazine editor spans both sides of the Atlantic - with the revamp of Tatler, Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, raising eyebrows as well as circulation figures. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: Chan Chan by The Buena Vista Social Club Book: Middlemarch by George Eliot Luxury: Rollercoaster
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Nov 26, 2000 • 36min

Albie Sachs

This week Sue Lawley's castaway is judge Albie Sachs. The Jail Diary of Albie Sachs, his account of being placed in solitary confinement by the South African authorities, highlighted the dangers of campaigning against apartheid in the 1960s. After a long exile in Britain, Albie Sachs returned to his homeland in the 1990s to help shape its new constitution and become one of its most senior judges.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: The Hammerklavier-Piano Sonata No.29 in B Flat by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Charterhouse of Palma by Stendhal Luxury: Little bottle of aftershave
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Nov 19, 2000 • 35min

Des Lynam

Sue Lawley's castaway is sports presenter Des Lynam.Favourite track: In Party mood by West End Celebrity Orchestra Book: Encyclopaedia of Natural Medicine Luxury: A drumkit
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Nov 5, 2000 • 36min

J K Rowling

Sue Lawley's castaway is the writer and creator of Harry Potter J K Rowling.Favourite track: First movement-Violin Concerto in D Major by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Book: SAS Survival Guide Luxury: Pen and unlimited paper
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Aug 27, 2000 • 36min

Ronald Harwood

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the writer Ronald Harwood. At the age of 17 Ronald Harwood left his home in South Africa and set sail for England, determined to become an actor. When that failed he turned his hand successfully to writing. Some plays, like The Dresser, draw on his theatrical experiences, others, like Articles of Faith deal with the political dilemmas. He leaves behind his thought-provoking work to join Sue Lawley on the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: Emperor Concerto No 5 in E Flat, Opus 73 by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Decline and Fall by Evelyn Waugh Luxury: My bathroom
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Aug 20, 2000 • 37min

Christopher Lloyd

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the gardener and writer Christopher Lloyd. Well known for his forthright opinions, Christopher Lloyd has tended his family garden at Great Dixter in Sussex for nearly 70 years. It's been the source of inspiration for his many books and his column in the magazine Country Life, which he's written without a break since 1963.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Letters by Gustave Flaubert Luxury: Syndicate whisky
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Aug 13, 2000 • 36min

Robert Swan

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the explorer and environmentalist, Robert Swan. When he was a boy Robert Swan became fascinated by Scott's attempt to conquer Antarctica and after university he decided not only to follow in his footsteps - but go one further and travel across the Arctic as well. In 1989 he achieved his dream - becoming the first man ever to walk unsupported to both the North and South Poles.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay Book: Huge copy of Times Atlas - largest available so I can see where I have been (168 countries so far) Luxury: An accountancy course
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Aug 6, 2000 • 33min

Sir Norman Wisdom

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the actor and comedian Sir Norman Wisdom. His cloth cap and tight-fitting jacket became his screen trademark in the 1950s and 1960s and characters like Norman Pitkin won him fans all over the world. Sir Norman talks to Sue Lawley about a career that's spanned more than 60 years and chooses eight records to take with him the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: Don't Laugh at Me 'Cos I'm a Fool by Norman Wisdom Book: Reach for the Skies by Sir Douglas Bader Luxury: Pot of stew with two dumplings
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Jul 30, 2000 • 35min

General Sir Charles Guthrie

This week, Sue Lawley's castaway on Desert Island Discs is General Sir Charles Guthrie.Favourite track: The Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves by Giuseppe Verdi Book: Vol 1 of biography of the Duke of Wellington - Year of the Sword by Lady Longford Luxury: Surfboard
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Jul 23, 2000 • 37min

Sir Roger Penrose

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the mathematician Sir Roger Penrose. His prize-winning work with Stephen Hawking on the nature of black holes brought his name to public attention in the 1960s. Since then he has made a controversial contribution to the debate over human consciousness and whether or not computers will ever be able to mimic the workings of the human mind.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: Crucifixion from B Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: The fattest book by Michael Frayne Luxury: 19-note piano

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