Desert Island Discs

This week's castaway is an author. In his book The Wasp Factory, the teenage protagonist tortures insects, experiments with bombs and kills a brother and a cousin. But, says Iain Banks, that was "just a phase he was going through". He tells Sue Lawley how, as a writer, he has not developed the filters that most adults do and so views the world with childlike eyes, describing what he sees. And this world, he feels, is very often a violent and terrifying one. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Mohammed's Radio by Warren Zevon Book: The Complete Monty Python Television Scripts by Monty Python Luxury: Front Seat Of A Porsche

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian Eric Sykes.Favourite track: Messiah Hallelujah by George Frideric Handel Book: Ripley's Believe It Or Not by Ripley Luxury: A sand wedge golf club and a crate of golf balls

Sue Lawley's castaway is campaigner Christina Noble.Favourite track: This Is My Life by Shirley Bassey Book: The Book of Kells Luxury: Photo of an Irish cottage

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is dub poet Benjamin Zephaniah. As well as talking about his work as a performance poet often working in prisons or schools, Benjamin recalls a time when he was illiterate. He also remembers Nelson Mandela's request to meet him at seven o'clock in the morning to brief him on Margaret Thatcher.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Take Five by The Dave Brubeck Quartet Book: Poetical Works of Shelley by Percy Shelley Luxury: Law of the land (so he could break it)

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is concert pianist Joanna MacGregor. As well as talking about her work as a champion of New Music, Joanna remembers her childhood playing piano for gospel choirs and how she had to bribe her way onto the college Steinway with packets of cigarettes. 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: The Unanswered Question by Charles Ives Book: The Sleep Walkers by Arthur Koestler Luxury: Sampler to record the noises of the island

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is actress Sian Phillips. Sian talks about her award-winning career and her most recent performance as Marlene Dietrich, as well as remembering her 20 years of marriage to Peter O'Toole. 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: Cosi fan Tutte soave sia il vento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: The Medical Care of Merchant Seamen by William Louis Wheeler Luxury: Pen and paper

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is comedian Harry Enfield. As well as talking about characters such as Loadsamoney, Kevin the Teenager and Tory Boy, Harry reveals his reasons for not campaigning with Tony Blair at the general election.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Nabucco Overture To Nabucco by Giuseppe Verdi Book: Bleak House by Charles Dickens Luxury: Beer and a cigarette machine

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is sculptor David Wynne. As well as talking about his sculptures Boy with a Dolphin and Guy the Gorilla, David explains how he researches his work by visiting the animals in the wild. This has led to some dangerous adventures. But David Wynne's work has its gentler moments - he also designed the hands on the back of the 50-pence piece.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Clarinet Concerto in A by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: The Iliad and The Odyssey by Homer Luxury: Harmonica

Sue Lawley's castaway on this week's Desert Island Discs is Astronomer Royal Sir Martin Rees. As well as choosing his eight records, book and luxury, Sir Martin will be discussing his work in cosmic evolution, or, to put it more simply, how the Earth and Solar System were formed. He tells of his belief that it is more difficult to understand a frog than the cosmos.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: In Paradisum by Gabriel Fauré Book: Collective Cartoons by Gary Larson Luxury: A Jefferson reclining chair

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian and broadcaster Andy Hamilton.Favourite track: Sloop John B by The Beach Boys Book: The Physics of Immortality by Frank J Tipler Luxury: Football