Desert Island Discs

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the theatre director Nicholas Hytner. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his string of directorial successes, which include Miss Saigon, Wind in the Willows, Carousel and The Importance of Being Ernest. He'll also be discussing the health of the modern musical today and the problems of directing both drama and opera.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Don Giovanni Ah Taci, Ingiusto Core by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: The collected works by Samuel Taylor Coleridge Luxury: Large supply of total block suncream

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the writer Peter Mayle. Renowned for his best-selling books about life as an Englishman in France, he'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his years in advertising, and how he coined the catchphrase Nice one, Cyril', and also about the recent television adaptation of a Year in Provence, which attracted widespread criticism. Criticism and controversy have been a feature of his life since the massive success of his books and he'll be answering many of the charges levelled against him, amongst them the allegation that he has made fun of the French, presenting them as laughable stereotypes as well as attracting hordes of sightseers to disturb the peace of Provence.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Caruso by Luciano Pavarotti Book: The Leopard by Giuseppe di Lampedusa Luxury: The menu from his favourite Parisien restaurant

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Sir Leon Brittan. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about life as one of Britain's European Commissioners in Brussels, where he has been for the last five and a half years, since his resignation over the Westland affair. He'll also be looking back on his glittering early career - winning an Exhibition to Cambridge at 16, a double first in English and Law, and becoming, at 41, the youngest member of the Cabinet.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Sonnet No 116 by William Shakespeare Book: The collected works by Geoffrey Chaucer Luxury: Collection of large-scale Ordnance Survey maps of England

Sue Lawley's castaway is musician and campaigner Joan Baez.Favourite track: Salut! Demeure Chaste Et Pure by Charles Gounod Book: Diary by Anne Frank Luxury: Personal pouch with a silver lion in it

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her Yorkshire childhood, her venture south to join a dance troupe, and her much-vaunted but nevertheless fleeting appearance as a Tiller Girl. She'll also be discussing how she made history last year when she became the first woman to be elected Speaker, and also the first to be elected from the opposition benches since 1835.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Rock-A-Bye by Judy Garland Book: A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth Luxury: Mace of the House of Commons

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the boxer Frank Bruno.He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about how he got into trouble as a young boy for fighting with his contemporaries and ultimately with one of his sports teachers, after which he was sent to a special school where boxing was to become his salvation. He'll also be discussing the vicious nature of the sport and the rigorous training programme he undergoes before every fight.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: When The Going Gets Tough The Tough Get Going by Billy Ocean Book: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Luxury: Picture of the family

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is a publisher.Kaye Webb was made editor of Puffin Books in the 1960s, and held the job for nearly 20 years. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about those years and also about the crowded professional life which preceded them. As an assistant editor for the pocket magazine Lilliput in the 1930s, she commissioned contributions from distinguished authors such as Evelyn Waugh, George Bernard Shaw and Dylan Thomas.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Sea Pictures - Where Corals Lie by Edward Elgar Book: Messages - poetry by Naomi Lewis Luxury: Very big photograph album on a wheeling table

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is a businessman.Born into a family of Polish-Jewish immigrants, he was orphaned at the age of nine and brought up by his older brothers. He studied at the London School of Economics and married the daughter of a manufacturer - the owner of a small electrical company. By the age of 34, he was its Managing Director. Today that company is a huge institution - GEC - which its Managing Director Lord Weinstock has steered safely through the choppy waters of nine changes of government and six Prime Ministers. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his life and work and about his passionate love of music.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Requiem - Recordare by Giuseppe Verdi Book: If This Be A Man by Primo Levi Luxury: Photograph album - family, friends, colleagues

Sue Lawley's castaway is General of the Salvation Army Eva Burrows.Favourite track: St Matthew Passion Konnen Tranen Meiner Wangen by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Faber Book of Religious Verse Luxury: Game of Scrabble with paper and pencil

Sue Lawley's castaway is journalist and broadcaster John Cole.Favourite track: The Ode To Joy (Symphony No 9) by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust Luxury: Typewriter