Desert Island Discs

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is scientist James Lovelock. The son of a South London gasman, he'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his passion for science and recalling some of the experiences he had whilst working on the American space programme, which eventually led him to invent the Gaia Theory - a theory which, amongst other things, argues that the human race is not necessary for the planet's survival.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Et Incarnatus Est by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: The Golden Treasury by Francis Palgrave Luxury: Pen and paper

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the man who brought the Folies Bergere to Britain and ran the Talk of the Town in its heyday - the theatrical impresario Lord Delfont. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his extraordinary life: he was raised in the East End of London, his family having settled there after escaping the pogroms in the Ukraine, and is now, at 82, the president of his own leisure corporation; worth £450 million.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: My Heart And I by Carole Lynne Book: 1515-1985 British Music Theatre Book Luxury: Cigars and matches

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is the historian EP Thompson. As a lifelong peace campaigner, Edward Thompson enjoys making history as much as writing about it. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his disillusionment with the Communist Party, how and why he founded the magazine which has become The New Left Review, and enjoying his carefully-selected eight records.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Carolan's Receipt by Derek Bell Book: Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Blake Luxury: Typewriter and paper

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is the American actor Alan Alda. The son of a vaudeville artist, he shot to fame portraying the wise-cracking, womanising Hawkeye in the television series M.A.S.H. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about the part that transformed his life and his initial reluctance to accept it, his childhood years in the burlesque houses of America, and explaining why, despite being a millionaire, he continues to work.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Weekend In The Country by Stephen Sondheim Book: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Luxury: Italian pasta

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Elizabeth Esteve-Coll, Director of one of Britain's most famous museums, the V & A. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her career at the V & A and the controversy she caused within her first year of office. She'll also be recalling how, at 19, she abandoned her university career and married a Spanish sea captain with whom she sailed the world.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Christus Natus Est (Mode I V) by The Choir Of Monks Of Saint Pierre De Solemes Book: The Four Quartets by T S Eliot Luxury: Expensive perfumed hand cream

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is the film director John Schlesinger. Like many other British filmmakers, he learnt his craft at the BBC but soon moved on to directing feature films including A Kind of Loving, Far From the Madding Crowd and the Oscar-winning Midnight Cowboy. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his long and successful career, the controversy he caused with his films Darling and Sunday Bloody Sunday and choosing eight records to take to his island exile.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Zueignung by Richard Strauss Book: Dictonary of English Quotations Luxury: Magimix (battery-powered )

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the Pakistani cricketer Imran Khan. Educated at Oxford and dividing his time between England and Pakistan, his fame extends well beyond the cricket field. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his faith - he is a devout Muslim - the constant speculation surrounding his love life and how his mother's death from cancer dramatically changed his life.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Us And Them by Pink Floyd Book: Bang-E Dara by Iqbal Luxury: Shotgun and clay pigeon trap

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the photographer David Bailey. Born and bred in the East End of London, he took the fashion business by storm in the 1960s - discovering, photographing and often marrying some of the world's most beautiful women. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about success in the 1960s, the first time he saw Jean Shrimpton and his desire to carry on working, like his hero Picasso, until he's 90.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Dance Of The Earth (Rite Of Spring) by Igor Stravinsky Book: Vioces of Silence by Malraux Luxury: Nelson's Column

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the conductor Klaus Tennstedt. When, at 45, he defected from East Germany, he was virtually unknown in the West. But three years later, after conducting the Boston Symphony Orchestra, he was acclaimed as an international maestro. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his impressive musical career, his defection from East Germany and his battle against cancer of the vocal chords.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Symphony No 6 In A Minor Finale by Gustav Mahler Book: Dr. Faustus by Thomas Mann Luxury: Mountain bike

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is one of the most important figures in British industry today - the Director-General of the CBI John Banham. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his impressive and varied career, his passion for sailing and how he very nearly lost his life during the Fastnet Race of 1979.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Sanctus by Gabriel Fauré Book: The collected works by A E Houseman Luxury: Cigars and matches