Desert Island Discs
| Genre | Biographical/Musical |
|---|---|
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Language(s) | English |
| Home station | BBC Radio 4 |
| Hosted by | Kirsty Young |
| Created by | Roy Plomley |
| Produced by | Leanne Buckle |
| Original release | 1942 – Present |
| Audio format | Stereophonic sound |
| Opening theme | By The Sleepy Lagoon by Eric Coates |
| Website | BBC website |
Desert Island Discs is a long-running BBC Radio 4 programme. It was first broadcast on January 29 1942 and is said by the Guinness Book of Records to be the longest-running music programme in the history of radio. [1] Guests are invited to imagine themselves castaways on a desert island, and to choose eight pieces of music to take with them; discussion of their choices permits a review of their life. Aside from music, they are permitted one book, excluding the Bible or other religious work and the complete works of Shakespeare, which are already present on the island to force more original choices. They also choose one luxury which must be inanimate and of no survival value, though large supplies of champagne seem to be allowed.[2] The names and selections of some of the more recent guests are listed separately.
The past six Prime Ministers of the United Kingdom have all been on the programme, although only John Major (choosing Oval Cricket Ground as his luxury) appeared while in office. The first castaway was Vic Oliver, and others include Jo Brand, Catherine Bramwell-Booth, Jacob Bronowski, David Cameron, Johnny Cash, George Clooney, Billy Connolly, Noël Coward, Richard Dawkins, Dame Judi Dench, George Foreman, Stephen Hawking, Benny Hill, Engelbert Humperdinck, Sid James, Stephen King, Fran Landesman, Matt Lucas, Paul McCartney, John Malkovich, Brian May, John Peel, Gene Pitney, Dennis Potter, Princess Margaret, Bobby Robson, J.K. Rowling, Rod Steiger and Rowan Williams. A few, such as Arthur Askey and Earl Hines, have been on more than once.
Desert Island Discs was devised by its original presenter, Roy Plomley.[3] After Plomley's death in 1985, it was presented by Michael Parkinson, and from 1988 by Sue Lawley.[3] Lawley stepped down in August 2006 after 18 years. She was replaced by Kirsty Young,[3] who interviewed illustrator Quentin Blake for her first show, broadcast October 1 2006.
The programme's theme is By The Sleepy Lagoon composed by Eric Coates in 1930.
The most requested music over the first 60 years was Ode to Joy, the last movement of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. [4]
Unlike most Radio 4 programmes, Desert Island Discs cannot be heard on the BBC's Listen Again service, which allows most programmes to be heard up to a week after transmission. The programme's website [2] explains this is due to rights issues, as explained in The Sunday Times in 2006:
Because Plomley was a freelance, Desert Island Discs became his copyright. After his death in 1985 it went to his wife, Diana Wong. She still owns it but is now in her eighties and their daughter, Almond, acts for her.
Mother and daughter and the BBC agree to have Plomley mentioned in the credits and the corporation pays Diana an annual sum (£5,000 in 1996). However, the family and the BBC cannot agree a payment to make the programme available after the broadcast. This is why it is not available via the BBC’s website. [5]
The BBC has failed to respond to the assertion that format rights do not exist in a programme and that it should not make payments to the Roy Plomley estate nor deprive listeners of programmes on the website. (cit. emails between R Horth with Ross Jubin of BBC of 25 and 27 Jan and 13 Feb '08) [citation needed]
In popular culture
In episode 68 of the animated television series Futurama, Bender is washed up on a desert island and proceeds to play one of his desert island discs which he always carries with him, stating: "I never thought I'd get to use them". However, after deciding that they are unnatural to the island, he crushes his CDs, saying: "Take that, Beethoven!".
See also
References
- ^ "Sue Lawley escapes after 19 years". The Times. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
- ^ "John Stevens". Desert Island Discs. 2006-11-17. BBC Radio 4.
{{cite episode}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters:|began=,|episodelink=,|city=,|serieslink=,|writers=,|ended=, and|transcripturl=(help)website - ^ a b c "Desert Island delights". BBC. 2002-01-29. Retrieved 15 November.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Beethoven tops island hit list", BBC News website, 18 March 2002. [1]
- ^ How a man in his pyjamas invented a radio classic
External links
- Desert Island Discs (BBC latest episode)
- Desert Island delights (BBC website on the programme's 60th birthday in 2002; includes two pictures of presenter Roy Plomley, one with guest Dame Gladys Cooper in 1967 and one with guest Paul McCartney in 1982)
- Sue Arnold, "The Lagoon Show", The Observer, London, 17 March 2002