Desert Island Discs

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the landscape photographer Fay Godwin. Her evocative pictures brought Fay Godwin to the notice of the poet Ted Hughes and their collaboration Remains of Elmet led Fay to "discover Britain through the soles of her feet", taking photographs as she walked the length and breadth of the British Isles. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her...

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the ballerina, Dame Beryl Grey. When she joined Sadlers Wells at 14 she quickly took on leading roles and became Britain's first 'Baby Ballerina'. In the late 1950s she left the Royal Ballet to pursue a glittering freelance career - becoming the first Western ballerina to perform at the Bolshoi. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her l...

This week's Sue Lawley's castaway is the President of the Royal Society, Lord May. During his tenure as Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, between 1995 and 2000, Bob May gained a reputation for speaking his mind on subjects ranging from GM foods to embryology. He chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of D...

Sue Lawley's castaway is broadcaster Sue MacGregor. Favourite track: Adagio by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: History of the World by J M Roberts Luxury: Unlimited supply of sun block (nicely scented)

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the award-winning writer, Kazuo Ishiguro. Titles such as When We Were Orphans, An Artist of the Floating World and the Booker prize-winning The Remains of the Day have made Kazuo Ishiguro a household name all over the world. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [T...

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is Sir Paul Nurse, the Director General of Science for the charity Cancer Research UK. Thanks to his work on the genes controlling the division of cancer cells, Sir Paul was one of three scientists to share the Nobel Prize for Medicine last year. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the...

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is Viscount Linley. The son of Princess Margaret and the Earl of Snowdon has always made a point of playing down his royal connections. Having set up his own company specialising in bespoke furniture, David Linley is now one of the country's most fervent advocates for modern craftsmanship. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and wo...

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the pianist, Phyllis Sellick. Phyllis Sellick enjoyed a glittering career as a solo performer but was just as well known as one half of a duo, with her husband Cyril Smith. Then he suffered a stroke and lost the use of his left arm, but by adapting the music they continued to perform together successfully in Britain and abroad. In conversation with...

Sue Lawley's castaway is pollster Bob Worcester. Favourite track: Organ Symphony in C Minor: Finale by Camille Saint-Saëns Book: Globes at Greenwich by Elly Dekker Luxury: Celestial and terrestrial globes

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is Lady Walton. Within two weeks of meeting the composer Sir William Walton, Susana Gil Passo had accepted his marriage proposal and left her home in Argentina. When they moved to the island of Ischia, she began transforming the barren land into what is now La Mortella - one of the most famous and beautiful gardens of the Mediterranean. It boasts more...

Sue Lawley's castaway is President of the Royal College of Surgeons Sir Peter Morris. Favourite track: Piano Concerto No 21 in C Major by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: The Aubrey and Maturin Series 20-Volume Complete Hardcover Set by Patrick O'Brien Luxury: Set of golf clubs and balls

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the actor Ewan McGregor. In the last 10 years, Ewan McGregor has become a star on both sides of the Atlantic, thanks to films such as Trainspotting, Moulin Rouge, Brassed Off and Star Wars - the Phantom Menace. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [Taken from the...

Sue Lawley's castaway is TV chef Jamie Oliver. Favourite track: Only To Be With You by Roachford Book: Doesn't read books - needs notepaper and pens to write recipes Luxury: Leatherman - like a Swiss army knife but more substantial

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the Children's Laureate Anne Fine. She wrote her first book because a blizzard prevented her going to the library and there was nothing to read in the house! That was in the 1970s. Now she has more than 60 books in print, won numerous awards and seen one novel - Madam Doubtfire turned into a successful film starring Robin Williams. In conversation w...

When, at the tender age of eight, Sir Cameron Mackintosh went to see a production of Salad Days, he was so entranced that he introduced himself to the show's composer Julian Slade and decided immediately to become a producer. Those early ambitions were not misplaced; in the last 20 years Sir Cameron has produced a string of hits - from Cats and Miss Saigon to Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables a...

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the Rt Hon. William Hague, MP for Richmond. He talks about his childhood in Yorkshire, his rapid rise within the Conservative party and his aspirations now that he is no longer the party's leader. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Enigma Variation No. 9 - Nimrod by Edward El...

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the writer Ken Follett. Novels such as Eye of the Needle, The Pillars of the Earth and The Third Twin have put him in the best seller lists all over the world - although when he started writing his first novel his agent suggested he use a pseudonym in case he "wanted to write something better later!". In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about...

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the comedian and actor, Billy Connolly. His one-man shows continue to pack venues on both sides of the Atlantic and his performances in films such as Mrs Brown, The Debt Collector and The Imposters have won him great critical acclaim. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical...

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the historian Simon Schama. Books such as The Embarrassment of Riches, Landscape and Memory and Citizens have won Simon Schama countless awards and critical acclaim, and he takes a break from his latest project - the BBC television series A History of Britain - to choose eight records for his desert island. [Taken from the original programme material for this arc...

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is Lord Roll. Now in his 90s, Eric Roll is enjoying his third career as an investment banker. As a young man he was a talented academic, but he left university life in the 40s to join the civil service. There he was regarded as one of the cleverest negotiators of his generation, working with Ernest Bevin on the Marshall Plan, Edward Heath on EEC membership and Harol...

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the vet Bruce Fogle. His interest in the relationship between pets and their owners has turned Bruce Fogle into a best selling author on dog and cat behaviour. His advice on how to tackle unruly animals has helped readers all over the world. He chooses eight records to take with him to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this arch...

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor Joss Ackland. Favourite track: My Cup Runneth Over by Mary Martin and Robert Preston Book: The Diary of Samuel Pepys by Samuel Pepys Luxury: A huge jar of liquorice

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is Lord Deedes. In a journalistic career spanning 70 years, Bill Deedes has witnessed and written about some of the most important milestones of the 20th century. He chooses eight records to take with him to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: God Bless Africa by George Fe...

This week Sue Lawley's castaway is the award-winning cookery writer Claudia Roden whose Book of Middle Eastern Food revolutionised Western attitudes to the cuisines of the Middle East. Her Book of Jewish Food has been described as 'the richest and most sensuous encyclopaedia of Jewish life ever set in print'. She chooses eight records to take with her to the mythical island. [Taken from the origin...

Sue Lawley's castaway is Archbishop of Westminster Cormac Murphy O'Connor. Favourite track: Praise to the Holiest by Edward Elgar Book: Lifelines by Seamus Heaney Luxury: Grand piano