Desert Island Discs

Mollie Harris was brought up in Oxfordshire and her books of reminiscences about life in the country are very popular. For the past thirteen years she has been a regular member of the cast of The Archers, in which she takes the part of Martha Woodford. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her fascinating life and chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island. [Taken...

Topol began his acting career almost by accident while he was doing his army service in Israel. He had wanted to be a printer and live on a kibbutz. His success as Tevye in the musical The Fiddler on the Roof, both in London and in the film, brought him international acclaim and he has gone on to make many more films, but he still returns regularly to Israel to work. In conversation with Roy Ploml...

Linda Esther Gray, the Scots soprano, made her operatic debut as Mimi in La Boheme with Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1972, and she went on to win the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship and the John Christie Award. But her first big success was as Isolde with the Welsh National Opera in 1978. She also tackles the role of Brunhilde in Valkyrie with the English National Opera. In conversation wit...

Sir Ranulph Fiennes has had many adventures since he was removed from the SAS for the illegal use of explosives, but without a doubt his greatest exploit was the Transglobe Expedition. Swamps, deserts and arctic ice fields were just some of the many hazards he encountered on the first round-the-world journey via the two poles. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he describes some of his exploits and...

Shirley Maclaine began her career as a singer and dancer in the chorus of a Broadway musical. Success came quickly when, as an understudy, she had to take over a leading role in The Pajama Game, and she went on to make many successful films including The Apartment, Sweet Charity and The Turning Point. She regularly tours the world with her own song and dance show. In conversation with Roy Plomley,...

Sir Peter Hall was appointed Director of the National Theatre in 1973. Before that, he ran the Royal Shakespeare Company and he was responsible for setting up their London base at the Aldwych. In spite of this heavy administrative responsibility, he has always found time to produce many plays and operas, including this year's Ring Cycle at Bayreuth. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about...

Sir Hugh Greene began his career as a foreign correspondent. During the war, he joined the BBC and was in charge of wartime broadcasts to Germany. After a variety of jobs, including that of Head of Emergency Information Services in Malaya conducting psychological warfare against the Communist guerrillas in the jungle, he was appointed Director-General of the BBC. In conversation with Roy Plomley,...

Thomas Keneally, the Australian writer, won the Booker Prize last year with Schindler's Ark after being on the shortlist twice. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his writing, about his years in a Catholic seminary and as a teacher, and he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Isl...

Marvin Hamlisch got into the Juilliard School of Music at the age of seven and he has been successful ever since. His two hit musicals - Chorus Line and They're Playing our Song - and his scores for over 20 films have won him many awards, including three Academy Awards in a single night. His most recent musical, Jean Seberg, opened at the National Theatre in 1983. In conversation with Roy Plomley,...

The artist John Piper is a man of many talents. Not only is he a distinguished painter, but also he is particularly interested in tapestry and stained glass, and he has done windows for cathedrals at Coventry and Liverpool. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about the many facets of his life, especially his designs for many of the operas of Benjamin Britten, and he chooses the eight record...

James Stewart, with his inimitable slow drawl and gangly walk, has been making films since 1935, from The Philadelphia Story to The Far Country and Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his long career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]...

The novelist MM Kaye was born and has spent much of her life in India, and this experience has provided the background to several of her novels, including The Far Pavilions. She has also written a series of thrillers set in other places around the world to which she has been sent with her soldier husband. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her adventurous life and chooses the eight...

Bertice Reading's career took off when she won a talent contest and for the prize sang with the Lionel Hampton Band for a week. Later, she started to act and was in the first production of Sandy Wilson's musical Valmouth. In both America and Europe she appeared in cabaret and musicals, and she was a great success here in the musical One Mo' Time. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about h...

The cricketer David Gower, who is to be the captain of Leicestershire next season, is thought by many to be one of the world's most exciting batsmen. He is in New Zealand with the England team, of which he is the vice captain, for the test series. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original...

Quentin Crewe has always been an enthusiastic traveller and even the onset of muscular dystrophy has not curbed him. His other great interest is in food. He has paid for both of these enthusiasms by journalism and by writing books about them. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his fascinating life and his travels, which have included a journey across the Sahara with his wheelchair. [...

Her Royal Highness Princess Michael of Kent was born in Czechoslovakia but she was educated mainly in Australia. She came to England specifically to study interior design and eventually set up her own design company. Her marriage to Prince Michael of Kent was in 1978. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her fascinating life and chooses the eight records that she would take to the myt...

The American actor Stubby Kaye worked in vaudeville before he made his name in the musical Guys and Dolls, on Broadway and in London, as Nicely-Nicely. When it was filmed, nobody else could be considered for the part. He went on to make several more film musicals, including Li'l Abner and Sweet Charity. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career which includes some work in this co...

Lord Elwyn-Jones began his career as a barrister, combining it with that of a Labour Member of Parliament from 1945. He was Counsel for the Prosecution at the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial and later he was appointed Lord Chancellor and Speaker of the House of Lords. In conversation with Roy Plomley about his eventful life, he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from...

Woody Herman played saxophone and clarinet with various bands until 1936, when the Isham Jones Band in which he was working broke up and he organised a group of his own with the key players. Since then he has led many bands, most of which have been called 'herds'. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island, but he does not include his most f...

Michael York began his acting career with the National Youth Theatre, but his big break came when he successfully auditioned for the National Theatre at the Old Vic. He has appeared in many films, including Accident, Cabaret and Conduct Unbecoming. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for th...

Gerald Priestland began his career in the news department of the BBC, becoming in 1954 the foreign correspondent in India. Many years later, he was appointed Religious Affairs Correspondent and he was responsible for the very popular radio series Priestland's Progress. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career, including his move into television, and he chooses the eight records...

Don McCullin has won an enormous reputation for his photographic coverage of the many wars which have torn the world apart in the last 20 years. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his exceedingly dangerous career and about his travels, which have even taken him to a desert island, and, in light of this experience, he chooses the eight records he would like to have for a prolonged isl...

Michael Quinn is the Head Chef at the Ritz Hotel; the first British Chef in the history of the hotel. His ambition was always to be a cook, so as soon as he left school he became an apprentice cook in Leeds, winning within five years a competition for the 1966 Top Apprentice Chef of Great Britain. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he describes how he worked his way to the top via Claridge's and tw...

'Honest' Ed Mirvish is a Canadian high-school drop-out who became a multi-millionaire by running a discount house selling goods at bargain prices. When he was offered the run-down Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto at a bargain price he could not refuse, and before long it was paying its way. His latest venture was to buy the Old Vic in London, which he has restored beautifully. In conversation wi...

Paul Tortelier was born in Paris, where his first job at the age of 12 was playing the cello in a cinema orchestra. Although he was a prize-winning student at the Conservatoire in 1930, it was some years before his career took off. In conversation with Roy Plomley, this internationally-famous soloist and teacher talks about his colourful life and chooses the eight records he would take to the myth...