Desert Island Discs

James Graham on his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine

The playwright James Graham was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2024. He was a shy and quiet child who enjoyed nothing more than watching soap operas on TV. So what was h

Jessica Ennis-Hill on the moment she won Olympic gold

The Olympic heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2021. She recalls pushing herself in her final event at the London 2012 Olympics, the 800-m

Warwick Davis on his first role as an Ewok in Star Wars

The actor Warwick Davis was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016. When his grandmother heard an advertisement on the radio looking for short people to play Ewoks in the nex

How Lily Allen brought the house down with a Disney song aged 11

The singer-songwriter Lily Allen was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2014. Although her school reports painted a mixed picture of Lily's academic achievements, a singing te

How hiding in a toilet helped Steven Spielberg get into the movie business

The film director Steven Spielberg was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022. He gave the world Jaws, ET and Jurassic Park, but Steven Spielberg got his start in the film

Malorie Blackman on receiving 82 rejection letters from publishers

The writer Malorie Blackman was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2013. Although she has published more than 70 books for children and young adults - among them her hugely po

How snooker halls became Ronnie O'Sullivan's "creche" from a young age

The World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023. He remembers being dropped off unaccompanied at snooker halls across East London by

Delia Smith on her catchphrase - "Let's be havin' you!"

The cookery writer Delia Smith was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023. She fell in love with her husband, the editor Michael Wynn-Jones, over a shared love of food and

How Kate Moss's modelling break came at an unexpected moment

The model Kate Moss was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022. Her career began after a chance encounter with a model agent on a flight. She describes attending castings o

Keith Richards on writing "Satisfaction" in his sleep

The Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2015. He recalls the moment he bumped into his primary school friend Mick Jagger at Dartfor

Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter

Chaka Khan’s unmistakeable voice and musical versatility have made her one of the most influential musicians of the past six decades, with an estimated 70 million records

Professor Dame Pamela Shaw

Professor Dame Pamela Shaw is a pioneering Neurologists and a leading figure in tackling motor neurone disease or MND. She is the founder and Director of SITran – the Wor

Emma Grede, businesswoman

Emma Grede is the businesswoman behind major fashion brands including Skims and Good American, which she co-founded with Kim Kardashian and Khloé Kardashian, respectively

Sir Roger Deakins, cinematographer

Sir Roger Deakins is an acclaimed cinematographer who is known for his visual artistry on films including The Shawshank Redemption, 1917, Fargo, Skyfall and Blade Runner

Shania Twain, musician

Shania Twain is a singer and songwriter and one of only two artists in history to have three consecutive diamond albums. By the time she was eight years old, she had a

Paul Farmer, charity leader

Paul Farmer is a charity leader who has spent his life campaigning, fundraising and changing the national conversation around some of the most challenging issues in our s

Professor Liz Morris, glaciologist

Professor Liz Morris is a glaciologist whose work in some of the earth’s most inhospitable environments has broadened humanity’s understanding of climate change and polar

Norman Cook, DJ and musician

Norman Cook is a musician and DJ also widely known as Fatboy Slim. As a DJ, he has played everywhere from Bondi Beach and the Great Wall of China to the House of Commons

Jo Nesbø, writer

Jo Nesbø is a writer, known as the king of 'Nordic Noir'. His internationally bestselling crime thrillers following the exploits of detective Harry Hole have been transla

Anna Maxwell Martin, actor

Anna Maxwell Martin is an award-winning actor whose versatility is evident from the breadth of parts she has played in popular television programmes including Motherland,