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Shows worth your time, picked up where you left off.

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Personal Journals

Desert Island Discs

BBC Radio 4

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

300 episodes

James Graham on his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine 2 Oct 2026 · 3 min 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 he doing ta…

Jessica Ennis-Hill on the moment she won Olympic gold 1 Oct 2026 · 3 min 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-metre race,…

Warwick Davis on his first role as an Ewok in Star Wars 30 Sept 2026 · 4 min 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 next Star War…

How Lily Allen brought the house down with a Disney song aged 11 29 Sept 2026 · 3 min 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 teacher spot…

How hiding in a toilet helped Steven Spielberg get into the movie business 28 Sept 2026 · 4 min 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 business w…

Malorie Blackman on receiving 82 rejection letters from publishers 25 Sept 2026 · 3 min 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 popular Noug…

How snooker halls became Ronnie O'Sullivan's "creche" from a young age 24 Sept 2026 · 3 min 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 his fathe…

Delia Smith on her catchphrase - "Let's be havin' you!" 23 Sept 2026 · 3 min 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 football a…

How Kate Moss's modelling break came at an unexpected moment 22 Sept 2026 · 3 min 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 on her own…

Keith Richards on writing "Satisfaction" in his sleep 21 Sept 2026 · 4 min 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 Dartford train st…

Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter 13 Sept 2026 · 51 min 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 sold. Wh…

Professor Dame Pamela Shaw 6 Sept 2026 · 52 min 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 World leadin…

Emma Grede, businesswoman 29 Aug 2026 · 52 min 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. Last ye…

Sir Roger Deakins, cinematographer 23 Aug 2026 · 51 min 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 2049. His…

Shania Twain, musician 16 Aug 2026 · 50 min 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 repertoire…

Paul Farmer, charity leader 8 Aug 2026 · 50 min 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 society. C…

Professor Liz Morris, glaciologist 2 Aug 2026 · 51 min 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 science.…

Norman Cook, DJ and musician 25 Jul 2026 · 51 min 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 and a fis…

Jo Nesbø, writer 18 Jul 2026 · 51 min 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 translated into…

Anna Maxwell Martin, actor 12 Jul 2026 · 51 min 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, Ludwig a…

Peter Layton, artist 5 Jul 2026 · 51 min Peter Layton is a pioneering British glass artist and the founder of London Glassblowing, one of the most influential glass studios and galleries in the United Kingdom. He played…

Guy Martin, presenter and former motorcycle racer 28 Jun 2026 · 51 min Guy Martin is a television presenter, mechanic and former motorcycle racer. During his career he achieved 17 podium finishes at the Isle of Man TT (Tourist Trophy) Races – one of…

Emily Watson, actor 20 Jun 2026 · 53 min Emily Watson is an award-winning actor, widely regarded as one of the finest character actors of her generation. She began her career on stage with the Royal Shakespeare Company b…

Gary O'Donoghue, journalist 14 Jun 2026 · 51 min Journalist Gary O’Donoghue is the Chief North America Correspondent for BBC News. Last year his coverage of the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump won the Royal Television…

David Morrissey, actor 6 Jun 2026 · 51 min David Morrissey is an actor who grew up in Liverpool. His screen work ranges from playing a ruthless survivor of the zombie apocalypse in The Walking Dead to a troubled police off…

Si King, cook 25 Apr 2026 · 50 min Si King is a broadcaster and cook, best known as one half of the duo The Hairy Bikers. Together with his onscreen cooking partner and real-life best friend Dave Myers, the pair tr…

Sara Pascoe, comedian and writer 19 Apr 2026 · 51 min Sara Pascoe is a comedian and writer who has appeared on programmes including QI, Taskmaster and the Great British Sewing Bee. She is also a screenwriter and the author of three b…

Professor Stephen Westaby, surgeon and writer 12 Apr 2026 · 51 min Professor Stephen Westaby is a former heart surgeon and writer. During his career he performed over 11,000 operations and pioneered the use of life long artificial hearts as an al…

Jessie Buckley, actor 5 Apr 2026 · 51 min Jessie Buckley is an actor and singer. She recently won a BAFTA and a Golden Globe Award for her critically acclaimed role playing Shakespeare’s wife Agnes in Chloé Zhao’s film Ha…

Dwayne Fields, explorer 29 Mar 2026 · 51 min Dwayne Fields is an explorer and broadcaster who was appointed the UK’s Chief Scout in 2024. He is the first black Briton to reach the Magnetic North Pole. His television work inc…