Episodes 2,000
Avg. Duration 35m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 4.6 (1,493)
Since Jan 1979
Latest Episode Jun 2026

Outreach Signals

Features Guests

Publishing Details

Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
71%
Hosting
podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk

Contact & Outreach

About This Podcast

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

Explore Statistics

Recent Episodes

David Morrissey, actor

Jun 06, 2026 51m

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 officer in James…

Classic Desert Island Discs - Whoopi Goldberg

May 31, 2026 34m

Kirsty Young talks to the actor and comedian Whoopi Goldberg in a programme first broadcast in 2009.

Classic Desert Island Discs - Arsène Wenger

May 24, 2026 48m

Laurene Laverne talks to the former football manager Arsène Wenger in a programme first broadcast in 2020.

Classic Desert Island Discs - Dame Donna Langley

May 17, 2026 35m

Lauren Laverne talks to the film studio executive Dame Donna Langley in a programme first broadcast in 2023. Dame Donna was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship this year.

Classic Desert Island Discs - Thom Yorke

May 10, 2026 49m

Lauren Laverne talks to the musician Thom Yorke in a programme first broadcast in 2019.

Classic Desert Island Discs - Dr Jane Goodall

May 03, 2026 36m

Sue Lawley talks to the primatologist Dr Jane Goodall in a programme first broadcast in 2000. Jane Goodall died in October 2025, at the age of 91.

Si King, cook

Apr 25, 2026 49m

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 travelled over 650,000…

Sara Pascoe, comedian and writer

Apr 19, 2026 50m

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 books including her…

Professor Stephen Westaby, surgeon and writer

Apr 12, 2026 50m

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 alternative to donor…

Jessie Buckley, actor

Apr 05, 2026 50m

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 Hamnet. Her…

Dwayne Fields, explorer

Mar 29, 2026 51m

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 includes fronting the…

Roula Khalaf, journalist

Mar 22, 2026 50m

Roula Khalaf is a journalist and the first woman to serve as editor of the Financial Times in its 138‑year history. She joined the paper in 1995 as North Africa correspondent, covering the Algerian…

Richard Young, photographer

Mar 15, 2026 50m

Richard Young is a photographer who was once known as the “king of the paparazzi”.His portfolio is a who’s who of some of the biggest stars in film, music, stage and popular culture from the past…

Tahra Zafar, costume and effects designer

Mar 08, 2026 50m

Tahra Zafar is a costume and creature effects designer. She designed the Paddington Bear puppet featured in the hit West End production Paddington: The Musical.Born into a theatre family, she grew up…

Professor Michele Dougherty, scientist

Mar 01, 2026 52m

Professor Michele Dougherty is President of the Institute of Physics and Professor of Space Physics at Imperial College London. She was appointed Astronomer Royal last year – the first woman to hold…

Kemi Badenoch MP, leader of the opposition

Feb 22, 2026 51m

Kemi Badenoch is the Conservative MP for North West Essex and the Leader of the Opposition. Since winning her seat in 2017, she has held cabinet positions as Minister of State for Equalities under…

Adeel Akhtar, actor

Feb 15, 2026 50m

Adeel Akhtar is an award-winning actor whose breakthrough role came in 2010 when he starred in Chris Morris’s black comedy Four Lions. He won his first BAFTA for Best Actor in 2017 for his role in…

Jesse Armstrong, writer

Feb 08, 2026 48m

Jesse Armstrong is a British author, screenwriter, and producer.He has written several award-winning TV comedies and satirical dramas and won many accolades for his work including two BAFTA TV…

Jojo Moyes, writer

Jan 25, 2026 50m

Jojo Moyes is a British novelist and screenwriter. She began her writing career as a journalist and worked at the Egham and Staines News, Independent and South China Morning Post. Whilst working…

Kate Winslet, actor

Jan 18, 2026 52m

Kate Winslet is an actor who achieved global fame playing Rose DeWitt Bukater, opposite Leonard DiCaprio as Jack Dawson, in the 1997 James Cameron epic Titanic. During her career she has won five…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Desert Island Discs have?

Desert Island Discs has published 2000 episodes since January 1979, covering topics in Music, Music Commentary.

Is Desert Island Discs still active?

Desert Island Discs is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 35m.

How do I contact Desert Island Discs for sponsorship or guest appearances?

Sign up on Grep.FM to access contact details for Desert Island Discs, including email and social media links.

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