Desert Island Discs

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  How Nick Cave's songs reveal themselves painfully to him 16.10.2026 3Min.

  The singer songwriter Nick Cave was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.He has written huge hits such as "Into My Arms" and "Where the Wild Roses Grow", but songwriting doesn't come easily to him. His notebooks are full of what he describes as "bad stuff", and he'd like them to be burned after his death, thank you very much. The best way to approach the job, he says, is in office hours and wearing a suit.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Meera Syal on holding up a mirror to British society in Goodness Gracious Me 15.10.2026 2Min.

  The actor and writer Meera Syal was cast away by Sue Lawley in 2003.She was awarded a Damehood earlier this year, but Meera Syal rose to prominence as one of the writers of the TV series Goodness Gracious Me. It came at a time in the 1990s when the perception of the British Asian experience was changing and, she says, held a mirror up to British society.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Why Lyse Doucet doesn't want to be called a war reporter 14.10.2026 2Min.

  The BBC's chief international correspondent Lyse Doucet was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.She has reported from many war-torn countries, including Afghanistan, Iran and Iraq, but says she doesn't want to be defined by war. Instead, she is interested in the human cost of conflict. When she arrives in a place, she embeds herself in the lives of the local people; discovering what she calls the “heat and dust” of a society helps her to tell their stories.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Gareth Southgate on putting on the England shirt for the first time 13.10.2026 3Min.

  The former England manager Gareth Southgate was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2024.He was 25 when he made his debut for the England team. By the time he retired from international football, he had been capped 57 times. As England manager, he led the team to two finals in the European Championships, further than they had come in more than five decades since 1966. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Michael Sheen on his father's time as a Jack Nicholson impersonator 12.10.2026 3Min.

  The actor Michael Sheen was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.He has portrayed many real people on stage including Tony Blair, Brian Clough and David Frost, though never Jack Nicholson. That was his father's department, who had a second career impersonating the actor, which started around the time Nicholson played the Joker in the 1989 Batman film.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Rick Rubin on finding the magic in music 09.10.2026 3Min.

  Record producer Rick Rubin was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.He is responsible for shaping the sound of artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beastie Boys and is credited with reinvigorating the career of Johnny Cash in the 1990s, but you're more likely to see him reclining on a sofa than hunched over a mixing desk when he's hard at work. He explains what he listens for in a piece of music.You can hear the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Caitlin Moran on the smells that defined her childhood 08.10.2026 2Min.

  The writer and journalist Caitlin Moran was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2017.Her journey took her from a three-bedroom council house in Wolverhampton, where she lived with her parents and seven siblings, to becoming a columnist for The Times newspaper and writing her own sitcom. She explains why she feels it's important to highlight the experience of those raised on benefits like herself.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Romesh Ranganathan on finding his comedy sweet spot 07.10.2026 2Min.

  The comedian Romesh Ranganathan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025.He’s a BAFTA-winning broadcaster, standup, actor and writer who has been a fixture on British TV screens for the past decade. He talks about finding the sweet spot in his comedy and how discussing the perils of parenting on stage has resulted in cult hero status for his middle son.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Tanni Grey-Thompson on winning four Olympic golds in Sydney 06.10.2026 2Min.

  The wheelchair athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson was cast away by Sue Lawley in 2001.She recalls the pressure to do well at the Sydney Olympics and the relief when she managed to clinch four gold medals, but the long-distance phone call home to live-stream the medal ceremony nearly broke the bank.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Greta Gerwig on her childhood enthusiasm for putting on plays 05.10.2026 3Min.

  The film director Greta Gerwig was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.Growing up in what she calls a "culturally ravenous" family, the young Greta was inspired by her parents' record collection as much as trips to concert halls and theatres, but although she was always putting on shows to entertain friends and family, she never expected to have a professional career in the arts.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  James Graham on his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine 02.10.2026 3Min.

  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 taking his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine on tour? You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Jessica Ennis-Hill on the moment she won Olympic gold 01.10.2026 2Min.

  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, and how throwing her hands up in the air as she crossed the finish line had not been part of the plan.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Warwick Davis on his first role as an Ewok in Star Wars 30.09.2026 3Min.

  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 Wars film, she immediately thought of Warwick, but by the time his mother phoned the film studio, all the roles had been cast. Her powers of persuasion must have been quite something because, aged 11, Warwick found himself on set, dressed in a furry costume, and in the company of his on-screen heroes.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  How Lily Allen brought the house down with a Disney song aged 11 29.09.2026 2Min.

  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 spotted her vocal talent and encouraged her to perform. She brought the house down with a song from the Disney film Dumbo.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  How hiding in a toilet helped Steven Spielberg get into the movie business 28.09.2026 3Min.

  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 when he went on a bus tour of Universal Studios. He also explains why the frequently malfunctioning mechanical shark in Jaws was really a blessing in disguise.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Malorie Blackman on receiving 82 rejection letters from publishers 25.09.2026 3Min.

  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 Noughts and Crosses series - getting her start as a published author was hard - 82 rejection letters had thudded onto her door mat before she had her first manuscript accepted for publication. She still remembers the day that 83rd letter arrived.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  How snooker halls became Ronnie O'Sullivan's "creche" from a young age 24.09.2026 2Min.

  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 father as a young boy and learning to play grown men at adult tables - and beating them.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Delia Smith on her catchphrase - "Let's be havin' you!" 23.09.2026 3Min.

  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 and recalls how she came to be known for her catchphrase, "Let's be havin' you!"You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  How Kate Moss's modelling break came at an unexpected moment 22.09.2026 3Min.

  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 as a teenager, which led to some inappropriate requests. Although unpleasant at the time, she says that they have sharpened her instincts, enabling her to "tell a wrong 'un a mile away".You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.
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  Keith Richards on writing "Satisfaction" in his sleep 21.09.2026 4Min.

  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 station in 1961, years after losing touch with him. They bonded over a shared love of American blues, which came to define their own sound. Keith Richards laid down the guitar riff for one of the biggest hits, "Satisfaction", on a tape machine in his sleep.You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.