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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.


Desert Island Discs

As a singer and songwriter, George sold more than 100 million records, won two Grammy awards and notched up countless number one hits.

He told Kirsty about how an accident played a pivotal role in his love for music.

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

George Michael on his accidental start in music

Davina is best known as the host of popular TV shows such as Big Brother, Long Lost Family and Streetmate.

She spoke to Kirsty about how she struggled with drugs in her teenage years.

You can find the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Davina McCall on addiction

Before his career in broadcasting, Ade was an international wheelchair basketball player who won a gold medal at the 2005 Paralympic World Cup.

He spoke to Kirsty about a fashion faux pas he made on his first day at school.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Ade Adepitan on his first day at school

Ruth is perhaps best known as Nessa from Gavin and Stacey, the show she co-created with James Corden.

She told Lauren about her early career struggles and how she got her foot on the acting ladder.

You can listen to the full interview on BBC Sounds.

Ruth Jones on her start in acting

The Oscar-winning actor Tom Hanks was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016.

Tom’s parents split up when he was five, and he went to live with his father. By the age of 10 he'd lived in 10 different houses in five different cities.Tom spoke to Kirsty about his complicated childhood, his parents’ divorce and how he managed his overwhelming feelings of loneliness.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Tom Hanks on loneliness

In 2013 the Scottish writer Val McDermid was cast away by Kirsty Young.

Crime fiction is Val's chosen genre, and the millions of novels she sells examine and dissect the darkest recesses of human behaviour. Val spoke to Kirsty about her childhood love of libraries.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Val McDermid on her childhood love of libraries

The activist Malala Yousafzai was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2021.

Malala was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize when she was 17, becoming the youngest winner in its history. She spoke to Lauren about why equal access to education for girls matters so much to her and her family.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Malala on campaigning for equal access to education

In 2016 the novelist Jilly Cooper was cast away by Kirsty Young.

Jilly is perhaps best known as the author of Rivals but her writing career also spans newspaper columns, non-fiction books on class, marriage and animals in war, and novels that sell in their millions. Jilly told Kirsty Young about her theory on what makes a successful marriage.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Jilly Cooper on the secret to a successful marriage

The former footballer and pundit Ian Wright was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2020.

Born to Jamaican parents in south-east London, Ian grew up with his mother and stepfather. His biological father had left the family before Ian was two years old. Things at home were difficult, and Ian spent as much time as possible outside playing football. Ian spoke to Lauren about his childhood love of football and how one inspirational teacher, Mr. Pigden, changed everything.

You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

Ian Wright on his inspirational teacher

Maggie Alphonsi is a broadcaster and former rugby player. She was part of the England team which took home the 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup and by the time she retired she’d won 74 caps for her country.

Maggie was brought up in north London and when she was 14 her PE teacher suggested she give the sport of rugby union a try. Maggie joined her local amateur club Saracens and relished the freedom she felt at being able to capitalise on her power and strength on the pitch.

Her first chance to play for England came when she was 19. Maggie started out as a number 12 and then later changed position to become a number seven or openside flanker. This role allowed her to showcase her tackling skills. She was part of the England team which won seven consecutive Six Nations tournaments and retired shortly after winning the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

She became the first female former player to commentate on the men’s game and to join the Rugby Football Union’s Council. In 2012 she was appointed an MBE for services to rugby. She is part of the BBC’s commentating team for this year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Maggie lives in High Wycombe with her wife Marcella and their two children. 

DISC ONE: Fast Car - Tracy Chapman 
DISC TWO: They Live in You - Samuel E. Wright (Mufasa) Ensemble - The Lion King, conducted by Joseph Church
DISC THREE: Stand by Me - Ben E. King 
DISC FOUR: Woman - Andreya Triana 
DISC FIVE: Wake Me Up - Avicii 
DISC SIX: You Gotta Be – Des’ree
DISC SEVEN: World in Union - Kiri Te Kanawa 
DISC EIGHT: I’m Coming Out - Diana Ross 

BOOK CHOICE: The Soul of a Butterfly: Reflections on life's journey by Hana Yasmeen Ali and Muhammad Ali 
LUXURY ITEM: A family photo 
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Fast Car - Tracy Chapman 
 
Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Paula McGinley

Maggie Alphonsi, broadcaster and former rugby player

The castaway in this week's Desert Island Discs is one of the country's most expensive and sought-after barristers - George Carman QC. A virtuoso of the courtroom, he has made his name successfully defending the famous - from former Liberal leader Jeremy Thorpe to well-known show business names like Peter Adamson, Maria Aitken and Ken Dodd. He will be talking to Sue Lawley about his perception of the key to successful advocacy and making a definitive judgement on the eight records he would take to his desert island.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] 

Favourite track: Violin Concerto in D Major by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: The Golden Treasury by Francis Palgrave
Luxury: Painting Of Grand Canal In Venice"

George Carman QC

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