Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island?

Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

The History of Desert Island Discs

Late one evening in 1941, freelance broadcaster Roy Plomley was at his home and already
in his pyjamas, when an idea came to him. He sat down and wrote immediately to the
BBC. That letter reached the in-tray of the BBC’s Head of Popular Record Programmes,
Leslie Perowne. The pitch was successful and a broadcasting institution was born.

That first Desert Island Discs was recorded in the BBC’s bomb-damaged Maida Vale
studio on 27th January 1942 and aired in the Forces Programme at 8pm two days later.
It was introduced to the listening public as "a programme in which a well-known person
is asked the question, if you were to be cast away alone on a desert island, which eight
gramophone records would you choose to have with you, assuming of course, that you
had a gramophone and an inexhaustible supply of needles".

Plomley’s first castaway was the popular Viennese comedian, actor and musician, Vic
Oliver. The first piece of music chosen by Vic Oliver, and therefore by any castaway, was
Chopin’s Étude No.12 in C minor played by pianist Alfred Cortot. During these war years,
every BBC Radio show was scripted and Plomley and his guests would 'read' their
conversations.

The programme came off air in 1946 returning to the Home Service in 1951. On 16th
September that year, the choice of luxury was introduced when garlic was chosen by the
actress Sally Ann Howes. The choice of book made its first appearance on 9th October
1951 when actor and director Henry Kendall chose Who’s Who in the Theatre. According
to Roy Plomley’s book, Desert Island Lists, in addition to the volume of Shakespeare, the
castaways would be given a copy of the Bible, which was assumed to have been
deposited there by The Gideon Society.

In 1988, Sue Lawley became the first female presenter and over the following 18 years,
Lawley, a former Nationwide presenter, interviewed 750 people from all aspects of public
life including politics, entertainment, science and sport. Describing the role as “one of the
best jobs in broadcasting”, Lawley left Desert Island Discs in August 2006 and was
replaced by journalist and broadcaster, Kirsty Young. During her tenure in the chair the
programme has become available to listen again online and is available as a download.
 Ed Sheeran
He’s received Brits, Grammys and Ivor
Novello awards, collaborated with the
biggest stars on the planet and played to
millions of frenetic fans about the world. At
26, he’s staggeringly successful. Not bad for
“a pasty ginger bloke in a scruffy t-shirt”.
The musical storyteller for the modern age shares his life and music with Kirsty Young.

Pre-listening task. Look at the following words from the show. Match the words (a-h)
with the definitions (1-8). Read the sentences below to help you complete the exercise.

a stutter (v) 1 Funny or amusing in a slightly odd or peculiar way.

b specs (n) 2 The membrane of the middle ear.
c eardrum (n) 3 Unconventional or eccentric.
d fit in (v) 4 An organized group of singers.
e tag along (v) 5 Abbreviation of spectacles (British informal for glasses).
f wacky (adj.) 6 Talk with continued involuntary repetition of sounds.
g off-kilter (adj.) 7 Be socially compatible with other members of a group.
h choir (n) 8 To go with sb, especially when you are not wanted or needed.

‘Kayelle continued, stuttering, trying to catch her breath, ‘I didn't know. didn't know what.
what.’’

‘You have now turned 40, and even reading this article will probably require that you
wear your specs.’

‘When the eardrum vibrates, tiny bones within the middle ear transmit the sound signals
to the inner ear.’

‘They may have poor social skills, have problems fitting in and probably cannot meet the
expectations of their family or school.’

‘She let her little brother tag along.’

‘The children came up with some weird and wacky designs including a pink and purple
dinosaur.’

‘The band has attracted national attention with its off-kilter performances and
unconventional choice of instruments.’

‘Many people sang in school or church choirs or in choral societies.’