Matthew Bannister on Ray Manzarek, Jorge Videla, Zahra Shahid Hussain and Eddie Braben. 
Special Programmes
The Story of Desert Island Discs
Broadcast | 26 Jan 1992
The story of Desert Island Discs begins in 1941 when radio presenter Roy Plomley pitched the original idea for an eight-part series to the BBC. In this archive programme, broadcast on Radio 4 in 1992 to coincide with the programme’s 50th anniversary, James Naughtie, charts the evolution of the programme through interviews with its presenters and former castaways. Archive material includes extracts from the interviews with Margaret Thatcher, Norman Mailer, Jimmy Edwards, Otto Preminger, Vic Feather and Lord Weidenfeld.
Your Desert Island Discs
Broadcast | 11 June 2011
In a special programme, Kirsty Young counts down the eight tracks listeners said they wouldn't want to be castaway without. Joining Kirsty to discuss the results are Paul Gambaccini, Miranda Sawyer and Howard Goodall.
Your Desert Island Discs at Christmas
Broadcast | 25 December 2011
Kirsty Young presents a festive collection of stories and music from Your Desert Island Discs where listeners are the castaways.
Kirsty and her studio guests - broadcaster and Radio 2 DJ Jo Whiley, comedian, actor and musician Bill Bailey and composer and conductor Debbie Wiseman - mull over the choices of Christmas and comedy songs.
They also discuss some of the musical choices inspired by the castaways' stories from rock to reggae and Beethoven to the Bee Gees, and consider the enduring appeal of record sleeves and the pleasures of singing together.
Archive on 4: Castaway - 70 years of Desert Island Discs
Broadcast | 28 Jan 2012
Kirsty Young tells the story of the long-running programme as it celebrates its 70th anniversary and investigates what has made it such an enduring part of the radio schedule. In addition to hearing some classic clips from some amazing castaways, Kirsty talks to BBC historian Professor Jean Seaton and former castaway Mary Portas. She is also joined by her predecessors, Sue Lawley and Sir Michael Parkinson and, from the archives, by Roy Plomley himself.
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