The format is simple; an invited guest chooses the eight records he or she would like to take with them if they were incarcerated on a desert island and then one recording is nominated as the favourite. The person’s life is explored through the medium of their musical taste giving the usual interview format an extra element that speaks musical volumes! At the end of the programme the guest is asked to nominate one book and one luxury item to take with them.
Desert Island Discs Guests
Guests range from the good, the great and the legendary to the fleetingly famous but their appearance on the programme is an archive of some of the most important people and their musical tastes over the last seventy years.
The Desert Island Discs Archive
The BBC has now established an archive of every guest since its inception with programmes to download from July 1998 and the result is fascinating. Some guests have been interviewed more than once. For instance, David Attenborough has been interviewed three times, 1957, 1979, 1998 and it is interesting to see how his tastes have changed as well as his choice of luxury item from piano to binoculars to guitar!
Desert Island Discs as a Social History
The site also acts as a social history with some names that have become iconic such as Peter Sellars, Fred Perry, Ivor Novello, James Stewart, Margaret Thatcher, George Formby, Sir Thomas Beecham, Princesses Grace and Margaret. However, how many of us now remember Winifred Atwell, Nova Pilbeam, Belita, G H Elliot or Vivian De Gurr St George the Picadilly shoeblack?
The Lost Celebrities
Other names are intriguing and inspire some research. I wonder why Signalman Henry Wheeler, soldier and naval signalman, was interviewed in 1945 and who was the mariner and explorer Captain AE Dingle? Are there any pictures of Joan Jay the fashion glamour girl interviewed in 1942? Sir Stephen Tallents, interviewed in1943, is tantalisingly called a public relations expert which sounds far more interesting in 1943 and the middle of the Second World War than it would in modern times.
Jazz, Sport, Theatre, Literature, Music Celebrities and Many More
Any particular interest such as jazz, philosophy, theatre, literature, sportsmen and women can be explored with fascinating results. For instance, if your interest is opera you can explore the musical influences on some of the greatest singers of the last 70 years.
Musical Choices of Opera Singers
Influences on opera singers have changed over the decades with Caruso, Gigli, Flagstad, Ferrier and Ponselle being important to earlier generations of singers and Elizabeth Schumann influencing many sopranos – a name barely remembered in this day and age although interviewed herself in 1951.
Kirsten Flagstad and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
The great Kirsten Flagstad appeared in 1952 and her legendary modesty is apparent in her choices with unusually no recording of herself featuring and her luxury item consisting of knitting needles and wool. Contrast that with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf who went down in Desert Island Discs history by choosing every record consisting of her own performances.
Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna
However, we do not have to go back to the forties and fifties to see how Desert Island Discs has contributed to social history. The beautiful and talented opera singer Angela Gheorghiu was interviewed in 2004 and chose one recording by her husband. Married to celebrated tenor Roberto Alagna, they were the golden couple of opera and their marriage had consistently been closely followed by opera fans.
Desert Island Discs made the news itself when Alagna appeared on the programme in 2009 and no recording by his wife was included. There had been rumours for some time that they were separated and his words were analysed carefully for clues. A few months later Gheorghui announced their divorce. However, this never went through and the couple confirmed in March 2011 that they were back together. It would be interesting to opera gossip lovers to see Alagna’s choices in a future interview!
Desert Island Discs and Politics
One can’t help wondering whether Desert Island Discs has social history in mind when looking at the juxtaposition of the guests. Arthur Scargill was interviewed in 1988 followed the next week by Mary Archer and two weeks later Neil Kinnock with the self-confessed ‘liar in interviews’ Michael Gambon in the middle! Someone in programming had a sense of humour!
Desert Island Discs Archive and Downloading
Programmes from July1998 are available to download from the archive but beware because the fascination of this archive can lead to many hours being spent researching unusual names, listening to musical choices and cross-checking celebrities so make sure you have time to spare! If only we could download the older programmes as well as see the invitees’ choices. What an archive and social history that would be!
Frances Williams - Frances is an Autism specialist with post graduate qualifications but has had to take a career break. She is now a freelance writer. ...
