Best radio show of all time? Desert Island Discs
IT’S a classic radio show which allows celebrities to talk about their lives based on eight pieces of music.
And now Desert Island Discs, which has been enchanting listeners since 1942, has been named the greatest UK radio programme ever.
The Radio 4 hit, which asks guests to imagine themselves as castaways on an island and choose music, a book and a luxury item they would take with them, ‘emphatically’ scooped the No1 spot in the top 30 list.
The Archers soap opera set in the fictional village of Ambridge, which has been broadcast since 1951, came in second place while 1960s comedy Round the Horne was third.
It just pipped Hancock’s Half-Hour – the popular Tony Hancock comedy which later switched from radio to TV.
Desert Island Discs was originally presented by Roy Plomley followed by Sir Michael Parkinson, Sue Lawley and Kirsty Young. Lauren Laverne is the current presenter as Miss Young takes a break.
More than 3,000 episodes have been recorded with the most requested piece of music Beethoven’s Ode to Joy.
The show’s highlights include music guru Simon Cowell tell- ing Miss Lawley that he would miss himself most if he was stranded on the island – he chose a mirror as his luxury item. Actor Sir Michael Caine chose chilled-out trance music from British producer Chicane, saying: ‘It’s a very romantic song, but a bit of a beat to it.’
US author Norman Mailer revealed his luxury item in 1979 saying: ‘I would take a stick of the very best marijuana I could find.’ Miss Lawley allowed John Cleese to take his Monty Python Dead Parrot sketch co- star Michael Palin with him as a luxury – on the condition he was dead and stuffed.
The 30 best radio programmes of all time were whittled down by a panel of 46 industry experts including Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox. Radio 4 programmes dominated the list with eight shows in the top 10.
Wake Up to Wogan, which ran for over 25 years, was the only Radio 2 programme acknowl- edged, beating John Peel’s Radio 1 show into 12th place. Desert Islands Discs producer Cathy Drysdale said it was ‘wonderful’ the show topped the list. She added: ‘It’s an absolutely genius format. It makes sure each programme gets to the heart of people – what moves them and motivates them, what inspires them and enthuses them, who and what they care about.’
‘Caine chose trance music’