75 years of the musical desert island
IT has reduced some guests to tears and had them share their deepest, darkest thoughts.
Some have become irate, others have squirmed – but most have both charmed and informed, many showing a side the public had never seen.
And along the way we’ve enjoyed countless joyful moments.
Now Desert Island Discs celebrates its 75th anniversary next Sunday, with special castaway David Beckham.
A three-hour celebration will be broadcast to mark the milestone since the first broadcast on January 29, 1942.
When writer Caitlin Moran appears on BBC Radio 4 today it will be on the 3103rd programme, with each Castaway picking the eight tunes, one book and one luxury item with which they’d like to be marooned.
Creator Roy Plomley was the man originally asking the questions. Since then, only three others have quizzed the castaways; Michael Parkinson, Sue Lawley and, for the past decade, Kirsty Young.
East Kilbride-born Kirsty says it has given her countless magical moments – from Tom Jones serenading her to Sir Michael Caine giving her a roast potato recipe.
And Kirsty, who also hosts Saturday’s anniversary special on Radio 4 Extra, told The Sunday Post of her delight at the show’s ongoing success.
Three million reckon their week wouldn’t be the same without tuning in; on top of that a couple of million a month catch up via downloads.
“To take over any job from someone who has done it very well for a good, long time is intimidating,” admits Kirsty, 48.
“And Sue Lawley was a hard act to follow.
“But at the time. I was really exhilarated rather