Desert Island Discs voted top radio show

DESERT ISLAND Discs has been named the greatest radio programme of all time in a new poll.

The Radio 4 programme, in which castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives, beat shows such as The Archers and Round The Horne to top the Radio Times list. It was picked by a panel of industry experts including Cerys Matthews, Justin Webb, Adrian Chiles, Caroline Wyatt, Sara Cox, inset, Gillian Reynolds, Petroc Trelawny, Shaun Keaveny and Sue MacGregor.

Desert Island Discs has been broadcast since 1942, and is currently presented by Lauren Laverne, inset.

The UK’s longest running radio drama, Radio 4’s The Archers, which has been detailing the ups and downs of Ambridge life since 1951, came second in the list. Legendary radio comedy Round The Horne (1965-8), which featured Kenneth Horne in the lead role, alongside Kenneth Williams, Betty Mardsen and Hugh Paddick, was third. Tony Hancock’s classic Hancock’s Half Hour (1954-9) was fourth in the list and Radio 4’s In The Psychiatrist’s Chair (1982-2001) was fifth.

Wake Up to Wogan, which ran for over 25 years until 2009, was the highest placed, and only, Radio 2 programme on the list in 12th position.

It just pipped John Peel’s influential Radio 1 programme (19672004) into 13th place.

Desert Island Discs producer Cathy Drysdale said: “It’s certainly wonderful for the programme.”