Desert Island Discs: Archive 1991-1996

Sue Lawley's castaway is photo-journalist Mohamed Amin.Favourite track: My Way by Frank Sinatra Book: Life of John F Kennedy Luxury: Satellite dish and television set

Sue Lawley's castaway is politician Clare Short.Favourite track: Nun Sag Ich Dir Zum Ersten Mal by Arnold Schoenberg Book: Geometry Tutor Luxury: Piano

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is fashion designer Vivienne Westwood. Avant-garde, surprising and often shocking, Vivienne first drew media attention when, in the late 1970s, she founded the punk movement with Malcolm McLaren. These days, though hardly orthodox, she has become more mainstream - in 1990 and 1991 she was named Designer of the Year, and she has just been awarded an OBE in the most recent Honours list. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her impressive career and revealing that, though fashion has been her life, her first love has always been books.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Sleeping Beauty Panorama, Act 2 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Book: A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust Luxury: Multi-lingual dictionary

In 1987, as an Ambassador of the Anglican Church trying to engineer the freedom of men held in Lebanon, Terry Waite was taken hostage himself. Nearly five years later, courageous and resilient, he emerged from a captivity of appalling deprivation and isolation. This week on Desert Island Discs he will be talking to Sue Lawley about those years and recalling the three vows he took - no regrets, no self-pity, no sentimentality - which he believes saved his sanity.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Sleep by Benjamin Luxon Book: Complete Cambridge Histories Luxury: Chess computer

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is actor Robert Lindsay. Born in Derbyshire 42 years ago, he's recognised today as one of Britain's most versatile performers. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his schooldays at a secondary modern and the art master who introduced him and the rest of the school to drama. He'll also be recalling the days when he couldn't walk down the street without being mobbed, so famous was he for his role as Wolfie in the BBC's television sitcom Citizen Smith.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Also Sprach Zarathustra by Richard Strauss Book: Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence Luxury: Computer chess set

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the swimmer Duncan Goodhew. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his early life, which was dogged by misadventure - a fall from an apple tree left him permanently and completely bald; and in his early teens, he was discovered to be dyslexic. Nevertheless, these setbacks merely strengthened his resolve to succeed at swimming, and to go on and win a gold medal for the 100 metres breast-stroke at the Moscow Games.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: O Mio Babbino Caro by Giacomo Puccini Book: Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien Luxury: Wig

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is one of the country's favourite actresses - Prunella Scales. She's most easily recognised as Sybil Fawlty, wife of John Cleese, the manic hotelkeeper in the television series Fawlty Towers, but it's a role which represents a very small part of all she's done. Since her debut in Bristol 40 years ago, she has never been out of work, and recently she's scaled new heights with her portrayal of the Queen in Alan Bennett's A Question of Attribution. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about the problems associated with playing such a well-known and much-loved figure, and also about the rest of her long and successful career.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Ruht Wohl Ihr Heiligen Gebeine by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Complete works in German by William Shakespeare and The Bible in Russian and a Russian dictionary Luxury: A huge tapestry kit

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the country's most senior serving judge Lord Taylor of Gosforth. Recently appointed the Lord Chief Justice of England, he'll be discussing the public's perception of the English legal system, following the recent series of miscarriages of justice; and also, his plans to open up areas of the law and to rid the system of some of its more antiquated trappings, such as wigs and robes. He'll also be talking to Sue Lawley about how, as an accomplished musician, he might well have become a professional pianist rather than the Lord Chief Justice.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Symphony No 41 in C K 551 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Luxury: Piano

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is television executive Michael Grade. As a member of the famous Grade dynasty, he grew up in the showbiz atmosphere of London's West End. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about being brought up by his formidable grandmother after his mother left him when he was very young; and about his career, which has taken him from Daily Mirror sports journalist to Hollywood producer, to the Controller of BBC1 and to his present position as the Chief Executive of Channel 4.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Beim Schlafengehen Four Last Songs by Richard Strauss Book: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Luxury: Sports results

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is rugby player Will Carling. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about how, as a six year old, he dreamed of captaining England, and then, having achieved his ambition at the startlingly early age of 22, he went on to take his team to the final of the World Cup and to win the Grand Slam for the last two years running.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong Book: The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien Luxury: Flotation tank

This week's castaway in Desert Island Discs is Henrietta, Marchioness of Tavistock. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about, amongst other things, her idyllic childhood, her passion for breeding horses and explaining why she initially refused to live with her husband in his family's ancestral home, Woburn Abbey.Favourite track: Cavalleria Rusticana Intermezzo by Pietro Mascagni Book: History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Sir Winston Churchill Luxury: Triangular pillow

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the distinguished tenor Anthony Rolfe Johnson. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his Methodist upbringing in the East End of London, his years as a farmer in Sussex and explaining why he was 29 years old before he took his enormous talent for singing seriously.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Gloria In Excelis Deo by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Welsh-English Dictionary Luxury: Parquet floor and tap shoes

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is art historian Sir Ernst Gombrich. His most famous book, The Story of Art, was written more than 40 years ago, yet it remains the world's most popular introduction to great artists and their work.He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his life and work recalling his first impressions of England to which he came from Vienna in 1936, his time translating German propaganda broadcasts for the BBC during the Second World War and explaining why he prefers to help people appreciate art rather than own it himself.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Divertimento For Violin In E Flat by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: Goethe's Poems by Johann Wolfgang Goethe Luxury: Bath tub with an endless supply of hot water

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Lady Soames, historian and only surviving child of Winston Churchill. A distinguished author and now Chairman of the Board of the National Theatre, she'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her extraordinary life - recalling her blissful childhood spent at Chartwell, the family's country home. She'll also be talking about the many state visits she made with her father and her husband - and remembering a conversation she had with General de Gaulle, who gave her lots of good advice on the best places to walk dogs in Paris.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Symphony No 6 In F Major Op 68 Pastoral by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Memories From Beyond The Grave by Chateaubriand Luxury: Supply of fine Havana cigars

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is philosopher and historian Sir Isaiah Berlin. Born in Latvia 80 years ago, he was brought to England by his family when he was ten years old and barely able to speak English. He is now internationally regarded as one of the most brilliant scholars of his age.He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his early years in Russia, his commitment to, and respect for, this country, and explaining the philosophical implications of liberalism - his guiding principle for 60 years.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: String Quartet in C Sharp Minor Op 131 by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Works, prose and verse by Aleksandr Pushkin Luxury: Large armchair stacked with cushions

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is entrepreneur, newspaperman and public servant Jocelyn Stevens. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his love of life - he works in London and spends his weekends in Gstaad - and his impressive career: he revitalised Queen Magazine, launched Radio Caroline, saved the Evening Standard and served as Managing Director of Express Newspapers.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Siegfried Funeral March by Richard Wagner Book: Other Men's Flowers by Lord A P Wavell Luxury: One mile stretch of the River Test in Hampshire

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is geneticist Dr Steve Jones. Eminent in his field, he's made a lifelong study of the evolution of the snail, the reproduction of the fruit fly and the sex life of the slug. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about the study of genetics, reflecting on its disreputable past, analysing the problems of genetic engineering and discussing the research that inspired his recent Reith Lectures, particularly the evidence that proves that most of the world has descended from 10 Africans.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Fossils by Camille Saint-Saëns Book: Valley of Bones by Anthony Powell Luxury: Stuffed body of the Minister of Education

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is singer-songwriter Elvis Costello. Widely regarded as one of the best British songwriters of recent years, he comes from a musical family - both his father and grandfather were trumpeters.He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his eclectic taste in music, comparing classical singers to pop stars, and choosing eight records, not for pleasure, but to provide sustenance on his desert island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Vivace String Quartet in F Major by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Selected Works by James Thurber Luxury: Upright piano

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is Sir Roger Bannister, the man who first ran the four-minute mile. Now an eminent neurologist, he is as proud of his research during the last 15 years into the effects of low blood pressure, as he is of his achievements on the athletics field.Master of Pembroke College, he's taken up sculling, and with a night school qualification in navigation as well, he'll be telling Sue Lawley how he plans to escape from the desert island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Violin Concerto in D Major by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Anthology of Russian, American & English Stories Luxury: Solar-powered receiver to receive Radio 4

In memory of Robbie Coltrane. The actor was Sue Lawley's castaway in Desert Island Discs in 1992. He first became noticed in the early 1980s in television programmes such as The Comic Strip, The Young Ones and Saturday Night Live. After that he became an international star. He talked to Sue Lawley about, amongst other things, his love of Scotland, his passion for vintage cars and his fear of live performances.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Letter From America by The Proclaimers Book: Lady In The Lake by Raymond Chandler Luxury: Pencil and paper