Desert Island Discs
BBC Radio 4Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 2000 | Founded | 17 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | Society & CultureMusic CommentaryPersonal JournalsMusic | |||
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Latest Episodes
Journalist Gary O’Donoghue is the Chief North America Correspondent for BBC News. Last year his coverage of the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump won the Royal Television Society Breaking News Award. He made the news himself in 2025 when he ... more
David Morrissey is an actor who grew up in Liverpool.
His screen work ranges from playing a ruthless survivor of the zombie apocalypse in The Walking Dead to a troubled police officer in James Graham’s Sherwood.
His television debut performance ca... more
Kirsty Young talks to the actor and comedian Whoopi Goldberg in a programme first broadcast in 2009.
Laurene Laverne talks to the former football manager Arsène Wenger in a programme first broadcast in 2020.
Key Facts
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Recent Guests
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Reviews
- Presenter blooming into the role
Great guests great presenter
Apple Podcasts5Jelly1966
Ireland3 months ago - I ❤️ Desert Islands Discs!
I’ve been listening for many years & Lauren Laverne & Kirsty Young are such amazing interviewers.
Apple Podcasts5Georgy McD
Australia3 months ago - The Perfect Show
Always enthralling
Apple Podcasts5Good WhalesAustralia3 months ago - Conservative PM CB
Interesting and if by chance CB reads the feedback I want to share my thoughts on culture and whilst I got window into your thoughts I grappled with what you said but it is your reality
So if had to say something I say this:- develop your cultural responsiveness Diversity has increased all around the world, there is a growing ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity due to immigration, globalisation and the changing dynamics of population.
The richness of this allows us to be open and to learn ab... more
Apple Podcasts5lovealways#
United Kingdom4 months ago - Jesse Armstrong?
Adore Desert Island Discs but what on Earth happened to the Jesse Armstrong episode? It was here then it disappeared, looked on the website, can't access it anywhere. Was it deleted? I was so excited to listen. Please help!
Apple Podcasts3leemorejacqueline
United States5 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #16 | United States/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Apple Podcasts | #233 | United States/Society & Culture |
Spotify | #166 | United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Spotify | #22 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture |
Apple Podcasts | #48 | United Kingdom/Top Podcasts |
Apple Podcasts | #2 | United Kingdom/Society & Culture/Personal Journals |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Desert Island Discs
What is Desert Island Discs about and what kind of topics does it cover?
This show features long-form conversations with high-profile guests spanning film, music, journalism, science, sports, and beyond, each sharing eight tracks, a book, and a luxury that shaped their life. Topics routinely center on career-defining moments, creative process, leadership, resilience, and social or cultural issues, all framed through personal anecdotes and the guests' chosen soundtracks. A standout aspect is the intimate, reflective format that blends music with life stories, offering listeners both inspiration and practical takeaways for navigating demanding careers in creative and public-facing fields. The range of guests and the thoughtful hosting style make it attractive to anyone curious about how people curate their lives a... more
Where can I find podcast stats for Desert Island Discs?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Desert Island Discs. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Desert Island Discs and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does Desert Island Discs get?
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What are the audience demographics for Desert Island Discs?
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How many subscribers and views does Desert Island Discs have?
To see how many followers or subscribers Desert Island Discs has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to Desert Island Discs?
These podcasts share a similar audience with Desert Island Discs:
1. Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth
2. The Louis Theroux Podcast
3. The Rest Is Entertainment
4. Woman's Hour
5. Dish
How many episodes of Desert Island Discs are there?
Desert Island Discs launched 17 years ago and published 2000 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact Desert Island Discs?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for Desert Island Discs?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Desert Island Discs from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Desert Island Discs?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Desert Island Discs. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on Desert Island Discs?
Recent guests on Desert Island Discs include:
1. David Morrissey
2. Whoopi Goldberg
3. Arsène Wenger
4. Donna Langley
5. Thom Yorke
6. Jane Goodall
7. Si King
8. Sara Pascoe
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.