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Desert Island Discs

BBC Radio 4
Mental Health
Shirley Ballas
Strictly Come Dancing
British Open To the World Professional Latin Championships
Dancing
Performance Art
Barbie
Octopus Energy
Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Lea Salonga
Prison Reform Trust
Pia Sinha
NASA
Marina Abramović
Nirvana
Daft Punk
Frank Sinatra
The Real Thing
Alexandra Jean
Tony Robbins

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes2000Founded16 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Personal JournalsSociety & CultureMusic CommentaryMusic

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Artwork for Desert Island Discs

Latest Episodes

The singer Adele was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.

In 2008, she released her debut album, 19, and the following year she won the first of many Grammys. Her next three albums, 21, 25 and 30, consolidated her superstar status.

She told Lauren ... more

In 2015, the forensic anthropologist, Professor Dame Sue Black, was cast away by Kirsty Young.

Brought up on the west coast of Scotland and in Inverness, she fell in love with biology at secondary school and read Human Anatomy at the University of A... more

The poet Lemm Sissay was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2015.

As a poet, writer and playwright, much of his work tells the story of his search for his birth parents. Born to a young Ethiopian woman who wanted him temporarily looked after while she com... more

The former footballer Jill Scott was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.

Jill was part of the Lionesses’ winning team at the Euros 2022.

When Jill was starting out in her career, the women players had to settle for second-hand kit and miserly wage... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Ade Adepitan
Paralympian and TV presenter
Episode: Ade Adepitan on his first day at school
Jilly Cooper
Renowned novelist known for her works including 'Riders' and 'Rivals'
Author
Episode: Jilly Cooper on the secret to a successful marriage
Maggie Alphonsi
Broadcaster and former rugby player, described as the best female rugby player of her generation.
Episode: Maggie Alphonsi, broadcaster and former rugby player
Professor Dame Carol Robinson
A pioneer in mass spectrometry and science education.
Kavli Institute for NanoScience Discovery
Episode: Professor Dame Carol Robinson, scientist
Norma Percy
Filmmaker and preeminent political documentary maker of her generation
Episode: Norma Percy, film-maker
Lord Alfred Dubs
Labour peer and campaigner
House of Lords
Episode: Lord Alf Dubs, politician and campaigner
Abdulrazak Gurnah
A Zanzibari-born British author, Nobel Prize winner, and Emeritus Professor of Postcolonial Literatures at the University of Kent.
University of Kent
Episode: Abdulrazak Gurnah, writer
Dame Louise Casey
Baroness Casey of Blackstock, known for her work in homelessness and social reform.
Crossbench peer, former chief executive of a charity, and governmental advisor.
Episode: Classic Desert Island Discs - Dame Louise Casey
Warwick Davis
Actor known for roles in Harry Potter and Star Wars
Liberty Films
Episode: Classic Desert Island Discs - Warwick Davis

Host

Lauren Laverne
Host known for her warm and empathetic interviewing style, she engages with guests to explore their life journeys through music.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 19.8k ratings
  • An island of sanity

    This podcast has been the best thing to listen to in these uncertain times. An island of sanity in the ocean of bad news. Please, don’t stop, and thank you, Desert Island Discs ❤️

    Highly recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Eliza's Mom
    United Statesa month ago
  • It’s great

    Brilliant podcast to listen to if your on car journeys and there is lots to listen to👍

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flynn morgan
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Just great!

    When I discovered this podcast a few years ago, I listened only to episodes featuring someone I knew. I have since branched out and have learned so much. What a treat.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    fmm53
    United States2 months ago
  • Here 4 Lin

    I like this show very much I love listening to the songs and the reasons behind them. I especially LOVE the episode with Lin Manuel Miranda . He is so funny and awesome.

    I love that he was in ‘His Dark Materials ‘ I ❤️ Hester . And I and my sister ADORE Hamilton we think he’s amazing

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    slaypup39
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Professor Lucy east hope

    Wow

    I feel I will t

    Remember this episode for a long time I felt like I knew what was being said

    What a gifted human

    I’m wondering how about helping heal the nightmare of the Palestine genocide next it needs you

    I’m being serious you are such a great person

    Thanks for this I needed this

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    lovealways#
    United Kingdom3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the empathetic and engaging style of the host, making for a warm listening experience.
Some listeners express disappointment over shifts in episode format or content direction, indicating a desire for consistency in quality.
The diverse range of guests leads to fascinating stories about the connection between music and personal experiences.
Many reviews highlight the impact of music on the guests' lives, enhancing the listener's emotional engagement.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tom Hanks on loneliness
Q: How on earth were you surviving financially by the time that you had a wife and two young kids?
Hanks mentioned that he was surviving on bits and pieces and found a good living wage doing television in Los Angeles.
Tom Hanks on loneliness
Q: Did you try to talk to anybody at the time about it?
Hanks felt that he didn't have the vocabulary to express his feelings at that time.
Jilly Cooper on the secret to a successful marriage
Q: What advice do you give to aspiring writers?
She recommends keeping a diary to remember experiences and to capture sensory details while writing.
Maggie Alphonsi, broadcaster and former rugby player
Q: Why did you aim to be number two in your career rather than number one?
Because being perceived as number two keeps me hungry to continue pushing, working hard, and striving to be better.
Maggie Alphonsi, broadcaster and former rugby player
Q: What are you hoping that the legacy of this tournament will be for Women's Rugby?
I hope that we change the perception of Women's Rugby and encourage more people to take it up, as it has changed my life for the better.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Desert Island Discs

What is Desert Island Discs about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A unique exploration of personal stories told through music, guests share pivotal tracks that have shaped their lives along with a book and a luxury item, painting a vivid portrait of their individual journeys. The podcast features a diverse range of guests, from athletes and artists to scientists and politicians, each providing insights into their backgrounds while reflecting on the power of music to evoke memories and emotions. This blend of biography and musical celebration creates an inviting atmosphere for listeners who appreciate deep conversations and the personal connections we have with songs.

The format often highlights significant life experiences and societal themes, set against the backdrop of the guests' chosen music, making ... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Desert Island Discs?

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How many listeners does Desert Island Discs get?

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What are the audience demographics for Desert Island Discs?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Desert Island Discs, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. The Louis Theroux Podcast
2. The Rest Is Entertainment
3. Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth
4. How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
5. Woman's Hour

How many episodes of Desert Island Discs are there?

Desert Island Discs launched 16 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. Ade Adepitan
2. Jilly Cooper
3. Maggie Alphonsi
4. Professor Dame Carol Robinson
5. Norma Percy
6. Lord Alfred Dubs
7. Abdulrazak Gurnah
8. Dame Louise Casey

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.

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