Desert Island Discs: Archive 1996-2000

Sue Lawley's guest this week is James Dyson. Today he's one of the richest men in Britain, but he began with an idea, a piece of cardboard and some sticky-backed plastic. Five years and more than 5,000 prototypes later, he was confident that he had invented a new type of vacuum cleaner. But that was to prove only the beginning of a long, drawn-out battle to get it licensed. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Slowdown by Wax On Wax Off Book: Olives: The Life and Love of a Noble Fruit by Mort Rosenslum Luxury: Olive Oil

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the film composer John Barry. The Pope is said to adore his soundtrack to Dances with Wolves. Although he's probably best known for the theme tunes he wrote for the Bond movies; including Goldfinger and Diamonds are Forever. In all, he's won five Oscars - not bad for a Yorkshire lad who happened to hit London just as it began to swing. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Symphony No.9 - Adagio by Gustav Mahler Book: Eternal Echoes by John O'Donohue Luxury: Grand piano

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Chris Bonington. In a climbing career spanning 48 years he has stood astride British mountaineering 'like a hairy colossus', climbing and leading expeditions as well as photographing and writing about them. Along the way he has seen many friends perish on the mountains and more than once narrowly escaped death himself. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Once I Had A Sweetheart by Joan Baez Book: History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Sir Winston Churchill Luxury: Power Book G3 (laptop computer)

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the journalist Anthony Howard. He's worked on The New Statesman, The Observer and The Sunday Times, where as Obituaries Editor, he turned a previously dead-end job into a highly competitive art form. A regular television commentator, he probably inherited his gift for oratory from his father, a parson who gave stirring sermons. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Toasting Song (from La Traviata - Act One) by Giuseppe Verdi Book: Dictionary of National Biography Luxury: Camp bed

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the artistic director of the Rambert Dance Company Christopher Bruce. As a child he was sent to dance lessons to strengthen his legs after polio had left them severely weakened. Ten years later he was the star of Ballet Rambert. Not content with being dubbed 'the Nureyev of contemporary dance' he went on to become one of the great choreographers, working all over the world before returning to the company as Director in 1994. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Piano Concerto No.2 by Sergei Rachmaninov Book: Teach yourself French Luxury: Suncream

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is Michael Green. As Chairman of Carlton Communications he is one of the most powerful men in British television and the driving force behind digital TV. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Jersualem by Vangelis Book: The Complete Works by Sigmund Freud Luxury: Digital TV

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Richard Dreyfuss. He was already the youngest actor ever to win an Oscar when he starred in the phenomenally successful Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. Too many drugs and too much drink threatened his career until in 1982 he had a terrible car smash which brought him to his senses. Today, with a dozen more hit films under his belt he's fulfilling a lifelong ambition to appear on the London stage. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: 4th Movement of the Thunderstorm by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Luxury: Books delivered to the island on a regular basis

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Helen Bamber. In 1945, at the age of 20, she travelled to Belsen with the Jewish Relief agency. There she learnt how important it is to listen to those who have suffered. It was a lesson she continued to practice in her work with Amnesty International, and later with the Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture which she set up in 1985. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Song of the Birds by Cant Del Ocells Book: Poet for Poet by Richard McCain Luxury: Radio to listen to the World Service

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the jazz musician Stan Tracey. He's been at the heart of the British Jazz scene since the 1960s when he was resident pianist at Ronnie Scotts. It was at that time he wrote what has been called the greatest of all British jazz albums - his Under Milk Wood suite. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Mood Indigo by Duke Ellington and His Orchestra Book: Crazy Like A Fox by S J Perelman Luxury: Film: Oh Mister Porter

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the film director Ken Loach. Probably best known for his film Kes, his recent film, My Name Is Joe has just won the award for best actor at Cannes. He learnt his craft in television in the 1960s, quickly attracting attention with Up the Junction and Cathy Come Home, which prompted the setting up of the homeless charity Shelter. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Opening of the 4th Movement by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Golden Treasury of English Songs and Lyrics by Francis Palgrave Luxury: Radio (for football results)

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the flamenco guitarist Paco Peña. Celebrated thoughout the world for his authentic performances, he was born into a poor family in Southern Spain where music, singing and dancing was part of everyday life. Today, he is regarded as one of the world's foremost traditional Flamenco players. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he talks about his life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Portro de Rabia y Miel by Camaron de la Isla Book: An Anthology of Poetry - 'Las Mil Mejores Poesia' Dela Lengua Castellana by Jose Bergua Luxury: Virtual reality module

"Sue Lawley's guest this week is the jockey Richard Dunwoody. He's been champion jockey three times and has won the Grand National twice. Now he's hot on the heels of Peter Scudamore's record for the most wins ever. He chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Clare Island by The Saw Doctors Book: The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien Luxury: An endless supply of ice-cream

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the actress Luise Rainer who recently appeared in the film The Gambler. In 1936 she won the first of two Oscars for her telephone scene in the film The Great Zeigfeld. Despite her success, she felt uncomfortable in Hollywood and made her friends among the European expatriate community, including Schoenburg, Einstein and Thomas Mann. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Creation by Franz Joseph Haydn Book: The Proper Study of Mankind by Isaiah Berlin Luxury: To be missed by the people she loves

Sue Lawley's castaway is Northern Ireland secretary Mo Mowlam. Favourite track: Chicago by Frank Sinatra Book: The collected works by Seamus Heaney Luxury: A globe

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the award-winning restaurant critic Fay Maschler. Twenty-seven years after she won a competition to write a column for the Evening Standard, she is still eating out three times a week, comparing caramel crackling and moue of mousse, on our behalf. She chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Goldberg Variations Nos. 1 and 2 by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons Luxury: A huge supply of ouzo

Sue Lawley's castaway is scriptwriter & Comic Relief founder Richard Curtis. Favourite track: And I Love Her by The Beatles Book: Guinness Book of Pop Luxury: Pizza Express in Notting Hill

This week the castaway on Desert Island Discs is the opera singer Maria Ewing. Renowned for her acting ability as much as her voice - she portrayed Carmen as witty, clever and very very dangerous. Her Sheherazade was sexy. While as Salome she brought the audience to the edge of their seats as the last of the seven veils revealed her naked beneath. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she talks about her life and work and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Opening of Prelude a L'apres-midi d'un Faune by Claude Debussy Book: Collected Poems by John Donne Luxury: Piano

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the Romanian poet Nina Cassian. She was forbidden to return home, after a visit to New York, because of her outspoken critisism the Ceaucescu regime. The loneliness of the unwilling exile is often reflected in her work, but so is love, passion and her wicked sense of humour. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Ach Golgatha by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne Luxury: Cigarettes and whisky

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the pianist Andras Schiff. Born in Hungary, Bartok was the first composer he fell in love with and his music is still a regular part of his repertoire; despite making his fingers bleed. He compares learning a new composition to maturing wine - you can taste it almost immediately but it takes many years to become a vintage performance. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: String Quintet in C - Second Movement by Franz Schubert Book: Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri Luxury: Piano

Sue Lawley's guest this week is the American travel writer Bill Bryson. His inspiration was his father; a great traveller who never quite made it to his intended destination. His best-selling books, Notes from a Small Island and The Lost Continent, chronicle his experiences of facing up to fearsome British landladies and American motels which make the Bates hotel in Psycho look inviting. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: (Sittin' On) The Dock of The Bay by Otis Redding Book: The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson Luxury: Basket ball and hoop, and a little hard standing