Desert Island Discs

This week's castaway on Desert Island Discs is one of the most prominent novelists in the English language today. Author of the prize-winning novel Midnight's Children and weaver of magic yarns which embody myth, memory and politics, he is the Indian-born writer Salman Rushdie. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about the forces which have influenced his life and work.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Call Of The Valley by Shivkumar Sharma Book: Arabian Nights (1000 and One Nights) Luxury: Unlisted radio telephone

Sue Lawley's castaway is pianist Peter Donohoe.Favourite track: String Quintet In C Major by Franz Schubert Book: Collected Scripts by Billy Connolly Luxury: Waterbed

For people who enjoy walking on the Cumbrian fells there's one indispensable companion. It's a Wainwright; a small guidebook, mapped, written and illustrated by Alfred Wainwright, who's Sue Lawley's castaway this morning in Desert Island Discs. Wainwright has written some 50 books and his Lake District guides have sold more than a million. He'll be talking about his beloved Lake District and choosing eight records.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Somewhere My Love (Lara's Theme) by Johnny Mathis Book: Two photographs (one of wife; one of 1928 Blackburn Rovers team) Luxury: Mirror

Sue Lawley's castaway is actress Anita Dobson.Favourite track: The Locomotion by Little Eva Book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Luxury: Bed

Sue Lawley's castaway is historian Lord Dacre Of Glanton.Favourite track: Pavane For A Dead Infanta by Maurice Ravel Book: The collected works by Virgil Luxury: Paper, pen and ink

Sue Lawley's castaway is actress Patricia Neal.Favourite track: Black Is The Colour by Joan Baez Book: A collection of short stories Luxury: Toothbrush and toothpaste

Sue Lawley's castaway is Northern Ireland MP/MEP Reverend Ian Paisley.Favourite track: The Twenty-Third Psalm by The Reformed Presbyterian Church Of Ireland Northern Presbytery Choir Book: Book of Martyrs by John Foxe Luxury: High-powered radio

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian Joan Turner.Favourite track: One Fine Day by Giacomo Puccini Book: Introduction to the Devout Life by St Francis de Sales Luxury: Baked beans

Sue Lawley's castaway is former Cabinet Secretary Lord Armstrong.Favourite track: Piano Trio In D Minor by Felix Mendelssohn Book: The collected works by Jane Austen Luxury: Music manuscript paper, pencil, rubber

Sue Lawley's castaway is comedian Dame Edna Everage.Favourite track: I Feel Pretty by Kiri Te Kanawa Book: Filofax Luxury: Madge Allsop

This week's castaway on Sue Lawley's desert island is a little difficult to categorise. To the record-buying public, he's a pop star of durable quality; to the theatregoers who like musicals, he's an actor-singer, and he's a popular music composer too. His name is David Essex, and, in conversation with Sue Lawley, you can hear about his life, his work and his enthusiasms in Desert Island Discs.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: March No 1 in D Major (Pomp and Circumstance) by Edward Elgar Book: The Guinness Book of Records Luxury: A set of cricket equipment

To celebrate his 50th birthday this week, David Owen, leader of the Social Democratic Party, has rather rashly agreed to be castaway on Sue Lawley's desert island! It might not be the most relaxing way to mark a half-century, but Dr Owen is a passionate sailor, so the situation has its charms. He is also very keen on poetry and music, both of which will accompany him to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Piano Concerto No 21 in C - Slow Movement by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: His own anthology of poems Luxury: A hot bath

Having left television to become General Director Designate of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Jeremy Isaacs this week contemplates another change of direction - to the mythical island. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he chooses eight records to take with him.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Marriage Of Figaro by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: A compilation by Benny Green Luxury: Frogman's outfit and snorkel

At 97, the actress Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies reflects with interest on the prospect of being castaway and, in conversation with Sue Lawley, looks back over her long career. With a head well-stocked with music - and ringing with Shakespeare - she is determined to survive. But she isn't proposing to be castaway for long. She's already plotting a plan of escape. In the meantime, she looks back on her long and fascinating career in the theatre, which began with advice from Ellen Terry, took her into the Gaiety Chorus (at the back) and eventually, after success in The Immortal Hour, to some of the great Shakespearian roles.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Liebestod (from Tristan and Isolde) by Richard Wagner Luxury: Large bottle of toilet water

Sue Lawley's castaway is Home Office Minister Douglas Hurd.Favourite track: In Paradisum by Gabriel Fauré Book: The Oxford Book of Twentieth-Century Verse (selected by Philip Larkin) Luxury: Champagne

This week's castaway is Anton Mosimann - until recently, Maitre Chef des Cuisines at the Dorchester Hotel in London. In conversation with Sue Lawley, he reflects on his life and the new development in his career and chooses eight records to sustain him on the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Memory by Barbara Dickson Book: Opera di M. Bartolomeo Scappi (recipe book of Pope's chef in 1525) Luxury: Steamer for cooking

Sue Lawley's castaway is Rabbi Lionel Blue.Favourite track: Why Has A Cow Got Four Legs? by Cicely Courtneidge & Wilson Hallett Book: The biggest value of pure maths Luxury: Toilet bag

When Anita Roddick opened the Brighton Body Shop in 1976, she struck gold with a formula to knock the mystique out of the beauty business. She talks to Sue Lawley about the effects of success on her family life and comes to terms with her island exile.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: If I Could (from First Circle) by Pat Metheny Group Book: Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy Luxury: Comfortable bed with pillows and sheets

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the comedy actor Rowan Atkinson who features in the Blackadder saga. An episode of the series was the BBC's entry for this year's Golden Rose of Montreux Television Festival.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Lady Writer by Dire Straits Book: Uncle Fred in Springtime by P G Wodehouse Luxury: Car (to clean)

The castaway this week is Peggy Makins, better known as Evelyn Home, long-time agony aunt of Woman magazine. In conversation with Sue Lawley, she looks back on her life and career and also chooses eight records to take with her to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: A peal of 12 bells at Canterbury Cathedral by Sound Effects Book: The biggest atlas in the world Luxury: Little rosebush