Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4 | Podcast Rankings & Episodes

Romesh Ranganathan on finding his comedy sweet spot

October 7, 2026 · 3 min

The comedian Romesh Ranganathan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025. He’s a BAFTA-winning broadcaster, standup, actor and writer who has been a fixture on British TV screens for the past decade. He talks about finding the sweet spot in…
Tanni Grey-Thompson on winning four Olympic golds in Sydney

October 6, 2026 · 3 min

The wheelchair athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson was cast away by Sue Lawley in 2001. She recalls the pressure to do well at the Sydney Olympics and the relief when she managed to clinch four gold medals, but the long-distance phone call home to…
Greta Gerwig on her childhood enthusiasm for putting on plays

October 5, 2026 · 4 min

The film director Greta Gerwig was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023. Growing up in what she calls a "culturally ravenous" family, the young Greta was inspired by her parents' record collection as much as trips to concert halls and…
James Graham on his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine

October 2, 2026 · 3 min

The playwright James Graham was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2024. He was a shy and quiet child who enjoyed nothing more than watching soap operas on TV. So what was he doing taking his "stripping vicar" ice-dancing routine on tour? You…
Jessica Ennis-Hill on the moment she won Olympic gold

October 1, 2026 · 3 min

The Olympic heptathlete Jessica Ennis-Hill was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2021. She recalls pushing herself in her final event at the London 2012 Olympics, the 800-metre race, and how throwing her hands up in the air as she crossed the…
Warwick Davis on his first role as an Ewok in Star Wars

September 30, 2026 · 4 min

The actor Warwick Davis was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016. When his grandmother heard an advertisement on the radio looking for short people to play Ewoks in the next Star Wars film, she immediately thought of Warwick, but by the time…
How Lily Allen brought the house down with a Disney song aged 11

September 29, 2026 · 3 min

The singer-songwriter Lily Allen was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2014. Although her school reports painted a mixed picture of Lily's academic achievements, a singing teacher spotted her vocal talent and encouraged her to perform. She…
How hiding in a toilet helped Steven Spielberg get into the movie business

September 28, 2026 · 4 min

The film director Steven Spielberg was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022. He gave the world Jaws, ET and Jurassic Park, but Steven Spielberg got his start in the film business when he went on a bus tour of Universal Studios. He also…