Desert Island Discs

[Conchis]

Browsing the programme website, I was interested to note that flash in the pan pop star Clodagh Rogers was a castaway in 1971. Proof that gimmick and 'stunt castaways' are not just a recent development.....

[Richard Tarleton]

My bad? Bit modern, Tarleton?

I recall Plomley used to offer conductors and the like the option to take scores instead of discs, a bit recherché for today's DID.....

[LMcD]

Contrary to what I've just read on AnOther website, John Cleese's luxury was a life-size model of Margaret Thatcher and a baseball bat.

[BBMmk2]

Contrary to what I've just read on AnOther website, John Cleese's luxury was a life-size model of Margaret Thatcher and a baseball bat.

I think my luxury would be a generator, so I could play my favourite DIDs!

[LMcD]

What do you call a Californian security guard who keeps nodding off in mid-shift?
A sleepy LA goon.

[Stanfordian]

Laverne seems to be part of the BBC's 'attract a younger audience' project. She's not much younger than Kirsty Young (I see), but has a cool image of ex-pop singer, 6 Music presenter, and so on. Not saying that's wrong, but it does make quite a change for older listeners (cf Radio 3).

All that said, I was never a regular listener of DID; and clearly, different listeners look for different things from the programme.

In my view Kirsty Young is the best the programme has had. Yesterday on R4Extra Young's programme with castaway Miranda Hart was nothing short of outstanding. Naturally empathetic together with a bright, enquiring mind are her key attributes.

[french frank]

I wish I could remember if guests of the Jewish or Islamic persuasions are offered their respective holy text.

That somewhat rebuts Beefy's claim that it was 'not about religion'. That would depend on the recipient, I think. Maybe it was 'religious' for Dr Ramakrishnan. For myself, I would be quite interested to have the Talmud or Koran if they were in English and that was what I was being offered. I would prefer the English translation, though, rather than the Hebrew/Arabic version and a Teach Yourself Book. Although …

Similarly, I would be quite interested in having TCWoS, as there are many I haven't read. The idea, I took it, was simply to be given very substantial works that would keep one in reading matter until one was rescued. There might be other books serving the same purpose that I should prefer if I could think of them, but I can't offhand.

[Beef Oven!]

I mean that it's not about religion from the programme's perspective. But the guest will be respected and can choose an alternative philosophical or religious book. This tends to support the view that it's not about religion. I'd either choose the Bible not for religious reasons (I'm atheist, these days) but for the interesting stories; or FN's Beyond Good And Evil.

[ahinton]

In my view Kirsty Young is the best the programme has had.

Agreed. I was saddened to hear of her illness and hope that she makes a full recovery and resumes her seat on DID.

[DracoM]

In my view Kirsty Young is the best the programme has had. Yesterday on R4Extra Young's programme with castaway Miranda Hart was nothing short of outstanding. Naturally empathetic together with a bright, enquiring mind are her key attributes.

Totally agree.

[Nick Armstrong]

In my view Kirsty Young is the best the programme has had.

I completely agree with this too. Listened to a couple on a car journey yesterday (from the podcasts on the iPod - Christopher Nolan and Matt Smith) - exceptional.

I listened to one with Lauren Laverne but found her shallow and I probably shan't trouble the podcasts again until Kirsty Y returns (which she will, I hope).

Incidentally, I like the podcasts with their (very) abbreviated music - quite often, an interesting guest will have choices I'm not into, and having only a few bars is a mercy (and if I am into their choices, I don't need DID in order to listen to them).

[johncorrigan]

[COLOR="#0000FF"]I completely agree with this too. Listened to a couple on a car journey yesterday (from the podcasts on the iPod - Christopher Nolan and Matt Smith) - exceptional.

I listened to one with Lauren Laverne but found her shallow and I probably shan't trouble the podcasts again until Kirsty Y returns (which she will, I hope).

So disappointing to hear the news this week that due to her fibromyalgia, Kirsty Young has decided she will no longer be presenting Desert Island Discs. For me, Kirsty made Desert Island Discs unmissable, no matter who the castaway. I'm tempted to say they should mothball the programme until they can find a suitable host...Kirsty will be a very hard act to follow.

[DracoM]

So disappointing to hear the news this week that due to her fibromyalgia, Kirsty Young has decided she will no longer be presenting Desert Island Discs. For me, Kirsty made Desert Island Discs unmissable, no matter who the castaway. I'm tempted to say they should mothball the programme until they can find a suitable host...Kirsty will be a very hard act to follow.

Totally agree. LL seems absolutely NOT to have the right voice /manner / insight and background cultural intelligence to deal with the raison d'etre of this tricky portfolio / programme.

[LMcD]

So disappointing to hear the news this week that due to her fibromyalgia, Kirsty Young has decided she will no longer be presenting Desert Island Discs. For me, Kirsty made Desert Island Discs unmissable, no matter who the castaway. I'm tempted to say they should mothball the programme until they can find a suitable host...Kirsty will be a very hard act to follow.

I rather gained the impression that her decision is not based entirely on medical grounds, as a wish to move on to pastures new also appears to have played a part. She'll certainly be missed!

[Cockney Sparrow]

Listening to R4 reports (whilst travelling on Friday) it seems that Kirsty Young put a huge amount of effort into researching the castaways, to the extent to choosing her outfits, as well questions, to promote her interviewee entering a relaxed and forthcoming disposition in the recording.

Yes a great loss, and I wonder if they will take as much care in the replacement, or whether some other attributes, including ticking boxes that the BBC needs to tick, will be more important. In other words, just part of the general downward drift in the quality of their output.