Desert Island Discs: Archive 1981-1985

The cricketer David Gower, who is to be the captain of Leicestershire next season, is thought by many to be one of the world's most exciting batsmen. He is in New Zealand with the England team, of which he is the vice captain, for the test series. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Piano Concerto No 5 In E Flat by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Compendium of wines Luxury: Video cassettes of Rumpole of the Bailey

Bertice Reading's career took off when she won a talent contest and for the prize sang with the Lionel Hampton Band for a week. Later, she started to act and was in the first production of Sandy Wilson's musical Valmouth. In both America and Europe she appeared in cabaret and musicals, and she was a great success here in the musical One Mo' Time. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her career and chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The War of the Worlds - Epilogue by Jeff Wayne Book: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran Luxury: King-size, brass bed with a feather mattress

The novelist MM Kaye was born and has spent much of her life in India, and this experience has provided the background to several of her novels, including The Far Pavilions. She has also written a series of thrillers set in other places around the world to which she has been sent with her soldier husband. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her adventurous life and chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Julie's Theme by Lanning Book: Indian Tales by Rudyard Kipling Luxury: Writer's kit

James Stewart, with his inimitable slow drawl and gangly walk, has been making films since 1935, from The Philadelphia Story to The Far Country and Mr Hobbs Takes a Vacation. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his long career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Book: Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Luxury: Family photo album

The artist John Piper is a man of many talents. Not only is he a distinguished painter, but also he is particularly interested in tapestry and stained glass, and he has done windows for cathedrals at Coventry and Liverpool. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about the many facets of his life, especially his designs for many of the operas of Benjamin Britten, and he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini by Sergei Rachmaninov Book: The complete works by William Blake Luxury: Pianola

Marvin Hamlisch got into the Juilliard School of Music at the age of seven and he has been successful ever since. His two hit musicals - Chorus Line and They're Playing our Song - and his scores for over 20 films have won him many awards, including three Academy Awards in a single night. His most recent musical, Jean Seberg, opened at the National Theatre in 1983. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Everything's Coming Up Roses by Rosalind Russell Book: Phone book Luxury: Picture of mother when she was 17

Thomas Keneally, the Australian writer, won the Booker Prize last year with Schindler's Ark after being on the shortlist twice. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his writing, about his years in a Catholic seminary and as a teacher, and he chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Four Seasons - Winter by Antonio Vivaldi Book: Oxford Book of Twentieth-Century English Verse by Philip Larkin Luxury: Collection of Times crosswords

Sir Hugh Greene began his career as a foreign correspondent. During the war, he joined the BBC and was in charge of wartime broadcasts to Germany. After a variety of jobs, including that of Head of Emergency Information Services in Malaya conducting psychological warfare against the Communist guerrillas in the jungle, he was appointed Director-General of the BBC. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his fascinating life and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Forefathers by Edmund Blunden Book: The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Luxury: Portable typewriter and lots of paper

Sir Peter Hall was appointed Director of the National Theatre in 1973. Before that, he ran the Royal Shakespeare Company and he was responsible for setting up their London base at the Aldwych. In spite of this heavy administrative responsibility, he has always found time to produce many plays and operas, including this year's Ring Cycle at Bayreuth. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his amazingly active life and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Man That Got Away by Judy Garland Book: The New Grove Dictionary of Music & Musicians Luxury: Photograph of children

Shirley Maclaine began her career as a singer and dancer in the chorus of a Broadway musical. Success came quickly when, as an understudy, she had to take over a leading role in The Pajama Game, and she went on to make many successful films including The Apartment, Sweet Charity and The Turning Point. She regularly tours the world with her own song and dance show. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her life and chooses eight records she would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: If My Friends Could See Me Now by Shirley MacLaine Book: Dictionary and Hexalingual thesaurus Luxury: Blank paper

Sir Ranulph Fiennes has had many adventures since he was removed from the SAS for the illegal use of explosives, but without a doubt his greatest exploit was the Transglobe Expedition. Swamps, deserts and arctic ice fields were just some of the many hazards he encountered on the first round-the-world journey via the two poles. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he describes some of his exploits and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Book: The Oxford Book of Quotations Luxury: Tube of Antisan cream

Linda Esther Gray, the Scots soprano, made her operatic debut as Mimi in La Boheme with Glyndebourne Touring Opera in 1972, and she went on to win the Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship and the John Christie Award. But her first big success was as Isolde with the Welsh National Opera in 1978. She also tackles the role of Brunhilde in Valkyrie with the English National Opera. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her career and chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Die Walkure Act 3 by Richard Wagner Book: Anthology of poetry Luxury: Garlic, chocolate and wine

Topol began his acting career almost by accident while he was doing his army service in Israel. He had wanted to be a printer and live on a kibbutz. His success as Tevye in the musical The Fiddler on the Roof, both in London and in the film, brought him international acclaim and he has gone on to make many more films, but he still returns regularly to Israel to work. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Those Were The Nights by Esther Ofarim With Orchestra Book: Great Treasury of Western Thought by Mortimer J Adler Luxury: Artist's kit

Mollie Harris was brought up in Oxfordshire and her books of reminiscences about life in the country are very popular. For the past thirteen years she has been a regular member of the cast of The Archers, in which she takes the part of Martha Woodford. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her fascinating life and chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: What A Wonderful World by Louis Armstrong Book: The five-volume works by Anthony Wood Luxury: Union Jack

Rosemary Sutcliff began her career as a painter of miniatures and some of her work was shown at the Royal Academy. Since turning to writing, she has produced 43 books, most of which are historical novels for children. She particularly enjoys setting them in Roman Britain. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her career, about the difficulties caused by arthritis since she was a child and she chooses the eight records that she would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: The Lark Ascending by Ralph Vaughan Williams Book: Kim by Rudyard Kipling Luxury: Flowers delivered daily by bottle

Ian Richardson has spent much of his acting career with the Royal Shakespeare Company. But, in recent years, he has made an impact on television in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, Eyeless in Gaza and with his portrayal of Montgomery in Churchill and the Generals. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Henry V Suite - The Agincourt Song by William Walton Book: Book of quotations Luxury: Large supply of paper and pencils

Lionel Hampton is one of the legendary figures of the jazz world. For most of his career, he has led his own bands, although for a while he did play with Benny Goodman. His main instrument is the vibraharp, but there is always a second drum kit on stage for him to perform on, and he also plays the piano and sings. In conversation with Roy Plomley, this versatile musician talks about his long career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Memories Of You by Louis Armstrong Book: Science and Health, with a Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy Luxury: Tape recorder

Charlotte Lamb first started to write in 1970 after doing a series of different jobs, including working in a bank and for the BBC. Since then, she has written over 60 romantic novels, some of them under different names, and she has become one of the most popular novelists of that genre. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her work and chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Brandenburg Concerto No 4 In G Major by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Luxury: Typewriter and paper

Paul Jones first made his name as the lead singer with the group Manfred Mann. Later, he formed the Blues Band, but in the meantime he had started a second career as an actor when he appeared in the film Privilege. Since then, he has played Hamlet, Cassio in Othello and Macheath in The Beggar's Opera, and he even finds time to do session work on his harmonica. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about the many facets of his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Libiamo Ne'Lieti Calici by Giuseppe Verdi Book: Political works and music criticism by George Bernard Shaw Luxury: Harmonica

Cindy Buxton made several successful wildlife films in Africa for television. Then, in 1978, she decided to film on the Falkland Islands and managed to persuade Annie Price to give up photographing children to become her assistant. In conversation with Roy Plomley, they talk about their experiences, about their life during the invasion, and they choose the four records each which they would take to the mythical island. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Sailing by Rod Stewart Book: A book on explorers and Jonathan Livingstone's Seagull by Richard Bach Luxury: Cow and a box of soap