Our Five Favourite Episodes Of Desert Island Discs Revealed

Desert Island Discs is a British institution. It’s the longest serving radio broadcast and has outlived many rival shows, stations and more, to this day being hugely popular with the great Lauren Laverne in the interview chair.

We’ve had over 80 years of the show today, and the stars that have featured on it have ranged from politicians to movie stars, footballers to musicians, authors, comedians, public figures and many more.

But what are the best Desert Island Discs episodes ever? We run down our favourite five…

Yoko Ono

It seems absolutely crazy to think that so many people around the world consider Yoko Ono the villain of The Beatles story, especially given the recent Disney documentary in which it’s clear she isn’t.

In 2007 she appeared on Desert Island Discs, speaking to Kirsty Young about how she coped with such scrutiny as well as many stories about her time with John, including that fateful night in New York in 1980 when Lennon was tragically shot outside their apartment.

Of course, the music Yoko chooses is also fantastic. She’s a true icon, and really comes across as one in this episode.

Ian Wright

Ian Wright is a man who wears his heart on his sleeve and this interview with Lauren Laverne will almost have you in tears, just as it does the Arsenal legend. The episode is especially great for fans of football, with Wright discussing his late arrival to the professional game, as well as the role models in his life.

His primary school teacher, Mr Pigden, also is hailed hugely, claiming that the man changed his life. He said during the interview, “I don’t know why he chose me but he did. He gave me responsibility, I used to collect the registers from the teachers, then they made me milk monitor. It was really good, I just felt important. He wouldn’t let me play football if he heard I’d been naughty in class. He just gave me a sense of feeling like I had some use… He was the greatest man in the world.”

George Clooney

George Clooney has certainly enjoyed the life since making his breakthrough in TV and film. Over the years he’s been a staunch philanthropist, raising money for many charities and supporting many causes. He’s also been an activist, and even during the early 2000s was nearly a casino owner. That could certainly have set him on a different path and made him one of the richest men on the planet had it come off, with online casino platforms like casino777 live casino  booming in an industry worth billions today.

Clooney doesn’t keep his cards close to his chest in this interview, discussing movies like the great Ocean’s Eleven, which set him on a trail of love for casinos, as well as more serious and personal aspects of his life.

He kicks off his Desert Island Discs with Hank Williams’ I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry, before tracks from Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Bill Withers and Van Morison.

Steven Graham

Another more recent Desert Island Discs we absolutely love is with Steven Graham, who again was interviewed by Lauren Laverne. He discusses life growing up in Liverpool, talking so open and honestly about his struggles with mental health, a suicide attempt and how his joy of music has seen him through such times, including the songs of Chaka Khan.

It’s an eye-opening interview from one of the screen’s tough guys, but one that is truly beautiful and a modern Desert Island Disc classic.

Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks is another teary episode and he opens up wonderfully with Kirsty Young, only making him even more of a star in our eyes. Of course, Hanks is no stranger to a desert island and he talks about his love for his wife, his career and even how he feels like a fake. Songs throughout the episode include work by The Beatles, Dusty Springfield, Talking Heads and even LL Cool J. Who’d have thought Hanks was a rap fan?