List of Desert Island Discs episodes (1981–1990)

The BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs invites castaways to choose eight pieces of music, a book (in addition to the Bible – or a religious text appropriate to that person's beliefs – and the Complete Works of Shakespeare) and a luxury item that they would take to an imaginary desert island, where they will be marooned indefinitely. The rules state that the chosen luxury item must not be anything animate or indeed anything that enables the castaway to escape from the island, for instance a radio set, sailing yacht or aeroplane. The choices of book and luxury can sometimes give insight into the guest's life, and the choices of guests between 1981 and 1990 are listed here.

1981

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
3 January 1981 Robin Cousins Shōgun by James Clavell Marzipan more
10 January 1981 John Fowles Dictionary of National Biography Field glasses more
17 January 1981 Princess Margaret War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Piano more
24 January 1981 Joan Plowright Three novels by Aldous Huxley Piano more
31 January 1981 Jeffrey Archer Reunion by Fred Uhlman Plasticine model of Roy Plomley and a pin more
7 February 1981 Mary O'Hara The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Tennis practice equipment more
14 February 1981 David Broome Collected Speeches by Winston Churchill Wine more
21 February 1981 Frederic Raphael Bilingual edition of poetry by Giorgos Seferis Painting materials more
28 February 1981 Carla Lane Dictionary of quotations French Shampoo more
7 March 1981 Daniel Massey Ego by James Agate Wine more
14 March 1981 Peter Nichols Collected essays by George Orwell Vibraphone more
21 March 1981 Russell Harty A History of Craven by Thomas Dunham Whitaker Flagpole and Union Jack more
28 March 1981 Patricia Ruanne The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Sunglasses more
4 April 1981 Gary Glitter Times Concise Atlas Elastoplast more
11 April 1981 Sir Fitzroy Maclean War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Writing materials more
18 April 1981 Princess Grace of Monaco Plays by George Kelly Pillow more
25 April 1981 Stewart Granger Collected works by Ernest Hemingway Gold statuette of Winston Churchill more
2 May 1981 Sir Frederick Ashton In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust Cards more
9 May 1981 Buddy Rich Story of O by Pauline Réage Ferrari more
16 May 1981 John Gielgud In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust more
23 May 1981 Edmund Rubbra Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne Music manuscript paper more
30 May 1981 Eric Shilling Collin's Albatross Book of Verse by Louis Untermeyer Astronomical telescope more
6 June 1981 William Whitelaw The World That Fred Made by Bernard Darwin Bath with a hot water system more
13 June 1981 Richard Leakey Touch the Earth by T. C. McLuhan Pillow more
20 June 1981 Giuseppe Di Stefano Maria by Arianna Stassinopoulos Roulette table more
27 June 1981 Morris West Meditations Upon Our Human Condition by John Donne Pencils and paper more
4 July 1981 Gloria Swanson The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran Telephone more
11 July 1981 Gillian Lynne French language course Eyelash curler more
18 July 1981 Carl Sagan Boy Scout handbook Reflecting telescope more
25 July 1981 Roger Moore Noble House by James Clavell Video player and films of family more
1 August 1981 Julian Lloyd Webber History of Leyton Orient F.C. Cello more
8 August 1981 Terry Hands Dictionary Cello more
15 August 1981 Sebastian Coe The Penguin Dorothy Parker by Dorothy Parker Bed more
22 August 1981 Paul Eddington Experiences of an Irish R.M. by Martin Ross Boathouse at Dawn by Ivon Hitchens more
29 August 1981 Frank Oz Complete works by Emily Dickinson Clean sheets more
5 September 1981 Alan Jones Eagle in the Sky by Wilbur Smith Australian lager more
12 September 1981 Jessye Norman The Diary of Virginia Woolf Perrier water more
19 September 1981 Malcolm Muggeridge Writings by Samuel Johnson Beehive more
26 September 1981 James Mason Ada by Vladimir Nabokov Guitar more
3 October 1981 Beaux Arts Trio Books about gardening, painting and boat handling Violin and strings and piano more
10 October 1981 Montserrat Caballé Record box more
17 October 1981 Elspeth Huxley Novels by P. G. Wodehouse Camera and film more
24 October 1981 Joseph Cotten Gardening manual Boat building book more
31 October 1981 Patrick Lichfield Book with blank cork pages Astronomical telescope more
7 November 1981 Glyn Daniel Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable Wine more
14 November 1981 James Clavell Koran more
21 November 1981 Diana Dors Her autobiography Chocolates more
28 November 1981 Douglas Bader Complete works by Alfred, Lord Tennyson Sand iron and golf balls more
5 December 1981 Alan Howard Piano manual Piano more
12 December 1981 Jack Higgins Four Quartets by T. S. Eliot Writing materials more
19 December 1981 Helene Hanff Memoirs by Louis de Rouvroy Scrabble more
26 December 1981 George Lascelles Anthology of poetry Typewriter more

1982

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
2 January 1982 Trevor Brooking Crossword puzzles and pencils Golf clubs and balls more
9 January 1982 Martin Gilbert The document volumes of the Churchill biography by Martin Gilbert Drawings of his two children more
16 January 1982 Angela Rippon Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Watercolours. brushes and paper more
23 January 1982 Frankie Howerd David Copperfield by Charles Dickens Cross given to him by his mother more
30 January 1982 Paul McCartney Linda's Pictures by Linda McCartney Guitar more
6 February 1982 Professor J K Galbraith Personally compiled anthology Typewriter and paper more
13 February 1982 Sir Christopher Leaver Grove's Dictionary of Music and Musicians Wine cellar more
20 February 1982 Petula Clark The short stories of John Steinbeck Piano more
27 February 1982 John Osborne Holy Living and Holy Dying by Jeremy Taylor Piano and an instruction book more
6 March 1982 Dame Eva Turner Inferno by Dante Alighieri Castanets more
13 March 1982 George Chisholm The novels of P. G. Wodehouse Engraved glass and supply of bitter lemon more
20 March 1982 Lord Bernard Miles The Odyssey by Homer Box of notebooks, pencils and sharpeners more
27 March 1982 Sir William Walton The Education of a Gardener by Russell Page Funicular for hills more
3 April 1982 Richard Armstrong Piano Sonatas by Beethoven Piano more
10 April 1982 Julia McKenzie Act One by Moss Hart Painting materials more
17 April 1982 Brian Aldiss Rasselas by Dr Samuel Johnson Time machine more
24 April 1982 Dorothy Dunnett The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Edward Gibbon Guitar more
1 May 1982 Jenny Agutter The Oxford Book of English Verse Oriental rug more
8 May 1982 Lucia Popp The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann Teddy bear more
15 May 1982 Julian Symons Bleak House by Charles Dickens Couch more
22 May 1982 Marti Webb Illustrated dictionary Piano more
29 May 1982 Desmond Hawkins Field guide to the birds of the island Binoculars more
5 June 1982 Delia Smith The autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux Writing materials more
12 June 1982 Sir Anton Dolin Friends and Memories by Sir Anton Dolin Electric razor more
19 June 1982 Eric Newby Dictionary of National Biography Whisky more
26 June 1982 Joss Ackland Dictionary Video player with cassettes of old movies more
3 July 1982 John Mortimer The Oxford Book of English Verse Bath more
10 July 1982 Captain Jacques Cousteau Essays by Michel de Montaigne Stone from the stomach of a fossilised dinosaur more
17 July 1982 Pamela Stephenson Buddhist scripture by Dama Pada Television set with satellite link-up more
24 July 1982 Lyall Watson Pears Cyclopaedia Film projector and 20 western films more
31 July 1982 George Martin Manual on practical engineering Clavichord more
7 August 1982 Dame Janet Baker Persuasion by Jane Austen Pencils and paper more
14 August 1982 Donald Sinden A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method by Sir Banister Fletcher His favourite picture in the Walker Art Gallery more
21 August 1982 Carl Davis The short stories of Anton Chekhov Shampoo more
28 August 1982 Duke and Duchess of Devonshire The books of Beatrix Potter and Chambers' Biographical Dictionary New potatoes and aftershave more
4 September 1982 Claire Bloom À la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust Coffee and espresso machine more
11 September 1982 James Loughran Comprehensive world airways timetable Drawing and painting equipment more
18 September 1982 Carlo Curley Cookery book by Julia Child Pipe organ more
25 September 1982 Wilbur Smith The Oxford English Dictionary Brass bedstead and feather mattress more
2 October 1982 David Lloyd Jones The Journal of Edmond de Goncourt — more
9 October 1982 N.Busch, J.Kuchmy, M.Parry, M.Wilson — — more
16 October 1982 Geoffrey Grigson The Oxford English Dictionary Pate de foie gras more
23 October 1982 Mike Harding The New Oxford Book of English Verse Ordnance Survey maps and set of books about the Fells more
30 October 1982 Lord Tonypandy The Methodist hymn book Writing materials more
6 November 1982 Thomas Allen Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Golf clubs and balls more
13 November 1982 Rosamond Lehmann The letters of the Marquise de Sevigne Writing materials more
20 November 1982 P D James Middlemarch by George Eliot Claret more
27 November 1982 Helen Mirren The Bhagavad Gita Silk underwear more
4 December 1982 Alan Price The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Piano more
18 December 1982 György Ligeti Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll The Garden Of Earthly Delights by Hieronymus Bosch more
25 December 1982 Mary Ellis Encyclopaedia Writing materials more

1983

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
1 January 1983 Rachel Billington Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Writing materials more
8 January 1983 Steve Davis The Throwback and Wilt by Tom Sharpe Snooker table more
15 January 1983 Baroness Maria von Trapp True funny stories in German Statue of Madonna and Child, 17th Century more
22 January 1983 Gwyneth Jones The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran Piano with bath salts more
29 January 1983 Tim Severin Pax Britannica by Jan Morris Herb garden more
5 February 1983 Beryl Reid Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor Silk garment more
12 February 1983 Zandra Rhodes Mrs Beeton's Household Management Sketchbook, pens and pencils more
19 February 1983 James Ivory À la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust Shower with hot water more
26 February 1983 Tom Keating Lives of the Artists by Giorgio Vasari Mattock more
5 March 1983 Kenneth Macmillan The Rack by A E Ellis Godiva chocolates from Belgium more
12 March 1983 Douglas Reeman The Admiralty Seamanship Manual Orchid-growing kit more
19 March 1983 Michael Wood Other Men's Flowers by Lord Wavell Pair of field glasses more
26 March 1983 Jan Morris Her own book on Venice Astronomical telescope with 'Catalogue of Nebulae' more
2 April 1983 James Fox Colour reproduction of Renaissance artists Watercolour equipment more
9 April 1983 Ruggiero Ricci The letters of Beethoven The Plowden Guarneri violin more
16 April 1983 Geoffrey Moorhouse The Dictionary of National Biography Recording of curlews and Indian spices more
23 April 1983 Max Boyce I Can't Stay Long by Laurie Lee Oil-painting equipment more
30 April 1983 A N Wilson The Golden Treasuary by Francis Palgrave Bed and blankets more
7 May 1983 Arthur English Britain's Heritage by John Julius Norwich Weekend in Paris more
14 May 1983 Alan King-Hamilton Barclay's World of Cricket by Jim Swanton Television set more
21 May 1983 Terry Wogan His favourite books by P G Wodehouse Vodka more
28 May 1983 Sinéad Cusack The novels of John le Carré Writing materials more
4 June 1983 Raymond Briggs The Complete Works of Beachcomber Billiard table with snooker balls and cue more
11 June 1983 Sir Peter Pears A book by E M Forster Painting from his collection more
18 June 1983 Fleur Cowles Blank paper Painting materials more
25 June 1983 Peter Maxwell Davies Ulysses by James Joyce Music manuscript paper and pens more
2 July 1983 Terry Jones The Complete Works of Geoffrey Chaucer Pencil and paper more
9 July 1983 Julian Bream — — more
16 July 1983 Sir John Pritchard Lucia novels by E. F. Benson Italian wine more
23 July 1983 John Gunter The Complete Works of Flann O'Brien More William Walton records more
30 July 1983 Keith Waterhouse A year's supply of the Exchange & Mart Solar-powered television, video and eight films more
6 August 1983 Sir Frederick Gibberd Scrapbook of poetry Bottle of sleeping tablets more
13 August 1983 Peter Bull Brideshead Revisited (in Greek) by Evelyn Waugh Crystal ball more
20 August 1983 Malcolm Bradbury If on a Winter's Night a Traveller by Italo Calvino Word processor more
27 August 1983 Cindy Buxton and Annie Price A book on explorers and Johnny Livingstone's Seagull by Richard Bach Cow and a box of soap more
3 September 1983 Paul Jones Political works and music criticism by George Bernard Shaw Harmonica more
10 September 1983 Charlotte Lamb Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen Typewriter and paper more
17 September 1983 Lionel Hampton Science and Health by Mary Baker Eddy Tape recorder more
24 September 1983 Ian Richardson Book of quotations Large supply of paper and pencils more
1 October 1983 Rosemary Sutcliff Kim by Rudyard Kipling Flowers delivered daily by bottle more
8 October 1983 Mollie Harris The five-volume works by Anthony Wood Union Jack more
15 October 1983 Topol Great Treasury of Western Thought by Mortimer J Adler Artist's kit more
22 October 1983 Linda Esther Gray Anthology of poetry Garlic, chocolate and wine more
29 October 1983 Sir Ranulph Fiennes The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Tube of Antisan cream more
5 November 1983 Shirley MacLaine Dictionary and hexalingual thesaurus Blank paper more
12 November 1983 Sir Peter Hall The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians Photograph of his children more
19 November 1983 Sir Hugh Greene The Penguin Complete Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Portable typewriter and much paper more
26 November 1983 Thomas Keneally Oxford Book of 20th Century English Verse by Philip Larkin Collection of The Times crosswords more
3 December 1983 Marvin Hamlisch Phone book Picture of his mother when she was 17 more
10 December 1983 John Piper The Complete Works of William Blake Pianola more
17 December 1983 James Stewart Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Family photo album more
31 December 1983 M M Kaye Indian Tales by Rudyard Kipling Writer's kit

more

1984

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
7 January 1984 Bertice Reading The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran King size brass bed with mattress more
14 January 1984 David Gower Compendium of wines Video cassettes of Rumpole of the Bailey more
21 January 1984 Quentin Crewe Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable Potter's wheel more
28 January 1984 Princess Michael of Kent Histories by Herodotus Cat more
4 February 1984 Stubby Kaye His diary Hard hat more
11 February 1984 Lord Elwyn-Jones English Social History by G M Trevelyan Comic collage by Pearl Binder more
18 February 1984 Woody Herman Music is My Mistress by Duke Ellington Jaguar XJ6 more
25 February 1984 Michael York No book chosen Telescope more
3 March 1984 Gerald Priestland The poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins Air conditioner more
10 March 1984 Don McCullin One year of issues of The Times Mirror more
17 March 1984 Michael Quinn Le Repertoire de la Cuisine by Louis Saulnier Pair of waterwings more
24 March 1984 Honest Ed Mirvish Complete Webster's English Dictionary Barbecue more
31 March 1984 Paul Tortelier The Cathedrals of France by Auguste Rodin Photograph of his wife more
7 April 1984 Christopher Reeve The Inner Reality by Paul Brunton Scuba-diving equipment more
14 April 1984 Lucy Irvine Language Made Plain by Anthony Burgess Mosquito coils and an apple pip more
21 April 1984 David Lodge Ulysses by James Joyce Nymph in a Landscape by Palma Vecchio more
28 April 1984 Leo McKern Encyclopaedia Watercolours and hot-pressed paper more
5 May 1984 Rosalind Plowright The collected works of William Wordsworth Windsurfer more
12 May 1984 Hugh Johnson The Complete Works of P G Wodehouse Writing materials and many bottles more
30 June 1984 Zubin Mehta The Gathas by Zarathustra Van Eyck's Triptych from Ghent Cathedral more
7 July 1984 Lord Rothschild Book on pure mathematics Pad of A4 paper more
14 July 1984 Vlado Perlemuter The Complete Plays of Molière Painting of Louvre more
21 July 1984 Natalia Makarova The poetry of Aleksandr Pushkin Wine – Chateau Margot 1961 more
28 July 1984 Sir Alfred Ayer The Life of Johnson and A Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides by James Boswell Le Moulin de la Galette by Renoir more
4 August 1984 Gayatri Devi Omnibus of books by James Heriot Can of insect repellent more
11 August 1984 Ron Goodwin The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran Tuba more
18 August 1984 William Rushton Anthology by G K Chesterton Piano more
25 August 1984 Ved Mehta 11th edition of Encyclopædia Britannica No luxury chosen more
1 September 1984 George Abbott Encyclopaedia Writing paper more
8 September 1984 Catherine Cookson Her own autobiography Piano more
15 September 1984 Gerry Cottle I Love You, Honey, but the Season's Over by Connie Clausen Juggling clubs more
22 September 1984 Alfred Eisenstadt A book of quotations Camera more
29 September 1984 John Hurt The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll Pillow more
6 October 1984 John Surman Set of Wisden Vat of Bordeaux wine more
19 October 1984 Michael Ffolkes — — more
20 October 1984 Jonathan Lynn Collection of Jeeves & Wooster novels by P G Wodehouse Pen and paper more
27 October 1984 David Rendall The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran Wine – Chateau Lascombes 1966 more
3 November 1984 Tom Sharpe Oxford Book of English Verse Ton of snuff more
10 November 1984 Vernon Handley The Principles of Art by R G Collingwood Sodastream and gas cylinders more
17 November 1984 David Puttnam The Wisden Anthology of Cricket by Benny Green Goose down pillow more
24 November 1984 Robin Hanbury-Tenison The Oxford Companion to English Literature Cask of claret more
1 December 1984 Miklós Rózsa Collected Poems of Endre Ady Manuscript paper and pens more
8 December 1984 Sir John Burgh Encyclopædia Britannica Transistor radio more
15 December 1984 Ray Cooney — — more

1985

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
5 January 1985 Sir Michael Tippett Blank pages Egg timer more
12 January 1985 Tom Stoppard Inferno (in two languages) by Dante Alighieri Plastic football more
19 January 1985 John Harvey-Jones The Loom of Language by Frederick Bodmer Trap (minus donkey) more
26 January 1985 Madhur Jaffrey Blank book Whiskey more
2 February 1985 Julie Walters The Magus by John Fowles Telephone more
9 February 1985 Elly Ameling The poetry of Paul Verlaine Buddha statue more
16 February 1985 Michael Elkins The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell Electric typewriter more
23 February 1985 Anthony Hopkins The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Piano more
2 March 1985 Jorge Bolet Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Camera more
9 March 1985 Alison Lurie Oxford Book of English Verse Telephone more
16 March 1985 Gordon Beningfield Manual on how to swim Sketchbook, paints and pencils more
23 March 1985 Richard Eyre Partridge's Dictionary of Slang Saxophone more
30 March 1985 Jimmy Savile Mail order catalogue Havana cigar more
6 April 1985 Doris Stokes The Complete Andy Capp Photograph album of family, friends and pets more
13 April 1985 Joseph Allen A number of Sherlock Holmes novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Family pocket watch more
20 April 1985 Robert Burchfield — — more
27 April 1985 Barbara Taylor Bradford Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë Family photograph album more
4 May 1985 Rt Hon David Steel MP Do-it-yourself manual Cathedral organ more
11 May 1985 Sheila Steafel Dictionary Artist's equipment more

1986

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
5 January 1986 Alan Parker The collected poems of Sir John Betjeman Suntan lotion more
12 January 1986 Nigel Kennedy Wisden Almanack Violin more
19 January 1986 Maureen Lipman The collected works of Jane Austen A parking meter and caravan more
26 January 1986 Roy Hattersley Shakespearean Tragedy by A. C. Bradley Boy writer's set more
2 February 1986 Dennis Taylor A joke book Limitless supply of yoghurt more
9 February 1986 Bruce Oldfield The Destiny of Darcy Dancer, Gentleman by J. P. Donleavy Cigarettes more
16 February 1986 Ben Kingsley Unknown Telescope more
23 February 1986 Selina Scott Hawk Moon by Sam Shepard Hairbrush more
2 March 1986 John Dankworth The Exchange & Mart Solar-powered synthesizer more
9 March 1986 Beryl Bainbridge The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard Old-fashioned diary with pens more
16 March 1986 Ron Pickering The Guinness Book of Records Typewriter more
23 March 1986 Rt Hon Shirley Williams The collected poems of W. B. Yeats Computer more
30 March 1986 Jane Glover The Letters of Virginia Woolf Bathroom with many full cupboards more
6 April 1986 Arthur Hailey Webster's International Dictionary Hot water more
25 May 1986 Bobby Robson Roget's Thesaurus Set of golf clubs and endless supply of balls more
1 June 1986 Elton John Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice Telephone more
8 June 1986 Ismail Merchant The works of E. M. Forster, P. D. James and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Cooking range more
15 June 1986 Max Hastings The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Word processor linked to a Fleet Street newspaper more
22 June 1986 Jackie Stewart The Guinness Book of Records Blank book and pen more
29 June 1986 Anne-Sophie Mutter Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Stradivarius violin more
6 July 1986 Brian Redhead A commentary on the Bible by Arthur Pink Taj Mahal more
13 July 1986 Sir David Wilson The Diary of Samuel Pepys Refrigerator more
20 July 1986 Sir Geoffrey Howe The Good Food Guide Computer bridge game more
27 July 1986 Roger Vadim Death on the Installment Plan by Louis-Ferdinand Céline Chess computer more
3 August 1986 Norman Lewis The Histories by Herodotus Spirit stove more
10 August 1986 Virginia Holgate A do-it-yourself manual Never-ending supply of smoked salmon more
17 August 1986 Jane Lapotaire The I Ching Pencils and paper more
24 August 1986 Stan Barstow À la recherche du temps perdu by Marcel Proust Paper and pens more
31 August 1986 Auberon Waugh Other Men's Flowers by Lord Wavell Vine more
7 September 1986 Andrew Davis Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift Collection of Apostle spoons more
14 September 1986 James Herbert Anthology including The History of Mr Polly by H. G. Wells Grand piano more
21 September 1986 Suzi Quatro Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand Piano more
28 September 1986 Richard Condon Boy Scout annual Calendar watch more
5 October 1986 Sir Ian MacGregor Encyclopædia Britannica Thermos jug more
12 October 1986 Sir Fred Hoyle Handbook of physics Portable telescope more
19 October 1986 Phil Edmonds Book on flora and fauna of the island Royal Jamaica cigars more
26 October 1986 Albert Roux and Michel Roux Cookery books Books on how to manage people and ivory carving more
2 November 1986 Jeremy Irons A construction manual Camera and film more
9 November 1986 Kingsley Amis Oxford English Dictionary Scotch whisky more
16 November 1986 Hal Prince Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe Bouillabaisse with langouste and wine more
23 November 1986 John Ridgway The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Shaving kit more
30 November 1986 Nigel Hawthorne Teach yourself French Pencils and paper more
7 December 1986 Jackie Collins The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Photograph of her family more
14 December 1986 Benny Green A Quartet of Comedies by H. G. Wells Saxophone more

1987

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
4 January 1987 Tony Bennett Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky Suit more
11 January 1987 James Prior Times Atlas of the World Golf clubs and balls more
18 January 1987 Jeremy Lloyd Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome Guitar more
25 January 1987 Baroness Ryder of Warsaw The autobiography of Wilfred Owen Pillow more
1 February 1987 Peter Fluck and Roger Law My Last Breath by Luis Buñuel Margaret Thatcher's resignation speech more
8 February 1987 Victoria Wood The collected works of Arthur Marshall Cinema organ more
15 February 1987 Sir Michael Hordern History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill Elm tree more
22 February 1987 Ken Russell The Prelude by William Wordsworth Quart of brandy more
1 March 1987 Sir Nicholas Goodison Unknown Unknown more
8 March 1987 Johnny Mathis Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Golf bag more
15 March 1987 Dora Bryan Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome Stuffed dog more
22 March 1987 David Penhaligon A cricketing Almanack 30 foot of steel more
29 March 1987 Peter Alliss History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill Sand-yacht more
5 April 1987 Anthony Andrews The Complete Works of Oscar Wilde Piano more
12 April 1987 Julian Critchley An Omelette and a Glass of Wine by Elizabeth David Case of wine more
19 April 1987 Michael Bogdanov Pocket Wine Book 1987 by Hugh Johnson 50-pound jar of Marmite more
26 April 1987 Frank Bough Barclays World of Cricket by Jim Swanton Contact lenses more
28 June 1987 Terence Stamp The Joy of Cooking Duvet more
5 July 1987 Robert Maxwell A book on Plato Chess computer game more
12 July 1987 Elaine Paige The Complete Works of Charles Dickens Piano more
19 July 1987 Lucinda Green Unknown Unknown more
26 July 1987 Kenneth Williams The Golden Treasury by Francis Palgrave Crate of Cologne more
2 August 1987 Maya Angelou The Negro Caravan Painting of Kumasi Market by John T. Biggers more
9 August 1987 Frances Edmonds The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams Bollinger '69 more
16 August 1987 Susan George Will You Be My Friend? by James Kavanaugh Four poster bed more
23 August 1987 Edna O'Brien Encyclopædia Britannica Cristal champagne more
30 August 1987 Lord Montagu The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien Windsurfing board more
6 September 1987 Kitty Godfree The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins Bicycle more
13 September 1987 Joanna Lumley A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell Specially-commissioned John Ward painting of family and friends more
20 September 1987 Peter West Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Set of gardening tools more
27 September 1987 Jacques Loussier Beasts, Men and Gods by Ferdinand Ossendowski Piano more
4 October 1987 Lulu Where Are You Going? by Swami Muktananda Telephone more
11 October 1987 Lord Killanin A Vanished Arcadia by Robert Bontine Cunninghame Graham Olympic gold medal and award more
18 October 1987 Sir James Callaghan War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Telescope and star-gazing book more
25 October 1987 Bernard Levin The Michelin Guide to France Laptop computer more
1 November 1987 Bamber Gascoigne Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne Carpentry tools more
8 November 1987 Sue Lawley French Provincial Cooking by Elizabeth David Iron and ironing board more
15 November 1987 Robert Carrier The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell Tajine more
22 November 1987 Barry Cryer The Complete Works of J. B. Priestley Tape recorder with a cassette of recordings from home more
29 November 1987 Vernon Scannell Compiled anthology of English poetry Enormous amount of A4 paper more
6 December 1987 Antony Sher Blank book or journal Pens, charcoal and paints more
13 December 1987 Lew Grade The Antiquary by Walter Scott Crate of Montecristo cigars more

1988

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
10 January 1988 Adele Leigh Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Loofah more
17 January 1988 Rt. Hon. Michael Heseltine The Dictionary of Trees and Shrubs Mosquito net more
24 January 1988 Gemma Craven Floyd on Fish by Keith Floyd Manicure set more
31 January 1988 Lord Donoughue Unknown Unknown more
7 February 1988 Margaret Kelly – Miss Bluebell History of the English-Speaking Peoples by Winston Churchill Her first dress worn on stage more
14 February 1988 William Davis The Dictionary of Samuel Johnson Telescope more
21 February 1988 Dennis Potter Spycatcher by Peter Wright Train set more
28 February 1988 Stephanie Beacham The Ascent of Man by Dr Jacob Bronowski Photograph of her children more
6 March 1988 James Burke The works of Homer Guitar and strings more
13 March 1988 Brendan Foster The Lakeland Peaks (photographs) by W. A. Poucher Tea more
27 March 1988 Lord Hailsham The works of Homer Bathtub and some soap more
3 April 1988 Jane Asher Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy Hot bath with extra tap for cold champagne more
10 April 1988 Arthur Scargill Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain The Mona Lisa more
17 April 1988 Mary Archer Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust Needles, cotton and material more
24 April 1988 Michael Gambon Republican Party Reptile by P. J. O'Rourke Car (in which to listen to music) more
1 May 1988 Neil Kinnock Essays on Equality by R. H. Tawney Radio 4 more
8 May 1988 Peggy Makins The biggest atlas in the world Little rosebush more
15 May 1988 Rowan Atkinson Uncle Fred in Springtime by P. G. Wodehouse Car (to clean) more
22 May 1988 Anita Roddick Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy Comfortable bed with pillows and sheets more
29 May 1988 Rabbi Lionel Blue The biggest volume of pure maths Toilet bag more
5 June 1988 Anton Mosimann Opera di M. Bartolomeo Scappi (recipe book of the Pope's chef in 1525) Steamer for cooking more
12 June 1988 Rt. Hon. Douglas Hurd Oxford Book of 20th Century English Verse Champagne more
19 June 1988 Gwen Ffrangcon-Davies No other book requested Large bottle of toilet water more
26 June 1988 Jeremy Isaacs A compilation of Benny Green Frogman's outfit and snorkel more
3 July 1988 Dr David Owen His own anthology of poems Hot bath more
10 July 1988 David Essex The Guinness Book of Records Set of cricket equipment more
17 July 1988 Dame Edna Everage Filofax Madge Allsop more
24 July 1988 Lord Armstrong The collected works of Jane Austen Music manuscript paper, pencil and rubber more
31 July 1988 Joan Turner Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales Baked beans more
7 August 1988 Reverend Ian Paisley Foxe's Book of Martyrs High-powered radio more
14 August 1988 Patricia Neal A collection of short stories Toothbrush and toothpaste more
21 August 1988 Lord Dacre of Glanton The collected Works of Virgil Paper, pen and ink more
28 August 1988 Anita Dobson The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Bed more
4 September 1988 Alfred Wainwright Two photographs (one of his wife; one of 1928 Blackburn Rovers team) Mirror more
11 September 1988 Peter Donohoe The Complete Scripts of Billy Connolly Waterbed more
18 September 1988 Salman Rushdie Arabian Nights Unlisted radio telephone more
25 September 1988 Trevor Huddleston Oxford Book of English Verse Binoculars more
2 October 1988 Athene Seyler The Disinherited by Gareth Jones Case of champagne more
9 October 1988 Terry Wogan The collected works of P. G. Wodehouse Radio-cassette player and language tapes more
16 October 1988 Cilla Black Aesop's Fables Manicure set and nail varnish more
23 October 1988 Michael Foot Don Juan by Lord Byron Alarm clock encased in Welsh tinplate more
30 October 1988 Germaine Greer The Oxford English Dictionary Hot spices more
6 November 1988 Claus Moser Volume of James Thurber Concert grand Steinway piano more
13 November 1988 Bob Hoskins Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Telescope more
20 November 1988 Bob Champion Fraser's Horse Book A bronze statue of the racehorse Aldaniti more
27 November 1988 Stephen Fry Jeeves Omnibus by P. G. Wodehouse Suicide pill more
4 December 1988 Baroness Warnock The Last Chronicle of Barset by Anthony Trollope Pen and paper more
11 December 1988 Charles Dance A Dream in the Luxembourg by Richard Aldington Guitar more
18 December 1988 Edward Heath A volume of the works of Impressionist painters Suntan lotion more

1989

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
1 January 1989 Most Rev Robert Runcie The Odyssey by Homer Rocking chair more
8 January 1989 Twiggy Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy Cold cream more
15 January 1989 Tony Benn Das Kapital by Karl Marx Kettle and teabags more
22 January 1989 Boy George Photograph album Radio receiver more
29 January 1989 Joan Armatrading Why Didn't They Ask Evans? by Agatha Christie Guitar more
5 February 1989 Rocco Forte The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri Snooker table more
12 February 1989 Jeffrey Tate The collected works of Jane Austen Nativity [it] painting from the National Gallery more
19 February 1989 Enoch Powell Old Testament (in Hebrew and Greek) Smoking device to smoke fish more
26 February 1989 David Hare Larousse Gastronomique Cricket bat and bowling machine more
5 March 1989 Dame Josephine Barnes The scores of all music chosen in a bound volume Word processor more
12 March 1989 Gerald Scarfe Anything by Capability Brown River painting by Turner more
2 April 1989 Sir Stephen Spender Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust Painting or sculpture by son with photograph of daughter more
9 April 1989 Leslie Grantham Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe Metal detector more
16 April 1989 Lord Jenkins Who's Who Case of Bordeaux wine more
23 April 1989 Miriam Rothschild Encyclopædia Britannica Bag of wildflower seeds more
30 April 1989 Lady Redgrave Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Case of champagne more
7 May 1989 Lenny Henry Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Graphic novels (comics) more
14 May 1989 Thora Hird Scene and Hird by Thora Hird Cleansing milk more
21 May 1989 Katharine Hamnett I Ching Aircraft carrier more
28 May 1989 Sir Nicholas Henderson Guy de Maupassant's short stories Sculpture from the Louvre and box of different seeds more
4 June 1989 Richard Branson Teach yourself Japanese phrase book Notebooks and pens more
11 June 1989 Jonathon Porritt Bleak House by Charles Dickens Fountain pen more
18 June 1989 Maria Aitken Fun in a Chinese Laundry by Josef von Sternberg Amazonian rain-maker more
25 June 1989 Joan Collins The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde Large bottle of suntan oil and moisturiser more
2 July 1989 Mark McCormack Les Misérables by Victor Hugo Suntan lotion more
9 July 1989 Ned Sherrin No Bed for Bacon by Caryl Brahms Seed potatoes more
16 July 1989 Sir Thomas Armstrong No other book requested Clavichord more
3 September 1989 Dame Vera Lynn A book on edible fruits and vegetables Watercolour paints, brushes and paper more
10 September 1989 Eric Clapton Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens Guitar more
17 September 1989 Penelope Lively Moby-Dick by Herman Melville Binoculars more
24 September 1989 John Ogdon The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins Steinway piano more
1 October 1989 Lucinda Lambton Dictionary of National Biography Word processor more
8 October 1989 Jack Lemmon A Play in the Fields of Our Lord by Peter Matheson Piano more
15 October 1989 Alan Plater Smell of Sunday Dinner by Sid Chaplin Writing materials more
22 October 1989 Colin Thubron A Year of Grace by Victor Gollancz Scuba-diving equipment more
5 November 1989 Ian Botham Encyclopaedia of species of fish of the world Fishing rod more
12 November 1989 Michael Codron Caroline and Charlotte by Alison Plowman Jigsaw puzzles more
19 November 1989 Seamus Heaney Ulysses by James Joyce Doc Martens boots more
26 November 1989 Lady Mosley Remembrance of Things Past by Marcel Proust Soft pillow more
3 December 1989 Rt. Hon. Nigel Lawson The poetry of John Donne Radio receiver more
17 December 1989 Pauline Collins Teach yourself physics Paper, pencils and paints more
24 December 1989 The Duchess of Kent A do-it-yourself manual Lamp with solar batteries more
31 December 1989 Dirk Bogarde Akenfield by Ronald Blythe Distillery more

1990

Date Castaway Book Luxury More
info
7 January 1990 Dennis Skinner Let's Face the Music by Benny Green Bike more
14 January 1990 John Peel A Dance to the Music of Time by Anthony Powell Football more
21 January 1990 Sir Robin Day Oxford Book of English Verse Magnum of champagne more
28 January 1990 Lord Weidenfeld The Pickwick Papers by Charles Dickens Armchair with coffee machine and rescue signal more
4 February 1990 Sarah Miles I Ching Word processor more
11 February 1990 Michael Tilson Thomas Collected Poems of Rainer Maria Rilke Yahama computerised concert grand piano more
18 February 1990 John Pilger Catch-22 by Joseph Heller Typewriter more
25 February 1990 John Sessions David Copperfield by Charles Dickens A 78rpm record of The Laughing Policeman to smash on the rocks more
4 March 1990 Sir Ian Trethowan War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Champagne more
11 March 1990 Professor Sir George Porter Non-Equilibrium Thermo Dynamics by Prigogine Computer, pen and paper more
18 March 1990 Richard Rogers The Odyssey by Homer His wife Ruth, but if this is disallowed then a painting more
25 March 1990 Rt Hon John Biffen MP Wisden Cricketers' Almanack Rain gauge more
15 April 1990 Sir Crispin Tickell Guide to Science by Asimov Solar-powered telescope more
22 April 1990 Mary Wesley Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez Denis Healey or large double bed with pillows more
29 April 1990 June Whitfield A do-it-yourself manual Supply of cocoa butter and hat more
6 May 1990 Prue Leith The Barchester novels by Anthony Trollope Jeroboam of champagne more
13 May 1990 Molly Keane A bound copy of the Spectator magazines A bed, netted from snakes and flies more
20 May 1990 Jonathan Pryce Short stories of Bernard MacLaverty Endless supply of rum punch more
27 May 1990 David Blunkett Anthology of verse by Robert Graves Radio/cassette machine more
3 June 1990 Ken Dodd The Times atlas of the world A box of scented soap more
10 June 1990 Maeve Binchy Teach yourself bridge Photograph album more
17 June 1990 Harold Fielding Great Murder Trials of the 20th Century by David Napley Large bag of sugar more
24 June 1990 George Carman The Golden Treasury by Francis Palgrave Painting of the Grand Canal in Venice more
1 July 1990 Kaffe Fassett Reflections by Hermann Hesse Diary and pen more
8 July 1990 Peter Jonas The City of God by Saint Augustine Cyanide, in a joint, in champagne truffle in a fridge more
15 July 1990 Jean Rook The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy Computer more
2 September 1990 Robin Knox-Johnston Books identifying birds and fish Video recorder and tapes of the Queen Mother's parade more
9 September 1990 Lord Charteris War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Set of wood-carving tools more
16 September 1990 Ruth Westheimer Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell Large box of marrons glaces more
23 September 1990 Barbara Windsor A book about Hollywood Writing materials and Union flag more
30 September 1990 Gary Lineker Wisden Cricketers' Almanack Bowling machine more
7 October 1990 John Thaw The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Large comfortable armchair more
14 October 1990 Clive Jenkins Look Homeward, Angel by Thomas Wolfe Video player and tape of Citizen Kane more
21 October 1990 Ernie Wise The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens Yellow Rolls-Royce more
28 October 1990 Nicholas Snowman Smiley's People by John le Carré Coffee machine more
4 November 1990 Lord Annan The Iliad in Greek and English by Homer Bath essence more
11 November 1990 Baroness Castle of Blackburn The collected works of William Morris Typewriter more
18 November 1990 Elizabeth Welch Who's Who in the Theatre Photo of her mother more
25 November 1990 Baroness Trumpington George V by Kenneth Rose The crown jewels (so someone will look for her) more
2 December 1990 Sir Eduardo Paolozzi A tropical plant book in Italian with English gloss Hurdy gurdy more
23 December 1990 Brian Keenan The Life, Times and Music of an Irish Harper by Donal O'Sullivan Pencil more
30 December 1990 Keith Floyd Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake Pair of handmade blue suede shoes more

References