My new book - Save Me from the Waves - is an adventure story with a difference. It’s about my journey from rock bottom to the top of the world (literally) fuelled by my favourite radio programme – Desert Island Discs.
Earlier this week I went to Cambridge for an interview with the award-winning journalist Donna Ferguson for an Observer magazine feature which will be published during publication week in March. Donna is a big fan of the show herself – she wrote the Guardian’s 80th anniversary article for it last year. She’s asked me to propose a list of eight shows that I would recommend to help prepare someone mentally for an adventure or endurance feat - to sit alongside the article she’s writing.
Oh my, you know how I love a list. And I love the number eight. It’s the number of tracks that castaway guests get to take to their desert island. It’s the number of sections in my book. And it’s the number of chapters in each section. I immediately downed tools (when I should have been doing my tax return!) and started composing my list.
And, sorry, obviously I can’t share my list of adventure and endurance inspiration with you now. That wouldn’t be fair on Donna. You’ll have to wait for the article. But I thought today I would give you a list of eight episodes which I’d love you to listen to – especially if you’re planning on reading my book. Or even if you aren’t – because it’s a list of listening loveliness. And the great thing about the BBC Desert Island Discs archive is that it’s freely available wherever you are in the world.
For the record, these are not my top eight DIDs of all time. That’s another list and maybe I’ll write it for you one day. For this list, I’ve chosen one episode from each section of my book. And, how’s this for serendipity: today it’s exactly eight weeks until Donna’s article will be published so perhaps you can listen to one a week until then? Go on – become a Desert island Disc devotee like me - you don’t need to climb to the top of the world as well.
This is the episode l listen to in the opening chapter of the book – it changed the trajectory of my life.
2. The walker Alfred Wainwright
In the second section of the book, my late grandfather leads me to the Lake District - where he died on Christmas Day in 1929. It was there I listened to the legendary walker Alfred Wainwright who mapped the fells for us all. If you like the Lakes this is a must listen episode – it’s walking-wonderful.
3. The actress Marlene Dietrich
A fabulous episode with the show’s creator Roy Plomley in which Marlene wraps him round her little finger. It’s a masterclass in star power. Unmissable radio history.
4. Another actress – Patricia Neal (wife of the writer Roald Dahl)
An episode that speaks to the sadness of my soul. When Sue Lawley (the presenter) opens the show saying Patricia’s life has been a mixture of professional success and private tragedy, Patricia laughs and shoots back ‘I’ve got to laugh about it because if I didn’t, I’d have killed myself some years ago.’ l worship her for these words alone.
5. The mountaineer Edmund Hillary
The first man (along with Tenzing Norgay) to summit Mount Everest (although I call her Chomolungma – her original Tibetan Sherpa name which means Mother Goddess of the World). Edmund - unlike me - is a ‘real mountaineer’ but we share a love of adventure. Many of his song choices are about leaving home and going somewhere new and unknown - one of the things I love most in the world.
6. The musician Louis Armstrong
Another Desert Island Discs classic. Louis chose five of his own songs; his autobiography as his book and his horn as his luxury item. But who cares? I adore him - especially at the end when he asks for a spin of ‘What a Wonderful World’ (and if you listen to my book on audio then you’ll actually here him say these words – it’s possibly my favourite moment in the whole book!)
7. The feminist activist Gloria Steinem
If you’re reading this and you’re a woman (and I think most of my readers are), then you simply have to go and meet Gloria. Full stop. And if you’re reading this and you’re a man - welcome - you should go and meet her too.
Hands down the most important episode of my whole book – and definitely in my top eight episodes of all time. So there you go I’ve given you (at least) one.
PS. That pic is me on my own desert island!
PPS. ‘Lists of Love’ is a new reader-supported publication by me. Up until March all my subscribers (paid and free) will receive weekly posts to celebrate its launch. For ongoing subscription details and to subscribe see here: