Desert Island Discs
Desert Island Discs has completely lost the plot
There’s a cultural problem at the BBC, isn’t there? The Corporation is trying to attract under-35s — the sort who…
There’s no programme in the world like Desert Island Discs
At the end of January, I had the honour and pleasure of being on Desert Island Discs. I liked Lauren…
Letters: The Irish problem (again), Desert Island narcissists, and the smoking French
Irish problem Sir: What James Forsyth calls ‘the EU plan’ to keep Northern Ireland in the customs union after Brexit…
Why women are still fuming over my Desert Island slips
It never occurred to me, when I was interviewed for Desert Island Discs back in November, that I’d actually be…
Chance encounters
Some might say that Jeremy Corbyn is cloth-eared, tone-deaf, socially inept but on Monday morning, as the death of the…
Good cop, bad cop
One of the most shocking items of recent news has been the bald statistic that the number of people shot…
Talking books
If ever I found myself at a pretentious literary party obliged to play David Lodge’s ‘Humiliation’ game and to confess…
Ebola shakes
By some quirk of fate, just as news reached the papers that the Scottish nurse who had contracted Ebola while…
Comforting sounds to cook to
When you think about it, Radio 4 is mostly a pile of old toss. Money Box qualifies as an anaesthetic,…
Diary
I had a slight shock last week, while listening to Desert Island Discs. The admirable nurse Dame Claire Bertschinger had…
Strong-minded women
You might think the main storyline in The Archers is all about Helen’s affair with dastardly Rob. (What does she…
Celebrity triumphs
The licence fee is both a blessing and a curse for the BBC. The clue is in that nickname —…
