The first episode of Desert Island Discs was recorded at the bomb-damaged Maida Vale Studios, in West London, on 27 January 1942. Since then, more than 3,000 episodes have aired with guests sharing the eight tracks, a book and luxury item that they would take to a desert island. A number of notable illustrators, cartoonists and artists have been amongst these guests.

Below you'll find links to these archived episodes and, at the bottom of this page, you'll find a Spotify Playlist featuring all these episodes.

1960–1969

Leslie Gilbert Illingworth

1963 — Political cartoonist Leslie Gilbert Illingworth (1902–1979)

Rowland Emett

1963 — Roy Plomley's castaway is comedy cartoonist Rowland Emett (1906–1990)

1970–1979

David Shepherd

1971 — Roy Plomley's castaway is painter David Shepherd (1931–2017)

David Hockney

1972 — Roy Plomley's castaway is artist David Hockney (b. 1937)

Edward Ardizzone

1972 — Roy Plomley's castaway is illustrator and watercolourist Edward Ardizzone (1900–1972)

Norman Thelwell

1973 — Roy Plomley's castaway is cartoonist Norman Thelwell (1923–2004)

Peter Blake

1979 — Roy Plomley's castaway is artist Peter Blake (1932)

Osbert Lancaster

1979 — Roy Plomley's castaway is cartoonist Sir Osbert Lancaster (1906–1986)

1980–1989

Raymond Briggs

1983 — Roy Plomley's castaway is illustrator Raymond Briggs (1934)

John Piper

1983 — Roy Plomley's castaway is artist John Piper (1903–1992)

Willie Rushton

1984 — Roy Plomley's castaway is cartoonist Willie Rushton (1937–1996)

Michael ffolkes

1984 — Roy Plomley's castaway is cartoonist Michael ffolkes (1925–1988)

Gordon Beningfield

1985 — Roy Plomley's castaway is wildlife artist Gordon Beningfield (1936–1998)

Alfred Wainwright

1989 — Sue Lawley's castaway is writer Alfred Wainwright (1907–1991)

Gerald Scarfe

1989 — Sue Lawley's castaway is satirical cartoonist Gerald Scarfe (b. 1936)

1990–1999

Kathleen Hale

1994 — Sue Lawley's castaway is children's illustrator Kathleen Hale (1898–2000)

Paula Rego

1997 — Sue Lawley's castaway is artist Paula Rego (b. 1935)

Peter Blake

1997 — Sue Lawley's castaway is pop artist Peter Blake (b. 1932)

Paul Hogarth

1998 — Sue Lawley's castaway is artist and illustrator Paul Hogarth (1917–2001)

Ralph Steadman

1998 — Sue Lawley's castaway is cartoonist Ralph Steadman (b. 1936)

David Shepherd

1999 — Sue Lawley's castaway is wildlife artist David Shepherd (1931–2017)

2000–2009

Judith Kerr

2004 — Sue Lawley's castaway is writer and illustrator Judith Kerr (1923–2019)

Raymond Briggs

2005 — Sue Lawley's castaway is writer and illustrator Raymond Briggs (b.1934)

Ronald Searle

2005 — Sue Lawley's castaway is satirist Ronald Searle (1920–2011)

Quentin Blake

2006 — Kirsty Young's castaway is illustrator Quentin Blake (b. 1932)

Stanley McMurtry

2008 — Kirsty Young's castaway is cartoonist Stanley McMurtry (b. 1936)

Posy Simmonds

2008 — Kirsty Young's castaway is cartoonist Posy Simmonds (b. 1945)

Allan Ahlberg

2008 — Kirsty Young's castaway is children's authors Allan Ahlberg (b. 1938)

Jan Pieńkowski

2009 — Kirsty Young's castaway is illustrator Jan Pieńkowski (b. 1936)

2010–2019

Mairi Hedderwick

wp-image-2321
2014 — Kirsty Young talks to author and illustrator Mairi Hedderwick (b.1939)

Michael Heath

2016 — Kirsty Young interviews cartoonist Michael Heath (b.1935)

2020–ongoing

Chris Riddell

2020 — Lauren Laverne's guest is illustrator, author and political cartoonist Chris Riddell (b.1962)

Helen Oxenbury

2020 — Lauren Laverne's guest is illustrator and author Helen Oxenbury (b.1938)

Spotify Playlist

Not Available

Tom Webster

1942 — Roy Plomley's castaway is sports cartoonist Tom Webster (1886–1962)

Osbert Lancaster

1955 — Roy Plomley's castaway is cartoonist Sir Osbert Lancaster (1906–1986)

Ronald Searle

1959 — Roy Plomley's castaway is illustrator Ronald Searle (1920–2011)

David Langdon

1960 — Roy Plomley's castaway is cartoonist David Langdon (1914–2011)

Russell Brockbank

1964 — Roy Plomley's castaway is cartoonist and illustrator Russell Brockbank (1913–1979)

John Piper

1970 — Roy Plomley's castaway is artist John Piper (1903–1992)