Delia Smith on her catchphrase - "Let's be havin' you!"

More from Desert Island Discs

1. 

   28 Sep 2026 · 4 min

   How hiding in a toilet helped Steven Spielberg get into the movie business

   The film director Steven Spielberg was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022. He gave the world Jaws, ET and Jurassic Park, but Steven Spielberg got his start in the film business when he went on a bus tour of Universal Studios. He also explains why the frequently malfunctioning mechanical shark in Jaws was really a blessing in disguise. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

2. 

   25 Sep 2026 · 3 min

   Malorie Blackman on receiving 82 rejection letters from publishers

   The writer Malorie Blackman was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2013. Although she has published more than 70 books for children and young adults - among them her hugely popular Noughts and Crosses series - getting her start as a published author was hard - 82 rejection letters had thudded onto her door mat before she had her first manuscript accepted for publication. She still remembers the day that 83rd letter arrived. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

3. 

   24 Sep 2026 · 3 min

   How snooker halls became Ronnie O'Sullivan's "creche" from a young age

   The World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023. He remembers being dropped off unaccompanied at snooker halls across East London by his father as a young boy and learning to play grown men at adult tables - and beating them. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

4. 

   22 Sep 2026 · 3 min

   How Kate Moss's modelling break came at an unexpected moment

   The model Kate Moss was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022. Her career began after a chance encounter with a model agent on a flight. She describes attending castings on her own as a teenager, which led to some inappropriate requests. Although unpleasant at the time, she says that they have sharpened her instincts, enabling her to "tell a wrong 'un a mile away". You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

5. 

   21 Sep 2026 · 4 min

   Keith Richards on writing "Satisfaction" in his sleep

   The Rolling Stones' guitarist Keith Richards was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2015. He recalls the moment he bumped into his primary school friend Mick Jagger at Dartford train station in 1961, years after losing touch with him. They bonded over a shared love of American blues, which came to define their own sound. Keith Richards laid down the guitar riff for one of the biggest hits, "Satisfaction", on a tape machine in his sleep. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

6. 

   13 Sep 2026 · 51 min

   Chaka Khan, singer and songwriter

   Chaka Khan’s unmistakeable voice and musical versatility have made her one of the most influential musicians of the past six decades, with an estimated 70 million records sold. Whether fronting the band Rufus or performing as a solo artist, she's moved effortlessly between funk, soul, jazz, and pop, creating era-defining hits including I'm Every Woman, Ain't Nobody and I Feel For You. She grew up in Chicago, in an artistic family where she was surrounded by music. As a teenager, she became involved with the Affro-Arts Theater, where she was given the Yoruba name Chaka, and a political…

7. 

   9 Oct 2026 · 3 minNew

   Rick Rubin on finding the magic in music

   Record producer Rick Rubin was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022. He is responsible for shaping the sound of artists such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Beastie Boys and is credited with reinvigorating the career of Johnny Cash in the 1990s, but you're more likely to see him reclining on a sofa than hunched over a mixing desk when he's hard at work. He explains what he listens for in a piece of music. You can hear the full episode on BBC Sounds.

8. 

   8 Oct 2026 · 2 min

   Caitlin Moran on the smells that defined her childhood

   The writer and journalist Caitlin Moran was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2017. Her journey took her from a three-bedroom council house in Wolverhampton, where she lived with her parents and seven siblings, to becoming a columnist for The Times newspaper and writing her own sitcom. She explains why she feels it's important to highlight the experience of those raised on benefits like herself. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

9. 

   7 Oct 2026 · 3 min

   Romesh Ranganathan on finding his comedy sweet spot

   The comedian Romesh Ranganathan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2025. He’s a BAFTA-winning broadcaster, standup, actor and writer who has been a fixture on British TV screens for the past decade. He talks about finding the sweet spot in his comedy and how discussing the perils of parenting on stage has resulted in cult hero status for his middle son. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

10. 

    6 Oct 2026 · 3 min

    Tanni Grey-Thompson on winning four Olympic golds in Sydney

    The wheelchair athlete Tanni Grey-Thompson was cast away by Sue Lawley in 2001. She recalls the pressure to do well at the Sydney Olympics and the relief when she managed to clinch four gold medals, but the long-distance phone call home to live-stream the medal ceremony nearly broke the bank. You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

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