Barbara Mills QC

Sue Lawley's guest on Desert Island Discs today is the writer Martin Amis. He describes his books as comedies, but, like London Fields and Other People, they are frequently dark and disturbing.He says that he has no choice as to the subjects of his books. "They come from nowhere ... Show More

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is Absolutely Fabulous! Jennifer Saunders began "doing funny things with props" in the early 1980s. With her stage partner Dawn French, she toured the clubs and comedy venues making people laugh with acts like The Menopause Sisters. A ... Show More

Today's castaway on Desert Island Discs confused the rock critics in the late 1970s with songs like Sweet Gene Vincent, Reasons to be Cheerful and outraged the BBC with Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll. Ian Dury and the Blockheads were part vaudeville act and part punk rock band. ... Show More

Roy Plomley's castaway is weather forecaster Rosea Kemp.Favourite track: Hallelujah Chorus (from Messiah) by George Frideric Handel Book: Enquire Within Upon Everything Luxury: Four poster bed 

Roy Plomley's castaway is broadcaster and writer Clive James.Favourite track: Baby Love by Diana Ross and The Supremes Book: Book about how to build a plane out of palm fronds and coconut fibre by Willy Messerschmitt Luxury: Space invaders 

Sheila Steafel, the actress who was born in South Africa, went to drama school in London and had her first big break in the television series The Frost Report. Since then, as she tells Roy Plomley, her career has been extremely varied, including music hall, opera, theatre, a one- ... Show More

Roy Plomley's castaway is baritone George Baker.Favourite track: Praise to the Holiest in the Height (from The Dream of Gerontius) by Edward Elgar Book: His favourite works by Charles Dickens Luxury: Writing materials 

Lesley Manville made her debut on the West End stage as a teenager in 1972, and since then has taken on a wide range of roles on stage and screen, including an Oscar-nominated performance in the film Phantom Thread. She was born in Brighton and first enjoyed performing as a singe ... Show More

Roy Plomley's castaway is actor Joseph Cotten.Favourite track: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor by Johannes Brahms Book: Gardening manual Luxury: Boat building book 

Roy Plomley's castaway is comedian Benny Hill.Favourite track: Le Gamin de Paris by Yves Montand Book: Collection of language courses Luxury: Film camera 

Brenda Hale, Baroness Hale of Richmond, is a former judge who served as the first female president of the Supreme Court. In 2019 she announced the court’s judgement that the prorogation of Parliament was ‘unlawful, void and of no effect’. The twinkling spider brooch she wore that ... Show More

Roy Plomley's castaway is singer Val Doonican.Favourite track: Scarborough Fair by Simon & Garfunkel Book: A Big Anthology Luxury: Guitar