EPISODE · Jan 16, 2011 · 35 MIN
Rt Hon Alex Salmond
from Desert Island Discs · host BBC Radio 4
Kirsty Young's castaway is the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond.He has spent his political life campaigning for Scottish independence. As a schoolboy he stood in classroom elections - back then, he won on the canny ticket of half-days for all and replacing the school milk with ice-cream. He was a child when he realised he had a knack for public performance - he was a boy soprano who seemed to have a promising career ahead of him. He says: "If you can sing in front of thousands of people when you're ten or eleven then being Scottish First Minister is nothing in comparison."Record: Joe Hill sung by Paul Robeson Book: The complete works of Robert Burns Luxury: A Sand Wedge & endless golf balls for playing golf. Producer: Leanne Buckle.
What this episode covers
Kirsty Young's castaway is the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond.He has spent his political life campaigning for Scottish independence. As a schoolboy he stood in classroom elections - back then, he won on the canny ticket of half-days for all and replacing the school milk with ice-cream. He was a child when he realised he had a knack for public performance - he was a boy soprano who seemed to have a promising career ahead of him. He says: "If you can sing in front of thousands of people when you're ten or eleven then being Scottish First Minister is nothing in comparison."Record: Joe Hill sung by Paul Robeson Book: The complete works of Robert Burns Luxury: A Sand Wedge & endless golf balls for playing golf. Producer: Leanne Buckle.
NOW PLAYING
Rt Hon Alex Salmond
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
May 10, 2026 ·62m
May 4, 2026 ·43m
May 3, 2026 ·67m
Apr 27, 2026 ·63m
Apr 26, 2026 ·46m
Apr 21, 2026 ·26m