EPISODE · Apr 25, 2026 · 34 MIN

William Davis

from Desert Island Discs · host BBC Radio 4

This week’s castaway is the author, columnist and broadcaster William Davis. The former editor of Punch started his career as a financial journalist and his many roles have included working for Lord Beaverbrook, presenting the World at One and founding a successful publishing company. In conversation with Michael Parkinson he looks back over his childhood in wartime Germany and life in post-war Britain, and chooses eight records to take to the mythical island.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]Favourite track: The Ode To Joy (Symphony No 9) by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: The Dictionary by Dr Samuel Johnson Luxury: Telescope

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Apr 25, 2026

Embed this episode

Attribution link and audio player

NOW PLAYING

William Davis

0:00 34:32

1×

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Share this episode

Similar Episodes

No similar episodes found.

Similar Podcasts

Epic: Silver Wing Realm EPIC is your new HQ for Realm’s exhilarating action and adventure stories, with new episodes dropping every Monday introduced by host Faith McQuinn.Embark on your greatest adventures yet, whether it’s crash landing on a desolate planet with only a cerebrally-embedded AI to guide you, or realizing that your latest game design is the only thing staving off total global annihilation. So unsheath those earbuds, clench that steering wheel, and buckle up because EPIC is about to take off.This month, we are featuring Silver Wing: On a desert planet in the far future, an old dragon hunter embarks on a desperate journey to save her estranged son. For centuries, the dragons have been sleeping. But in their rest, they provide a crucial energy source necessary to keep the planet Toon Flats habitable. Amphet Dahl is a diviner, gifted with the ability to sense the dragons’ dreams and memories and to the disappointment of her son, Afton, she uses this ability to

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Desert Island Discs?

This episode is 34 minutes long.

When was this Desert Island Discs episode published?

This episode was published on April 25, 2026.

Can I download this Desert Island Discs episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.

URL copied to clipboard!