Sean Magee

A competently put together book reviewing the highlights of 70 years of the BBC radio programme Desert Island Discs. Intended neither to be critical nor comprehensive it is an affectionate and at times, like the programme itself, gently revealing. My only quibble is a disagreement with the author on the quality of the long term presenter Sue Lawley. An ex-lightweight journalist on BBC news programmes she seemed to me to have a high opinion of herself as a grand inquisitor. But as both Roy Plomley the originator and original presenter and Kirsty Young the present occupant of the chair realise the genius of the format is to make friends with the guests, enjoy their music and ask them to explain their choices. It inevitably reveals something about the person.… (mehr)