Desert Island Discs

I heard about this brilliant Radio 4 programme late on in life...just 10 months ago. How did I miss it, given the fact that it's been around since before I was born? Anyway, my sisters Anne and Eileen discovered the delights of the channel and told me to tune in...

I love it. If you've never listened, I will briefly explain.

Individuals who have made a contribution to UK society, or who are famous, are chosen to be a guest on the programme, and they are asked to choose eight music tracks or 'records' (originally gramophone records) that they would like to take with them to a desert island. Each piece of music or song has to be relevant to a part of their life, so listeners get to know a little bit about the person. The presenters ask quite searching questions at times, and the 'interviews' are frequently revealing. Now I think choosing eight music tracks would be so hard. This year I was invited to be a guest on Radio Lancashire's very own take of DID... Lunchtime Favourites and I had to choose 12 of my favourite songs. I found it extremely difficult to narrow it down to so few!

Here are the chosen ones:

1 We are family: Sisters Sledge (I am youngest of five girls and this is 'our' tune!)

2 I'll take you home again Kathleen: The Fureys

3 Long and winding road: Beatles

4 Sweet Baby James: James Taylor

5 It's getting better: Mama Cass

6 If we try: Don McLean

7 As: Stevie Wonder

8 Rock with you Michael Jackson

9 The Moon and St Christopher: Mary Black

10 Italia: Chris Botti

11 Why worry: Dire Straits

12 Back to black: Amy Whinehouse

So, I download the episodes of Desert Island Discs to my iPod, and at night I often plug in and enjoy the music and the stories of the lives of so many interesting individuals. Here are a few of my favourites: