Category: Radio
4
Date: 12.04.2006
Printable version
Sue Lawley, broadcaster and journalist, is to give up presenting 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. Sue has been with the programme since 1987 and is only the third person to occupy the presenter's chair in its 64-year history.
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Sue said: "I told Mark Damazer [Radio 4 Controller] a couple of weeks ago that I would like to give up the programme.
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"I've had more than 18
very happy years and have talked to some extraordinary people
as they revealed themselves through their choice of music.
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"It is
one of the best jobs in broadcasting. But it has dominated
my professional life and I feel the time has come to concentrate
on other aspects of broadcasting and maybe a bit of business too."
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Desert Island Discs is one of Radio 4's great programmes. It was devised in 1942 by Roy
Plomley, who presented the programme until his death in 1985. Michael
Parkinson succeeded him and Sue Lawley took over in 1987.
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With Sue in the chair, the deceptively simple format where castaways choose
the eight records they would take to a desert island has led to many unexpected
insights into people's lives.
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Sue has attracted some of the biggest names in politics,
the arts, literature, science and sport.
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The most recent audience research
(RAJAR Quarter 4 2005) shows the highest audience figures since 1999.
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Mark Damazer said: "I tried hard to persuade Sue to change
her mind but to no avail. She started her career as a journalist and is still
a journalist at heart.
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"She also has an enormous interest in people.
Put these two attributes together and you end up with fascinating
and entertaining interviews that are now the hallmark of Desert Island
Discs. She will be a tough act to follow."
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Sue Lawley's last programme will be Sunday 20 August 2006, with a repeat on Fridy 25 August.
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Notes to Editors
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Sue Lawley is currently chairing the 91Èȱ¬ Reith
Lectures 2006 given by conductor Daniel
Barenboim, which are
being transmitted at 9.00am on Fridays - the regular Desert Island Discs repeat
slot.
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There have been more than 2,600 castaways since the programme
began. Sue has interviewed some 750 of them.
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