Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

4 Extra's extended edition with writer and bohemian, Molly Parkin in conversation with Kirsty Young. From May 2011.

The Grand Dame of bohemian living, Molly Parkin reveals her castaway choices.

In a specially extended edition for 91热爆 Radio 4 Extra, Molly shares her life story with Kirsty Young and explains her musical, book and luxury choices.

Molly Parkin left the Welsh valleys to train as a fine artist in London and was a successful painter then teacher before becoming a fashion writer and novelist. She is as well known, though, for her lifestyle as her work. She adopted a hedonistic approach to life - smoking and drinking through the night and picking up numerous lovers along the way.

Now aged 79, Molly prefers to live alone and says she has found a calmer way of living:

"I have been blessed, and made it my business, to surround myself with larger than life characters," she says, "love, on a very profound level comes unexpectedly and brilliantly."

DISC ONE: Accentuate the Positive - Bette Midler
DISC TWO: Three Sheets to the Wind - Liane Carroll
DISC THREE: A Kiss to Build a Dream On - Louis Armstrong
DISC FOUR: Somewhere towards love - Ian Shaw
DISC FIVE: Rockin' Chair - George Melly
DISC SIX: Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
DISC SEVEN: Never Forget How to Dance - Sarah Jane Morris
DISC EIGHT: Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard

BOOK CHOICE: The History of the Colony - Sophie Parkin
LUXURY CHOICE: Her entire outfit including her Andrew Logan Brooch
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard

Producer: Leanne Buckle

First broadcast on 91热爆 Radio 4 in May 2011.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 27 Feb 2023 04:00

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Aug 2011 10:00
  • Sun 21 Aug 2011 21:00
  • Mon 22 Aug 2011 01:00
  • Sun 22 Apr 2012 10:00
  • Sun 22 Apr 2012 21:00
  • Mon 23 Apr 2012 01:00
  • Sun 26 Feb 2023 10:00
  • Sun 26 Feb 2023 15:00
  • Sun 26 Feb 2023 21:00
  • Mon 27 Feb 2023 04:00

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.