Main content

Andy McNab

Sue Lawley's castaway is writer Andy McNab.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the former SAS soldier turned author Andy McNab.

After being abandoned as a baby, he was adopted and was brought up in the Peckham area of South London. A life of minor crime followed until he joined the infantry with the Royal Green Jackets in 1976 progressing to the SAS. In the Gulf War, McNab commanded the Bravo Two Zero patrol, given the task of destroying underground communication links in Iraq and mobile Scud launchers. Three of the eight-man patrol were killed, one escaped and four were taken prisoner by the Iraqis and tortured over a six-week period. He's been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal and was the British Army's most highly decorated serving soldier when he left the SAS in 1993. His book Bravo Two Zero became a bestseller and this was followed by his autobiography Immediate Action. Since then, he's published seven novels about a former soldier who then works for British Intelligence.

Elements of this programme may offend or upset some listeners.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Sweet Thing
by David Bowie
Book: Any book by Charles Dickens
Luxury: A gollock

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 14 Jan 2005 09:00
91热爆 Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Carlos Acosta

Next

Sam Taylor-Wood

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • The Clash

    Should I Stay or Should I Go?

    • Essential Clash.
    • Columbia.

  • Phil Collins

    In the Air Tonight

    • Hits.
    • Virgin.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • David Bowie

      Sweet Thing

      • Diamond Dogs.
      • EMI.

  • Madness

    Baggy Trousers

    • The Heavy Heavy Hits.
    • Virgin.

  • The Pogues

    Battle March Medley

    • If I Should Fall from Grace with God.
    • WEA.

  • Panjabi MC

    Mirza Part 2

    • Panjabi MC - The Album.
    • Dharma Records.

  • Red Hot Chili Peppers

    Californication

    • Californication.
    • Warner.

  • Camille Saint鈥怱a毛ns

    The Swan (from Carnival of the Animals)

    Orchestra: Ensemble Musique Oblique

    • Le Carnaval des Animaux.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Book Choice

    • Any book - Charles Dickens

  • Luxury Choice

    • A gollock

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Andy McNab

Broadcasts

  • Sun 9 Jan 2005 11:15
    91热爆 Radio 4
  • Fri 14 Jan 2005 09:00
    91热爆 Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

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.

Podcast