Main content

Redmond O'Hanlon

Sue Lawley's castaway is explorer Redmond O'Hanlon.

This week's castaway is an adventurer - the travel writer Redmond O'Hanlon. He's trekked to deserted mountain tops for a glimpse of the rare Borneo rhinoceros, paddled through river swamps to find the Congo's mythical monster, and, deep in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, he stayed with the most violent people on Earth, the Yanomari Indians.

Along the way, he's encountered scorpions, vipers and a giant catfish "which can take your foot off at the ankle", all in search of a story. As he tells Sue Lawley, although his long-suffering companions survive the journey, they vow never to travel with him again - not even to High Wycombe. He's planning a trip to New Guinea - so will Sue agree to accompany him?

Some aspects of this programme may upset some listeners.

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

Favourite track: Clarinet Quintet in A: 2nd Movement by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Luxury: A pair of green, insulated Leica binoculars 8 X 20

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 18 Jul 1997 09:05

Music Played

  • Richard Wagner

    Ride of the Valkyries (Die Walk眉re)

    Conductor: Bruno Walter Soloist: Berit Linholm, Brigitte Fassbaende, Vera Schlosser

  • Ludwig Koch

    Mistlethrush

    Artist: E.M. Nicholson

    • Birdsongs By Ludwig Koch.
    • Witherby.
  • Winston Churchill

    This was their Finest Hour (speech, 18 June 1940)

    • None - 91热爆 Archives.
  • The Baka Forest People Of Southeast Cameroon

    Yelli 3

    • Heart Of The Forest.
    • Hannibal Records.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    La donna 猫 mobile (from Rigoletto)

    Soloist: Aurthur Davis Ensemble: The English National Opera

    • Verdi - Rigoletto.
    • EMI.
  • The Tribe Of The Andes

    Tawantinsuyo - Virgenes Del Sol

    • Flutes Of The Andes.
    • Philips.
  • Little Red Rooster

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

      Clarinet Quintet in A major - 2nd movement

      Soloist: Puffin O'Hanlon Soloist: John Melvin

  • Book Choice

    • War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

  • Luxury Choice

    • A pair of green, insulated Leica binoculars 8 X 20

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Redmond O'Hanlon

Broadcasts

  • Sun 9 Mar 1997 12:15
  • Fri 14 Mar 1997 09:05
  • Fri 18 Jul 1997 09:05

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