Explore every episode of the podcast Desert Island Discs: Archive 1981-1985

Sheila Steafel, the actress who was born in South Africa, went to drama school in London and had her first big break in the television series The Frost Report. Since then, as she tells Roy Plomley, her career has been extremely varied, including music hall, opera, theatre, a one-woman show and a long spell on Radio 4's Week Ending programme.

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

Favourite track: Concerto in D Minor For Violin, Oboe & Strings by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Dictionary Luxury: Artist's equipment

The Rt Hon David Steel MP has been leader of the Liberal Party since 1976. After leaving university, his first job was with the Scottish Liberal Party as Assistant Secretary. In 1965, he won a seat in the Borders and became the youngest member of that parliament. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his career and chooses the eight records he would take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Symphony No 9 by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Do-it-yourself manual Luxury: Cathedral organ

The actor Anthony Hopkins has recently returned to this country after 10 years in California.

In conversation with Roy Plomley, he talks about his upbringing in South Wales, his rapid rise to fame, the unhappiness that caused him to go to America, and his success in the films The Elephant Man and Mutiny on the Bounty.

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

Favourite track: Myfanwy by Treorchy Male Choir Book: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Luxury: Piano

Roy Plomley's castaway is writer and journalist Jan Morris.

Favourite track: Badinrie by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Her own book on Venice Luxury: Astronimical telescope with Catalogue Of Nebulae

Roy Plomley's castaway is flying surgeon of East Africa Michael Wood.

Favourite track: Toccata and Fugue In D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Other Men's Flowers by Lord A P Wavell Luxury: Pair of field glasses

Roy Plomley's castaway is writer Douglas Reeman.

Favourite track: The Song Of The Jellicles by T S Eliot Book: The Admiralty Seamanship Manual Luxury: Orchid-growing kit

Roy Plomley's castaway is choreographer Kenneth Macmillan.

Favourite track: Students' Chorus by Romberg Book: The Rack by A E Ellis Luxury: Godiva chocolates from Belgium

Roy Plomley's castaway is painter and restorer Tom Keating.

Favourite track: Symphony No. 2 in D by Jean Sibelius Book: Lives of the Artists by Giorgio Vasari Luxury: Mattock

Roy Plomley's castaway is director James Ivory.

Favourite track: The Three Ladies Find Tamino by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust Luxury: Shower with hot water

Roy Plomley's castaway is designer Zandra Rhodes.

Favourite track: Bolero by Maurice Ravel Book: Household Management by Mrs Beeton Luxury: Sketchbook, pens and pencils

Roy Plomley's castaway is actress Beryl Reid.

Favourite track: Let The Bright Seraphim by George Frideric Handel Book: Forever Amber by Kathleen Winsor Luxury: Silk garment

Roy Plomley's castaway is explorer Tim Severin.

Favourite track: Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien by Edith Piaf Book: Pax Britannica by Jan Morris Luxury: Herb garden

Roy Plomley's castaway is soprano Gwyneth Jones.

Favourite track: L'Incoronazione Di Poppea by Claudio Monteverdi Book: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran Luxury: Piano with bath salts

Michael Elkins was, for many years, the BBC correspondent in Jerusalem. In conversation with Roy Plomley, he recalls his childhood in New York, where he became a pool-room hustler, his screen-writing career in Hollywood, and he talks about his active role in helping to set up a Jewish state in Palestine.

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

Favourite track: Spring by Antonio Vivaldi Book: The Hero With the Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell Luxury: Electric typewriter

Roy Plomley's castaway is the inspiration behind The Sound Of Music, Maria Von Trapp.

Favourite track: Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: True funny stories in German Luxury: Statue of Madonna and child, 17th century

Roy Plomley's castaway is snooker player Steve Davis.

Favourite track: I Need You Now by George Duke Book: The Throwback and Wilt by Tom Sharpe Luxury: Snooker table

Roy Plomley's castaway is writer Rachel Billington.

Favourite track: Symphony No. 2 in E Minor by Sergei Rachmaninov Book: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy Luxury: Writing materials

Roy Plomley's castaway is actress Mary Ellis.

Favourite track: Gloria by Ariel Ramirez Book: Encyclopaedia Luxury: Writing materials

Roy Plomley's castaway is composer Gyorgy Ligeti.

Favourite track: String Quintet In C by Franz Schubert Book: Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Luxury: Hieronymus Bosch, Garden Of Earthly Delights

Roy Plomley's castaway is musician Alan Price.

Favourite track: I Ain't Got Nobody by Louis Prima Book: The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame Luxury: Piano

Roy Plomley's castaway is actress Helen Mirren.

Favourite track: Pass The Dutchie by Musical Youth Book: The Bhagavad-Gita Luxury: Silk underwear

Roy Plomley's castaway is writer P D James.

Favourite track: St Matthew Passion (First Chorus) by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Middlemarch by George Eliot Luxury: Claret

Roy Plomley's castaway is baritone Thomas Allen.

Favourite track: Concerto in C For Violin, Cello, Piano by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Luxury: Golf clubs and balls

Lord Tonypandy, George Thomas, now Chairman of the National Children's Homes, was Speaker of the House of Commons from 1976 to 1983. He was invited to choose the eight records he would take to the mythical island, and he also talked to Roy Plomley about his childhood in Wales and about his parliamentary career which he began when he won the Cardiff Central seat in 1945.

Book: The Methodist hymn book Luxury: Writing materials

Elly Ameling's career as a singer took off when she won the first prizes in two competitions. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she explains why she devotes most of her time to singing lieder and has only appeared in one opera. She also talks about her occasional forays into cabaret and she chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: It Don't Mean A Thing by Ellington Book: Poetry by Paul Verlaine Luxury: Buddha statue

Roy Plomley's castaway is comedian Mike Harding.

Favourite track: 2000-Year-Old Man by Carl Reiner & Mel Brooks Book: The New Oxford Book of English Verse Luxury: Ordnance Survey maps and a set of books about the Fells

Roy Plomley's castaway is critic Geoffrey Grigson.

Favourite track: She Never Told Her Love by Franz Joseph Haydn Book: The Oxford English Dictionary Luxury: Pate de foie gras

Roy Plomley's castaway is artistic director of Opera North David Lloyd Jones.

Favourite track: Symphony No. 9 In C by Franz Schubert Book: Journal by Edmond Goncourt

Roy Plomley's castaway is writer Wilbur Smith.

Favourite track: Symphony No. 3 in E Flat Major by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: The Oxford English Dictionary Luxury: Brass bedstead and a feather mattress

Roy Plomley's castaway is organist Carlo Curley.

Favourite track: Wie Lieblich Sind Deine Wohnungen by Johannes Brahms Book: Cookery book by Julia Childs Luxury: Pipe organ

Roy Plomley's castaway is conductor James Loughran.

Favourite track: Mir Ist So Wunderbar by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: Comprehensive world airways timetable Luxury: Drawing and painting equipment

Roy Plomley's castaway is actress Claire Bloom.

Favourite track: Soave Sia Il Vento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: A La Recherche Du Temps Perdu by Marcel Proust Luxury: Coffee and espresso machine

Roy Plomley's castaways are the Duke & Duchess Of Devonshire.

Favourite track: You're The Top by Ethel Merman Book: Books by Beatrix Potter and Chambers' Biographical Dictionary Luxury: New potatoes and aftershave

Roy Plomley's castaway is composer Carl Davis.

Favourite track: Hm, hm, hm! (from The Magic Flute) by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: Short Stories by Anton Chekhov Luxury: Shampoo

Roy Plomley's castaway is actor Donald Sinden.

Favourite track: Symphony No. 6 In F Major by Ludwig van Beethoven Book: A History of Architecture on the Comparative Method by Sir Banister Fletcher Luxury: His favourite picture in the Walker Art Gallery

Julie Walters had a variety of jobs, including nursing, before she took up acting. An early London appearance was the result of Funny Peculiar, transferring from the Everyman Theatre in Liverpool.

In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about her work with Victoria Wood, about her huge success in both the play and film of Educating Rita, and she chooses the eight records she would take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: I Get Along Without You Very Well by Carly Simon Book: The Magus by John Fowles Luxury: Telephone

Roy Plomley's castaway is mezzo-soprano Dame Janet Baker.

Favourite track: Sonata In A Minor by Domenico Scarlatti Book: Persuasion by Jane Austen Luxury: Pencils and paper

Roy Plomley's castaway is record producer George Martin.

Favourite track: St Matthew Passion (Opening) by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Manual on practical engineering Luxury: Clavichord

Roy Plomley's castaway is marine biologist Lyall Watson.

Favourite track: The Call Of A Burchell's Coucal Book: Pears Cyclopaedia Luxury: Film projector and 20 Western films

Roy Plomley's castaway is actress Pamela Stephenson.

Favourite track: Legong Kraton by Gong Kebyar Book: Buddhist scripture by Dama Pada Luxury: Television set with satellite link-up

Roy Plomley's castaway is oceanographer Captain Jacques Cousteau.

Favourite track: Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue In D Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Essays by Michel de Montaigne Luxury: Stone from stomach of a fossilised dinosaur

Roy Plomley's castaway is barrister John Mortimer QC.

Favourite track: Soave Sia Il Vento by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: The Oxford Book of English Verse by Arthur Quiller-Couch Luxury: Bath

Roy Plomley's castaway is writer Eric Newby.

Favourite track: The Flies Crawled Up The Window by Jack Hulbert Book: Dictionary of National Biography Luxury: Whisky

Roy Plomley's castaway is choreographer Sir Anton Dolin.

Favourite track: La Traviata Act 3 Prelude by Giuseppe Verdi Book: Friends and Memories by Sir Anton Dolin Luxury: Electric razor

Roy Plomley's castaway is cookery expert Delia Smith.

Favourite track: Lief by Rhos Male Choir Book: Autobiography by Saint Therese of Lisieux Luxury: Writing materials

Roy Plomley's castaway is founder of the BBC's Natural History Unit Desmond Hawkins.

Favourite track: Octet In F Major by Franz Schubert Book: Field guide to the birds of the island Luxury: Binoculars

Madhur Jaffrey is an actress who has now become as well-known as a writer and broadcaster on Indian and Far Eastern cooking. In conversation with Roy Plomley, she talks about the films she has made with James Ivory, including Heat and Dust. She also recalls how she came to be a cookery expert, and she chooses eight records she would take to the mythical island.

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

Favourite track: Violin Concerto - 1st Movement by Roque Cordero Book: Blank book Luxury: Whiskey

Roy Plomley's castaway is actress and singer Marti Webb.

Favourite track: The Dreaded Batter Pudding Hurler Of Bexhill-0n-Sea by The Goons Book: Illustrated dictionary Luxury: Piano

Roy Plomley's castaway is writer Julian Symons.

Favourite track: The Quarry by W. H. Auden Book: Bleak House by Charles Dickens Luxury: Couch

Roy Plomley's castaway is soprano Lucia Popp.

Favourite track: Teddy Bears' Picnic by Henry Hall and BBC Dance Orchestra Book: The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann Luxury: Teddy bear