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DESERT ISLAND DISCS- IAN WRIGHT
February 17, 2020
Honest, charming and moving, Ian Wright’s conversation with Lauren Laverne shows BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs continues to create stunning moments in radio.
Host Lauren Laverne and her guest Ian Wright @BBCRadio4
Over the years, I’ve begun to enjoy listening to BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs. For those that don’t know, the concept is simple. You’re a castaway, marooned on a tiny island, allowed nothing more than the Bible, the completed works of Shakespeare and a book of your choice. Throw in a luxury item (save a raft: there’s no escape!) and the eight songs from the former life you led.
Yet growing up, I never quite got it. Many of the guests were academics, scientists and classical scientists, more comfortable playing Franz Schubert than Franz Ferdinand. However, under the former host Kirsty Young and now with the current presenter Lauren Laverne at the tiller, the type of guests have changed: and with it the music that’s played.
I’m on a good run at the moment. I’ve listened to the likes of Caitlin Moran, Louis Theroux and the Irishman’s Stephen Graham reveal which tracks they’d take to their castaway exile. The conversations are a wonderfully personal glimpse into their upbringing whilst the tracks show music’s unique power to capture and relive a memory from the past.
With this in mind, I was looking forward to hearing the former Arsenal and England striker, Ian Wright, share a few of his favourite tracks. It was a brilliant listen. Throughout Wright talks openly and emotionally, discussing growing up in South London without a loving father but finding encouragement and support from his former teacher, alongside his childhood friend and Arsenal team mate David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle.
Laverne is a wonderful and warm listener, whilst Wright is not short of funny anecdotes and stories about his playing days. Together the two have a important conversation which charts current topics such as racism in football and talking about mental health.
And what of the music? Starting with a rendition of Mozart’s “Duettino- Sull’aria” as heard on ‘The Shawshank Redemption’, Wright goes on to select tracks from familiar names Bob Marley, Tina Turner and Stormzy. Also included is a sensational soul rift called “Mysteries of the World” by MFSB, which is certain to get a party going on any island.
As a player and a pundit, Wright is beloved by Arsenal fans, and listening to this episode, it’s not hard to see why. As for Desert Island Discs, even after all these years, it still produces beautiful radio to remind us to remember the songs which have shaped our lives.
Listen to the full episode below: