Steve Backshall, explorer
Steve Backshall, naturalist, explorer and broadcaster, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would want to take to if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.
Steve Backshall is an explorer, naturalist and broadcaster.
His BAFTA-winning programmes bring viewers of every generation closer to nature – from the children's series Deadly 60, featuring close encounters with the most dangerous and venomous creatures on earth, to Blue Planet Live and Springwatch.
His interest in the natural world began at a young age, after his parents decided to swap their terraced house for a smallholding with goats, ducks and geese.
His big break as a broadcaster arrived when National Geographic offered him the post of Adventurer in Residence and he’s been taking on the most arduous challenges and toughest environments on earth ever since. He ran a marathon in the Sahara and has swum cage-free with great white sharks.
His adventures have also brought him many near-death moments. He broke his back while rock climbing and recently almost drowned while kayaking in Bhutan.
Steve is married to the Olympic champion rower Helen Glover, and they have a two year old son and twins born earlier this year.
DISC ONE: Beautiful War by Kings of Leon
DISC TWO: The Wind by Cat Stevens
DISC THREE: Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead
DISC FOUR: Even After All by Finley Quaye
DISC FIVE: I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by Ash Cutler and Rachael Hawnt
DISC SIX: Last Goodbye by Jeff Buckley
DISC SEVEN: 6 Words by Wretch 32
DISC EIGHT: This Life by Vampire Weekend
BOOK CHOICE: One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel GarcÃa Márquez
LUXURY ITEM: A guitar
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) by Ash Cutler and Rachael Hawnt
Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer: Sarah Taylor
Last on
More episodes
12 things we learned about Steve Backshall from his Desert Island Discs
The naturalist, explorer and broadcaster shares his castaway choices.
Music Played
-
Kings of Leon
Beautiful War
- Mechanical Bull (Deluxe Edition).
- RCA Records.
- 4.
-
Cat Stevens
The Wind
- Teaser And The Firecat (Remastered).
- Universal Island Records.
- 1.
-
Radiohead
Fake Plastic Trees
- The Bends.
- Parlophone.
- 4.
-
Finley Quaye
Even After All
- Finley Quaye: The Best Of The Epic Years.
- Sony BMG Music Entertainment.
- 5.
-
Ash Cutler and Rachael Hawnt
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)
-
Jeff Buckley
Last Goodbye
- Grace.
- Columbia.
- 3.
-
Wretch 32
6 Words
- Ministry of Sound.
-
Vampire Weekend
This Life
- Father of the Bride.
- Columbia.
- 4.
Broadcasts
- Sun 2 Aug 2020 11:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
- Fri 7 Aug 2020 09:00³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio 4
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
-
Desert Island Discs
Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.