Desert Island Discs

The actor Warwick Davis was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2016.
When his grandmother heard an advertisement on the radio looking for short people to play Ewoks in the next Star Wars film, she immediately thought of Warwick, but by the time his mother phoned the film studio, all the roles had been cast. Her powers of persuasion must have been quite something because, aged 11, Warwick found himself on set, dressed in a furry costume, and in the company of his on-screen heroes.
You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

The singer-songwriter Lily Allen was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2014.
Although her school reports painted a mixed picture of Lily's academic achievements, a singing teacher spotted her vocal talent and encouraged her to perform. She brought the house down with a song from the Disney film Dumbo.
You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

The film director Steven Spielberg was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2022.
He gave the world Jaws, ET and Jurassic Park, but Steven Spielberg got his start in the film business when he went on a bus tour of Universal Studios. He also explains why the frequently malfunctioning mechanical shark in Jaws was really a blessing in disguise.
You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

The writer Malorie Blackman was cast away by Kirsty Young in 2013.
Although she has published more than 70 books for children and young adults - among them her hugely popular Noughts and Crosses series - getting her start as a published author was hard - 82 rejection letters had thudded onto her door mat before she had her first manuscript accepted for publication. She still remembers the day that 83rd letter arrived.
You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.

The World Snooker Champion Ronnie O'Sullivan was cast away by Lauren Laverne in 2023.
He remembers being dropped off unaccompanied at snooker halls across East London by his father as a young boy and learning to play grown men at adult tables - and beating them.
You can listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds.