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Ronnie O'Sullivan, snooker player

Ronnie O'Sullivan, snooker player, shares the eight tracks, book and luxury item he would take with him if cast away to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Ronnie O’Sullivan OBE is currently ranked the number one snooker player in the world, and is widely regarded as one of the finest players in the history of the sport.

He has won the Masters a record seven times and he jointly holds the record for winning the World Snooker Championship seven times. Since 1997 he has held the world record for the fastest 147 break, leading to his nickname 'the Rocket'.

Ronnie grew up in Essex and his father gave him his first snooker cue when he was seven. He took to the game immediately: he was playing on a full size snooker table when he was just eight, and two years later he was beating adult players. By the age of 12, he was winning cash prizes in local tournaments, and was soon earning more than his teachers.

Ronnie turned professional when he was 16, and quickly established himself as a star player and a fans' favourite - but he has also made headlines away from the snooker table, with accounts of his depression and struggles with alcohol and drugs. For many years he has kept his physical and mental health in check through his passion for running.

He received an OBE in 2016 for services to snooker.

DISC ONE: Lose Yourself - Eminem
DISC TWO: Careless Whisper - Wham!
DISC THREE: Step by Step - Whitney Houston
DISC FOUR: Real Gone Kid - Deacon Blue
DISC FIVE: You’re So Vain - Carly Simon
DISC SIX: Maybe Tomorrow - Stereophonics
DISC SEVEN: Drops of Jupiter (Tell Me) - Train
DISC EIGHT: That’s All - Genesis

BOOK CHOICE: Running with the Kenyans by Adharanand Finn
LUXURY ITEM: A painting set
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: That’s All - Genesis

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor

Available now

55 minutes

On radio

Sun 6 Oct 2024 10:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Eminem

    Lose Yourself

    • 2004 Grammy Nominees.
    • BMG.
    • 4.

  • Wham!

    Careless Whisper

    • Wham! The Final.
    • Sony Music UK.
    • 6.

  • Whitney Houston

    Step By Step

    • The Preacher's Wife.
    • Arista.
    • 2.

  • Deacon Blue

    Real Gone Kid

    • When the World Knows Your Name.
    • Sony Music UK.
    • 14.

  • Carly Simon

    You're So Vain

    • No Secrets.
    • Rhino/Elektra.
    • 3.

  • Stereophonics

    Maybe Tomorrow

    • You Gotta Go There To Come Back.
    • UMC (Universal Music Catalogue).
    • 2.

  • Train

    Drops Of Jupiter (Tell Me)

    • Drops Of Jupiter.
    • Columbia/Legacy.
    • 3.

  • Genesis

    That's All

    • Genesis.
    • Atlantic Records.
    • 2.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 28 May 2023 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 2 Jun 2023 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 6 Oct 2024 10:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 11 Oct 2024 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM

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