Main content

Lewis Wolpert

Sue Lawley's castaway is Professor Lewis Wolpert.

The castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is Professor Lewis Wolpert. As Chairman of the Committee on the Public Understanding of Science, he is a passionate advocate of the value of science and the increasing need for the recognition and promotion of its importance. He'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his early life in South Africa, his recent struggle with clinical depression and his passion for the views of the 18th-century philosopher David Hume - particularly on the existence of God.

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

Favourite track: String Quartet No. 15 in A Minor by Ludwig van Beethoven
Book: Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding and The Principles of Morals by David Hume
Luxury: Bicycle

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 11 Oct 1996 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

More episodes

Previous

Ben Elton

Next

Rumer Godden

See all episodes from Desert Island Discs

Music Played

  • Jimmy Pratt with Lemmy Special

    Lemmy's Jump

    • Something New From Africa.
    • Decca.

  • Ella Fitzgerald

    Embraceable You

    • A Portrait of Ella Fitzgerald.
    • Stylus.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Ludwig van Beethoven

      String Quartet No. 15 in A minor, Op. 132

      Artist: Vermeer Quartet

      • The Late String Quartets.
      • Teldec.

  • Elisabeth Welch

    Stormy Weather

    • In With The Old!.
    • That's Entertainment.

  • Richard Wagner

    War es so schmählich (from Die Walküre)

    Soloist: Regine Cresoin Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic

    • Die Walkure.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Bunny Berigan

    I Can't Get Started

    Artist: Gayle Reece

    • Bunny Berigan.
    • RCA Jazz Tribune.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Cosi fan tutte, Act 2

    Soloist: Karita Mattila

    • Mozart: Cosi fan Tutte.
    • Philips.

  • Jules Massenet

    En fermant les yeux (from Manon)

    Soloist: Alfredo Kraus Orchestra: Toulouse Orchestra

    • Massenet's Manon / Michel Plasson.
    • EMI.

  • Book Choice

    • Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding and The Principles of Morals - David Hume

  • Luxury Choice

    • Bicycle

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Lewis Wolpert

Broadcasts

  • Sun 6 Oct 1996 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 11 Oct 1996 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

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