Long-lost episodes of Desert Island Discs discovered by fan

Lost recordings of Desert Island Discs featuring stars including Bing Crosby, Dame Margot Fonteyn and David Hockney have been found by a fan.

Richard Harrison, from Lowestoft in Suffolk, searches for lost radio recordings in his spare time, and said he was “most excited” when he realised his latest haul included episodes of the legendary series.

He told the BBC he only realised what he had found when he played an unmarked tape and heard actor Dirk Bogarde speaking in a 1964 episode. “The neighbours must have wondered what was up. I let out a huge yell of triumph, it was a genuinely great moment”, he said. The BBC did not automatically save copies of many of its shows so early episodes only come to light if they were recorded by fans at the time, which means Mr Harrison and fellow enthusiasts have to trawl car boot sales and auctions for tapes.

The rescued episodes date back to the 1960s and 1970s. Mr Harrison’s latest haul includes more than 90 episodes with some unusual choices made by the guests... including comic Bob Monkhouse asking for a picture of Marilyn Monroe as his luxury on his island “to remind me of what I’m supposed to forget”.

Bogarde asked to take a large portrait by painter John Singer Sargent, as it was so big he could use it as a tent or a raft if needed.

He also revealed his first job in showbusiness was cleaning the gents toilets at Kew Theatre but said he concentrated on his film career after losing his “nerve” and quitting the stage.

The guests on the rescued episodes were interviewed by Roy Plomley, who devised and hosted the show from 1942 until his death in 1985.

White Christmas singer Crosby said he wanted to take a guitar on his desert island, explaining: “Out there alone, I’d get to be very good at it but nobody would hear me.”

Dame Margot’s appearance in 1965 was the 750th edition of the show. The ballerina said that as a castaway she could get away from the phone.

Sue Lawley, who presented the show from 1988 to 2006, told the BBC it should “thank God” for Mr Harrison.