James Burke

The castaway this week is James Burke, whose broadcasting style has been described as "turning science into show-biz". But, paradoxically, he admits to being immensely impractical and reveals to Michael Parkinson, while choosing his eight records to take to the island, that he at one time planned to make music his career.

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

Favourite track: Suite No 1 in G Major For Solo Cello by Johann Sebastian Bach Book: Works by Homer Luxury: Guitar and strings