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Robert Fisk

Kirsty Young's castaway is journalist Robert Fisk.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the journalist Robert Fisk. He is one of our most distinguished foreign correspondents and has spent his life covering conflicts around the world - the past 30 years immersed in the life and politics of the Middle East. He formed his ambition at a young age - he saw Hitchcock's film Foreign Correspondent when he was just 12 years old and was determined to join their ranks. War, too, was a strong influence - his father had fought on the Western Front and was haunted by his experiences. He insisted that young Robert should learn about the war and his first foreign holiday was a tour of the Somme.

He has become used to living in a war zone - he has escaped a kidnap attempt, survived an attack by Afghan refugees and risked his life to secure interviews of which other journalists dream. Perhaps his greatest scoop was securing a series of face-to-face interviews with Osama Bin Laden.

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

Favourite track: Adagio for Strings by Samuel Barber
Book: Le Mort D'Arthur by Thomas Mallory
Luxury: A violin

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Oct 2006 09:00
Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Benjamin Britten

    Dies irae (from War Requiem)

    Choir: The Bach Choir Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra and Choir Conductor: Benjamin Britten

    • War Requiem.
    • Decca.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Samuel Barber

      Adagio For Strings

      Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia Conductor: Richard Hickox

      • Barber/Copland/Gershwin. City of London Sinfonia/Richard Hickox.
      • Virgin Classic.

  • Winston Churchill

    This Was Their Finest Hour (speech, 18 June 1940)

    • Winston Churchill speeches - Â鶹ÊÓƵAV ARCHIVE.
    • Decca.

  • Donovan

    Mellow Yellow

    • Donovan: Greatest Hits.
    • Epic.

  • Johann Pachelbel

    Canon in D major

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin’s in the Fields Conductor: Neville Marriner

    • Baroque Favourites.
    • Classics for Pleasure.

  • Irvine

    The Lord is My Shepherd

    Choir: The Huddersfield Choral Society

    • The Essential Wedding Collection.
    • Decca.

  • Fairuz

    Beirut Hal Zarafat

    • The Legendary Fairuz.
    • Hemisphere.

  • Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra

    Hatikiva - the National Anthem of Israel

    • Complete National Anthems of the World.
    • Marco Polo.

  • Book Choice

    • Le Mort D'Arthur - Thomas Mallory

  • Luxury Choice

    • A violin

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Robert Fisk

Broadcasts

  • Sun 15 Oct 2006 11:15
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4
  • Fri 20 Oct 2006 09:00
    Â鶹ÊÓƵAV Radio 4

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