Over the years, numerous Labour politicians have appeared on Desert Island Discs, and thanks to the BBC’s exhaustive archive these episodes, and many more, are available to download.

Usually a political right of passage – which Jeremy Corbyn missed out on – many of the interviews – such as Kinnock’s, Blair’s and Miliband’s – were conducted with the party in opposition and offer a great insight into their strategic mindset. Others – such as Shawcross, Foot, Castle and Healey – are reflective on their lengthy careers in politics.

Plenty to dive into if you need to self-isolate over the next few months…

BBC Desert Island Discs 

Mary Wilson (1968)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p009y18k

T Dan Smith (1968)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009y21z

Denis Healey (First – 1978)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009myhy

Roy Hattersley (1986)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mmv7

James Callaghan (1987)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009ml8k

Bernard Donoughue

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mghr

Neil Kinnock (1988)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mg6n

Michael Foot (1988)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mfjy

Roy Jenkins (1989)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mdzc

Tony Benn (1989)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009mf7r

Barbara Castle (1990)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093zs7

David Blunkett (1990)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p009406m

Dennis Skinner (1990)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00940my

Hartley Shawcross (1991)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093z01 

John Smith (1991)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093z5l

Clare Short (1992)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093xt4

Ken Livingstone (1993)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093x49

Betty Boothroyd (1994)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093wtn

Tony Blair (1996)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093n5f 

Gordon Brown (1996)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093nrg

Glenda Jackson (1998)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093wtn

Jack Straw (1998)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0094338

Mo Mowlam (1999)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00942gb

Robin Cook (2002)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00947h3

Shirley Williams (2006)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0093vxz

Alan Johnson (2007)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0080mb3

Diane Abbott (2008)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00bbdly

Denis Healey (Second – 2009)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00kwftg

John Prescott (2012)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01c6trm

Ed Miliband (2013)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03j8srb