Desert Island Discs

Sir Digby Jones


Listen Later

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the Director General of the CBI, Sir Digby Jones. He was born and grew up in the West Midlands at a time where 'the Austin' car plant formed the 'centre of the universe'. His father ran the local grocer's shop until the arrival of the supermarkets in the 1960s, giving Digby his first taste of business.

After winning a scholarship to public school, he joined the Royal Navy to pay his way through university where he studied law, before becoming a high-flier in the world of corporate finance. Six years ago he was head-hunted to become 'the voice of British business'. Knighted in 2005, he is a regular visitor to Downing Street and bangs the drum for the UK around the world, while sporting his union flag cufflinks. He is known for his energy and enthusiasm, and his charity fund-raising has taken him from Lands End to John O'Groats on a bike. Typically, he will make two speeches a day, while his love of food gets him through the vast amounts of 'professional eating' involved in the job. He reaches the end of his term at the CBI in July.

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

Favourite track: Wind Beneath my Wings by Bette Midler

Book: How Britain Made The Modern World by Niall Ferguson
Luxury: Video or pictorial book of '100 examples of excellence'

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Desert Island DiscsBy BBC Radio 4

  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6
  • 4.6

4.6

1,418 ratings


More shows like Desert Island Discs

View all
In Our Time by BBC Radio 4

In Our Time

5,411 Listeners

The Documentary Podcast by BBC World Service

The Documentary Podcast

1,835 Listeners

Woman's Hour by BBC Radio 4

Woman's Hour

400 Listeners

Global News Podcast by BBC World Service

Global News Podcast

7,744 Listeners

6 Minute English by BBC Radio

6 Minute English

1,769 Listeners

Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

Learning English Conversations

1,081 Listeners

The Infinite Monkey Cage by BBC Radio 4

The Infinite Monkey Cage

1,950 Listeners

Newshour by BBC World Service

Newshour

1,053 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1996-2000 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1996-2000

50 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2000-2005 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2000-2005

65 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2005-2010

146 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1991-1996 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 1991-1996

79 Listeners

Curious Cases by BBC Radio 4

Curious Cases

812 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive 2011-2015

51 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,313 Listeners

Americast by BBC News

Americast

757 Listeners

You're Dead to Me by BBC Radio 4

You're Dead to Me

2,996 Listeners

The Rest Is Politics by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Politics

3,223 Listeners

Dish by Cold Glass Productions

Dish

614 Listeners

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018 by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs: Archive: 2016-2018

26 Listeners

Brydon & by Rob Brydon | Wondery

Brydon &

91 Listeners

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth by Gyles Brandreth / Plain Jaine Productions / Keep It Light Media

Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth

297 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

55 Listeners

The Rest Is Entertainment by Goalhanger

The Rest Is Entertainment

802 Listeners

The Louis Theroux Podcast by Spotify Studios

The Louis Theroux Podcast

462 Listeners