Main content

Ann Daniels

Kirsty Young's castaway is explorer Ann Daniels.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the Polar explorer Ann Daniels. Before she was 30, she hadn't so much as walked with a rucksack and had no experience of navigating with a compass. Then her husband saw a newspaper advert seeking ordinary women to join an all-women relay to the North Pole. Ann was successful and since then she has walked to both Poles, become a Polar guide and now has her sights set on being the first British woman to walk solo to the North Pole - an endeavour she'll attempt for the second time this March.

While she is on her expeditions, the life she leaves behind is also far from routine - she is a mother to four children including triplets. She has met some criticism for leaving her children for long periods, but she responds by saying that they are her inspiration - she wants to demonstrate to them how to live life to the full.

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

Favourite track: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics
Book: The Worst Journey in the World by Apsley Cherry-Garrard
Luxury: A bar of soap

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 26 Jan 2007 09:00

Music Played

  • Neil Diamond

    I Am鈥 Said

    • The Ultimate Collection.
    • Columbia.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Eurythmics

      Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)

      • Eurythmics: Ultimate Collection.
      • RCA.
  • The Jam

    The Eton Rifles

    • Compact Snap.
    • Polydor.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Swan Lake - Act 4 (finale)

    Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra Conductor: Wolfgang Sawallisch

    • Tchaikovsky: Swan Lake.
    • EMI.
  • Vangelis

    Chariots of Fire

    • Chariots of Fire.
    • Polydor.
  • ABBA

    Dancing Queen

    • The Best Party in Town.
    • Virgin.
  • Nina Simone

    Feeling Good

    • Cool Summer Jazz.
    • Virgin.
  • Enya

    Orinoco Flow

    • Watermark.
    • WEA.
  • Book Choice

    • The Worst Journey in the World - Apsley Cherry-Garrard

  • Luxury Choice

    • A bar of soap

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Ann Daniels

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Jan 2007 11:15
  • Fri 26 Jan 2007 09:00

Featured in...

The Desert Island Discs podcast

The Desert Island Discs podcast

Subscribe or download individual episodes.

Listen to over 2,000 programmes

Click above to browse castaways, from 1942 to today.

Articles

Read the surprising things we've learned about some stand-out castaways.

Podcast