Controversial political figure would have ‘chosen only Bob Dylan songs’ but was ‘banned’ from Desert Island discs

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A controversial political figure “banned” from the BBC programme Desert Island Discs says he would only choose songs by Bob Dylan had he been invited on the show. Peter Hitchens, the political commentator who believes the United Kingdom should be dissolved in favour of British nationalism and, claimed he had been barred from the legendary radio programme. Desert Island Discs features celebrity figures discussing the albums they would listen to for the rest of their lives should they be trapped on a desert island.

Hitchens, who has not been invited on the show and is unlikely to make an appearance, has since shared which songs he would have picked should the offer have come through. Writing in the Daily Mail, Hitchens confirmed that he would be happy listening to nothing but the All Along the Watchtower songwriter. But for the sake of variety, he went on to choose other singles too.

For his Dylan choice, though, he selected the Greatest Hits Vol. II deep cut, Tomorrow is a Long Time. Hitchens said: “I could probably choose five Bob Dylan songs, as these have been the background noise to much of my life and I can sing some of them by heart, but have settled on Tomorrow is a Long Time because it is so mysterious and so beautiful and so full of regret, as we all must be.”

Hitchens went on to select the Fairpoint Convention song Farewell, Farewell. He explained: “I stopped listening to most popular music around 1969, when my life was changed rather abruptly by a road accident. This is partly why I choose Farewell, Farewell a very sad song of loss and pain, sung by what was left of Fairport Convention after they were involved in a bad crash in that year.”

He continued: “Next comes the glorious 1929 recording of Purcell’s Nymphs and Shepherds, made in the old Free Trade Hall by a choir of nearly 300 Manchester elementary schoolchildren, accompanied by the Halle Orchestra and conducted by Sir Hamilton Harty.” Hitchens also added Purcell’s Rondeau from his suite Abdelazer and Gustav Holst’s 1913 St Paul’s Suite.

Hitchens is joined by Nigel Farage, the Reform UK party leader, as people who believe they are banned from appearing on Desert Island Discs. Hitchens added: “I have recently learned that the BBC has honoured me much more deeply, by banning me from the programme for life. You may have seen, in Michael Ashcroft’s new biography of Nigel Farage, the Reform Leader was vetoed as a guest, by the mysterious thought police high in the BBC who decide such things.”

While Hitchens has claimed he will not appear on the show, he did offer up his five song choices. He also selected his book and luxury item, opting for the works of Sherlock Holmes and a solar-powered fridge.

The BBC has since responded to Hitchens’ claim that he was banned. They said: “As we’ve said before, we do not ban any individuals from appearing on Desert Island Discs and that includes Peter Hitchens.”