The 9 most unexpected song choices on Desert Island Discs

Disclaimer: most of them are embarrassing, and some of them are from politicians.

Tom Hanks

LL Cool J – Mama Said Knock You Out

Hanks had a pretty philosophical reading into the whole thing. He said LL Cool J is one of the “most delightful, happy, smiling people” he has ever come across, and that in this song he is not just saying “I’m gonna knock you out” but “I’m gonna figure out how to do the right thing regardless of the confines that you place on me.” So profound.

To top it off, he playfully mocked the interviewer Kirsty Young relentlessly for saying “Mama Said Knock You Out” in her BBC accent.

Paul Hollywood

Wretch 32 – 6 Words

It turns out Paul Hollywood’s son fancies himself as a bit of a DJ, or, in the words of the Bake Off host, “he loves doing all the mixing of the songs”. Hollywood chose this because it reminds him of family holidays. Images of him dancing to this while making flan are now seared into my mind.

Alex Crawford

Fergie – Big Girls Don’t Cry

Alex Crawford has reported from the world’s worst war zones, and apparently it’s Fergie that gets her through the hard times. “This was the song on my iPhone when I was travelling through Afghanistan… and it just reminds me of going through all this jagged countryside when we were off to meet armed fighters.”

Piers Morgan

Monty Python – Always Look on the Bright Side of Life

This is surprising in the sense that the song’s title seems to conflict with everything Piers Morgan stands for, given his notorious cynicism. But don’t get too excited: his reason for choosing it is still pretty bleak. “I was trying to think what I would have to play at my funeral… as my coffin was led down the aisle to a weeping congregation.” Well you can’t fault him for lacking a sense of humour.

Nick Clegg

Shakira - Waka Waka (the theme to the 2010 World Cup)

“I should apologise for this to everybody listening. This is actually a track I really find quite annoying.” Clegg could barely contain his laughter when he read out the name of the song, and explained that it reminds him of his baby son because he’s obsessed with it and wakes up saying “Waka Waka” every morning. He then admitted that this means he listens to it “dozens” of times a day.

Ed Miliband

Robbie Williams – Angels

Not only was this one of his choices, but it was the ex-Labour leader’s favourite. “More cheese, I think.” He said it was for Justine, his wife. They saw Robbie Williams together at Live 8 when they were falling in love. Now if that's not romantic I don't know what is.

David Cameron

The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done

Strictly speaking, this isn’t even that surprising – it’s just so apt I couldn’t resist. And what he said about it in 2006 also feels very poignant given recent events: “Whenever I’m tired and I’ve got to go out and do something, this song just wakes me up and lifts me… I listened to it a lot during leadership election… when I was thinking of the next idea.” Oh Dave Cam, all the things that you’ve done.

Theresa May

ABBA – Dancing Queen

“I’d like something to jig up and down to on this desert island,” said Theresa May. So it turns out the new PM loves a dance. Is anyone else getting flashbacks of Hugh Grant in Love Actually prancing around Number 10 to Jump by The Pointer Sisters? Just me? Okay.

Gordon Ramsay

Tom Jones – Sex Bomb

Gordon Ramsey and Sex Bomb are two things I never thought I’d write in the same sentence, but sometimes life lets you down. I’ll let him off the hook though, because it was 2002 and who didn’t love this song then?

Simon Cowell

Luxury item: a mirror

Okay, this doesn’t really belong on this list, but it is so ridiculous and lols that I had to whack it on at the end. Interviewer Sue Lawley made zero attempt to mask her disgust – this is how it went down:

Sue: “And a luxury?”

Simon: “Easy. A mirror.”

Sue: “I don’t believe it.”

Simon: “It’s true.”

Sue: “Why?”

Simon: “Because I’d miss me.”

Sue: “You’re going to let us broadcast that?”

Simon: “I don’t care.”

Desert Island Discs is on Radio 4 at 11.15am every Sunday