Main content

Kirsty Young's castaway is woodsman Ray Mears.

Kirsty Young's castaway is woodsman Ray Mears.

A traveller to the world's remotest corners and a renowned expert in bushcraft, wild cooking and survival techniques, he's one of very few castaways who would genuinely relish the challenges of a desert island.

Those of us not possessed of his spirit and skill can live vicariously through his exploits on TV and through his survival handbooks. Enlightening and entertaining the sofa-bound masses is only one strand on his hand whittled bow: he's also trained elite troops for The British Army and in 2010 he was called on by police to help them track the fugitive killer, Raoul Moat.

It was survival skills of a different type he needed when he lost his first wife Rachel to cancer: he met his second wife Ruth at a book signing and they share not just a love of each other, but also of the great outdoors.

He says of the wild: "I can see nature; I feel it intuitively and I can understand what can't be written."

Producer: Cathy Drysdale.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 10 Jan 2014 09:00

Music Played

  • The Rolling Stones

    Jumpin' Jack Flash

    • Hot Rocks 1964-1971.
    • ABKCO.
  • The Jam

    English Rose

    • Sound of the Jam.
    • POLYDOR.
  • The Beatles

    Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

    • The Beatles.
    • APPLE.
  • John Denver

    Annie's Song

    • SongÂ’s Best Friend.
    • RCA.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Blondie

      Maria

      • Blondie: Greatest Hits.
      • EMI.
  • KT Tunstall

    Suddenly I See

    • Eye to the Telescope.
    • Relentless.
  • Elton John

    Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters

    • Honky Chateau.
    • DJM.
  • Nina Simone

    Feeling Good

    • Feeling Good – the Very Best of Nina Simone.
    • MERCURY.
  • Book Choice

    • A blank book to record his Desert Island findings

  • Luxury Choice

    • A huge pair of speakers

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Ray Mears
Producer Cathy Drysdale

Broadcasts

  • Sun 5 Jan 2014 11:15
  • Fri 10 Jan 2014 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