Special edition of Radio 4 programme will also have sound of sea wash during the credits for first time since 1960s

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

David Beckham is to be the castaway on the 75th anniversary episode of Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs.

The former England footballer will appear on a special edition on 29 January, which will also feature the return of the sound of sea wash to the programme credits for the first time since the 1960s.

Beckham, now a model and Unicef ambassador as well as the only England player to have won leagues in four countries, will become one of only a handful of footballers to have appeared on the show since it began in 1942.

Desert Island Discs: 75 defining moments from 75 years of castaways Read more

Kirsty Young, the programme’s presenter since 2006, said Beckham was a “perfect gift” to celebrate the show’s 75th birthday. “His sporting legacy is of course extraordinary. And along with his charisma, cultural impact and humanitarian work, he is a modern man of many parts,” she said.

Beckham, whose musical tastes are said to include ‎U2, Bob Marley, Eminem and Jay-Z , said: “Music has been a huge part of my – and my family’s – life and it is a real pleasure to highlight that on such an iconic programme.”

One of Beckham’s four children, 11-year-old Cruz, released a song for charity last Christmas.

In his initial submission to the BBC, the show’s founder, Roy Plomley, suggested a wide range of guests including “dance band leaders, actors, members of the brains trust, film stars, writers, child prodigies, ballet dancers and all sorts of people.”

But according to the football magazine WSC, only seven football figures appeared on the show in its first 70 years, the first in 1960 when the Spurs skipper Danny Blanchflower chose golf clubs and balls as his luxury item, sparking a trend for footballers selecting spherical objects.

Managers and players to have appeared on the show include Sir Bobby Robson, Gary Lineker and Tony Adams, who gave an honest account of his battle with alcoholism. Sir Alex Ferguson, who fought with both Beckham and the BBC as Manchester United manager, has not appeared.

Experts doubt impact of David Beckham's EU vote intervention Read more

The anniversary episode will be part of a weekend of celebrations for the programme, which now has a weekly on-air audience of 2.8 million listeners. On 28 January there will be a three-hour special on BBC Radio 4 Extra featuring archive footage. Highlights include Cilla Black talking about singing with the Beatles, Richard Dimbleby on taking a cutlery set from Hitler’s bunker, and the soprano Elisabeth Schwarzkopf explaining why she chose seven of her own recordings.

Listeners will be encouraged to share their favourite moments from Desert Island Discs using the hashtag #DIDat75 over the anniversary weekend.

Two men share the record for the most appearances on the programme: the comedian Arthur Askey and the broadcaster and national treasure Sir David Attenborough have each appeared four times.