Sue Lawley's castaway on Desert Island Discs this week is the Rt Hon Tony Benn MP.

He'll be discussing his long and turbulent career as one of this country's most eloquent socialists - he served in every Labour government of the 1960s and 1970s. He'll also be talking about the many stories that have always surrounded him: is it true, for example, that he is 'wired for sound' and records every conversation he has? And has he really drunk enough cups of tea in his lifetime to displace the QE2?

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

Favourite track: Madrigal by Stephen Benn

Book: Das Kapital by Karl Marx

Luxury: Kettle and teabags