Private Passions is one of the BBC's most successful radio programmes of recent years. Presented by the distinguished composer Michael Berkeley, and recorded in a spare bedroom in his house, these unique interviews bring out the very best in a fascinating mix of guests, from Elvis Costello to Isaiah Berlin and from Joanna Lumley to George Steiner. This indispensable bible of the show's first decade contains all the answers, reveals the most popular pieces and shows how riveting it is to hear people not necessarily known for their love of music singing the praises of their private passions. Once opened it becomes an intriguing Pandora's box of delights: What did Dennis Healey choose and what happened to his private parts as he was recording the programme? How did England fast bowler, Bob Willis recreate his long run-up in music and what did Dame Edna find in Percy Grainger's private museum? You could easily build an entire and wonderful record collection from this extraordinary volume.

Michael Berkeley is the eldest son of the composer, Sir Lennox Berkeley. He studied at the Royal Academy of Music and with Richard Rodney Bennett, and then become a broadcaster on BBC Radio and Television. For ten years from 1995, the same year that Private Passions began, Berkeley was the highly successful Artistic Director of the Cheltenham International Festival of Music. He now devotes almost all his time to composing.