Lauren Laverne talks to Ian Wright in an episode first broadcast in 2020. Ian Wright is a former professional footballer and now a football pundit on TV and radio. He began his career at Crystal Palace before moving to Arsenal where he became their highest goal scorer of all time, a record only surpassed eight years later by Thierry Henry. Born to a Jamaican couple in south-east London, Ian grew up with his mother and step-father. His biological father had left the family when Ian was under two years old. Things at home were difficult and Ian spent as much time as possible outside playing football. At his primary school a teacher, Mr Pigden, took him under his wing and Ian would later credit him with changing his life. He left his secondary school at the age of 14 to get a job. Although he took part in trials for many professional football clubs as a teenager, he was never selected. He continued to play for amateur sides. By the age of 21, he had three children to provide for, so when Crystal Palace came calling in 1985, he turned them down three times before accepting a two-week trial, followed by a three-month contract. His football career had finally begun. After impressing as a forward at Palace, he was bought by Arsenal for a record fee in 1991. He was called up to the England squad the same year and would go on to collect 33 caps. He spent his last couple of years in professional football at a number of clubs around the country and in total, he played 581 league games, scoring 387 goals for seven clubs in England and Scotland. Since his retirement from football in 2000, he has had a career as a pundit on both TV and radio. He has eight children and has been happily married to his second wife, Nancy, since 2011. DISC ONE: The Marriage of Figaro: Duettino - Sull'aria by Orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin, composed by Lorenzo Da Ponte and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart DISC TWO: Looking For You by Kirk Franklin DISC THREE: River Deep Mountain High by Ike and Tina Turner DISC FOUR: Redemption Song by Bob Marley & The Wailers DISC FIVE: Mysteries of the World by MSFB DISC SIX: Endlessly by Randy Crawford DISC SEVEN: Crown by Stormzy DISC EIGHT: Just Fine by Mary J Blige BOOK CHOICE: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime by Mark Haddon LUXURY ITEM: A seven iron golf club and golf balls CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Endlessly by Randy Crawford Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Cathy Drysdale
BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts hello, I'm Lauren Laverne and this is the Desert Island Discs podcast.
Every week I ask my guests to choose the eight tracks, book and luxury they'd want to take with them if they were cast away to a desert island.
This is an extended version of the original Radio 4 broadcast and for rights reasons, the music is shorter than the original broadcast.
I hope you enjoy listening.
My castaway this week is Ian Wright.
As a professional footballer, he was a late starter when he signed with Crystal palace.
Initially for just three months.
He was 21 and a Sunday League player, working as a labour to support his young family.
It was the generosity of his foreman, who said his job would be waiting for him if football didn't work out, that persuaded him to take the deal.
Thank goodness he did.
He would go on to become world class, one of the greatest strikers of his generation, the second highest scorer of all time at Arsenal and to earn 33 caps for England.
Enthusiasm, exuberance and flair were his defining characteristics on the pitch.
A superstar player whose enormous skill was matched by his love of the game.
Now a successful pundit, he remains as passionate and opinionated as ever.
He says, as time goes by, people realize you're an honest bloke who'll stand in your corner.
It suits some people to sling mud, but they can't take away what I've done.
I just want to be remembered for being a hardworking, honest professional who did the best he could with the opportunity he got.
Ian Wright, welcome to Desert Island Discs.
Thanks, Laura.
Making me even well off.