Rt Hon Betty Boothroyd MP

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the Speaker of the House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd. She'll be talking to Sue Lawley about her Yorkshire childhood, her venture south to join a dance troupe, and her much-vaunted but nevertheless fleeting appearance as a Tiller Girl. She'll also be discussing how she made history last year when she became the first woman to be elected Speaker, and also the first to be elected from the opposition benches since 1835. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Rock-A-Bye by Judy Garland Book: A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth Luxury: Mace of the House of Commons