Radio star Lauren Laverne has been a firm favourite in the music world since the early 2000s and is hailed as one of the UK's most successful DJs on the airwaves.
But arguably her most impressive achievement to date arrived when she landed her dream job as the presenter of much-loved radio show Desert Island Discs in 2018.
"They asked me and I quite literally jumped at the chance!" Lauren, 44, tells us.
"I was originally covering for Kirsty [Young] as an interim presenter while she was poorly - which was an intimidating honour in itself because beforehand, I was an absolutely obsessive Desert Island Discs listener.
"I've always been a fan because in my eyes, it's the ultimate radio programme, so I was overjoyed yet instantly terrified when they asked me to stay. It's like the national treasure of radio shows. It felt like I'd been given the keys to the British Museum or St Paul's Cathedral! I couldn't be happier."
With over 3,000 guests, or "castaways" as they are known, having featured on the BBC Radio 4 show since it launched 80 years ago, including Dame Judi Dench, Sir David Attenborough, Tom Hanks and Professor Stephen Hawking, Lauren admits that she struggles to whittle down her favourites.
"You're immersed in a different life every week," she explains. "And with every week - every interview that goes by - I think, 'Oh, this one has been my favourite!' Every single one is equally fascinating because of how much you learn about the world. One of my particular favourites was an interview with physicist Brian Greene because I went home and taught my husband [DJ Graeme Fisher] everything I’d learned about string theory. Who can say they learned that at work?”
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
A CITY OF TWO HALVES
There's a holiday for every budget to be found in Dubai, as OK!'s Faith Richardson discovered
'Christmas is a double whammy'
Chef James Martin on the pressures of dividing his time between his restaurants and his family over the festivities
LEARN HOW TO PLEASE YOURSELF
The festive season can be an incredibly stressful time, particularly for people-pleasers who struggle to put their own needs first
'There's a bit of faking it until you make it'
Actor Paul Mescal on entering the Gladiator II arena, building a blockbuster body for his role as fighter Lucius Verus, and heading up an A-list cast of Hollywood's finest stars
THE A-LIST HAIL HOLLYWOOD'S BIG HITTERS
A line-up of the film world's best-known faces attended this year's Governors Awards to celebrate lifetime achievements
'I think we arrived right on time'
The stars of the long-awaited film Wicked, Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, tell us why its themes are so relevant right now and why the musical is so dear to their hearts
'No one knows who I am'
Having first found fame on social media, GK Barry has become the breakout star of this year's I'm A Celebrity
'I still pinch myself about how we met'
Now legally married, MAFS Uk’s Adam and Tayah Aveling are looking forward to Christmas with their daughter and welcoming baby number two in 2025
THE ROYAL WEEK
It was a sad week for Queen Camilla, but a good week for the royal family’s charities with visits to hospitals and homeless centres
WILLIAM AND KATE'S MAGICAL CHRISTMAS
After a challenging year for the royal family, the Prince and Princess of Wales plan to give their children an unforgettable time filled with fun and festivities