Paul Weller

Musician Paul Weller is castaway by Kirsty Young.

As the lead singer of The Jam, the founder of The Style Council and a hugely successful solo artist, Paul is one of the most revered music writers and performers of the past 30 years and is cited as an influence by countless other singers.

In a rare interview, he describes the chronic shyness he had to overcome - and how fear still grips him before each performance.

Paul also reveals how, after he'd been dumped by his record label, he was unable to write songs - and found that even picking up a guitar felt alien to him.

His father has been a constant support to him - as his mentor as well as his manager - and has always believed that his son had something special.

DISC ONE: Small Faces - Tin Soldier
DISC TWO: Dinah Washington - September in the Rain
DISC THREE: Charles Mingus - Better Get Hit in Yo' Soul
DISC FOUR: James Brown - Don't Be A Dropout
DISC FIVE: Branford Marsalis with The English Chamber Orchestra - Claude Debussy’s Arabesque No. 1
DISC SIX: Declan O’Rourke - Galileo (Someone Like You)
DISC SEVEN: Nick Drake - River Man
DISC EIGHT: Roscoe Robinson - That's Enough

Favourite track: Tin Soldier by The Small Faces
Book: Absolute Beginners by Colin MacInnes
Luxury: A settee to sit on

Producer: Leanne Buckle

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in December 2007.