Danny Dyer has finally confirmed the book he’d take to a desert island with him – and it’s a rather unexpected choice. While some fans might expect the former EastEnders star to dip into an action novel or crime thriller while stranded on a remote beach somewhere, or perhaps one of his co-star Ross Kemp’s non-fiction releases, the actor went with a wholly different choice.
Appearing on BBC radio show Desert Island Discs with host Lauren Laverne, Danny named the eight songs he’d want to take with him, along with one luxury item. Lauren told him: “So Danny Dyer, it’s time to send you away to the island. I’m giving you the books, the Bible and the complete works of Shakespeare, and you can take one other book. What would you like to choose?”
Danny replied: “Obviously a book by Ray Mears. I think that would be a move, wouldn’t it, just because you know, sometimes I’d need some sort of reference for what I can eat, mushroom-wise.”
Lauren mused: “So a kind of survival tool? You can have it!” The book of Danny’s choosing was Ray Mears Essential Bushcraft: A Handbook of Survival. The synopsis describes it as “a handy portable compendium of vital survival skills and wisdom from around the world. Packed with essential wilderness techniques, this book is an invaluable companion on any expedition.”
Danny has written a few books of his own, including his autobiography Straight Up and The World According to Danny Dyer. He also helped to pen The Real Football Factories with Dominic Button, which delves into the stories of the “world’s hardest football fans”.
Lauren went on to ask Danny: “You can also have a luxury item, Danny, for pleasure or sensory stimulation – what are you choosing?”
The star explained: “Well, it will be because I’m quite obsessed with it now, a Lego of the Millennium Falcon. I’m sure it has probably about six or seven thousand pieces, I’m quite good with mindfulness and I need that.
“I did built Hogwarts once. A Lego Hogwarts, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Of course once you’ve built it you don’t quite know what to do with it, where does it sit? This is my dream one – I love Star Wars, the Millennium Falcon I think would take a long time to do it, until someone rescued me.”