The BBC has been forced to cancel the 70th anniversary celebration of Desert Island Discs after it was discovered the needle on the gramophone player used by Kirsty Young to play the records had all but worn away.

And although a BBC engineer had been sent out to buy a new needle for the player - a Philco 46-1203 Deluxe - it appears the manufacturer had stopped producing that particular range of needle back in the summer of 1947.

The producers of the programme are said to be 'devastated' after being told a replacement needle could not be found and that last week's episode will almost certainly be the last ever broadcast.

The first broadcast went out on 29th January 1942 and has been a firm favourite of radio listeners ever since. But it seems an oversight by BBC technicians in forgetting to buy another needle at the time of purchase means the turn-table has already spun its very last desert island disc.

A tearful Kirsty Young, who once famously said she would still like to be doing the programme when she 'turned 85' has had her dreams shattered with just weeks to spare.

Kirsty has been presenting the programme since 2006 and despite all the creature comforts available to have on the island, still maintains her luxury item would be an Anne Summers solar powered vibrator and a mega tube of minty KY

Hopes were raised briefly when a member of the public sent in a similar looking needle to the 46-1203....but sadly, it turned out to be for the 46-1205 instead.

Oh FFS Gerontius, give it a break