Indie icon and national treasure Morrissey is to appear on the legendary BBC Radio 4 programme Desert Island Discs.

The show, hosted by Kirsty Young, was created in 1942 and, according to the Guinness Book of Records, is the longest-running show in the history of radio. On it guests chosen from across the cultural landscape are invited to select eight songs that they would want to have with them if stranded on a desert island. They also get to choose one book and one other luxury item.

Morrissey will join a list of guests that in 2009 have included TV talent judge Piers Morgan, singer Barry Manilow, talk show host Jerry Springer and former Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Healey. The Radio 4 website reads: "Morrissey talks to presenter Kirsty Young about his life career and how he would cope on BBC Radio 4's mythical desert island."

The show will be broadcast on the radio station at 11:15am (GMT) on Sunday 29 November. The appearance follows the singer's recent guest spot on BBC One's TV magazine programme, The One Show, during which he chatted amiably with host Adrian Chiles.

It should come as a welcome diversion for Mozzer after something of an eventful period. Recently he collapsed onstage in Swindon, and then walked out of a gig in Liverpool after a plastic bottle thrown by a fan struck him on the side of the head. Organisers are said to be trying to persuade him to reschedule the Liverpool show.