Sylvia Vetta has been writing her ‘Castaways’ column for The Oxford Times’s award-winning colour magazine, Limited Edition, for six years, interviewing a selection of the great and good of Oxfordshire, as well as more ordinary people.

She asks them to choose three items — one piece of artwork, one object and one book — to take with them to a desert island called Oxtopia.

Now she has organised a live version of her column, adapted from the popular Desert Island Discs radio programme, to launch Castaways II, the second book based on her articles.

Unlike the radio programme, her castaways are not marooned on their own, but expected to live together and build an inspiring society.

BBC Oxford broadcaster Bill Heine will chair a debate among some of her castaways, asking them how they would do this.

In her introduction to the book, she says: “The island of Oxtopia is a fictional creation of mine and is blessed with a growing population — hence the need for this book.”

The event on April 24 will be at The Big Bang Restaurant at Oxford Castle from 8pm, and panellists will include poet Jenny Lewis, the Rev Charlotte Bannister-Parker, of St Mary’s Church, former Pegasus Theatre impresario Euton Daley and documentary maker Dai Richards. Supper can be ordered by emailing bookings@ thebigbangoxford.co.uk.

* Castaways II is published by James Harrison of Oxfordfolio at £9.99.