Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Desert Island Discs

Discussion & Talk

Podcasts

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Factual: Life Stories

Castaway guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

Eight tracks, a book and a luxury: what would you take to a desert island? Guests share the soundtrack of their lives.

BBC Radio 4 LW

Desert Island Discs: Trevor Sorbie, hairdresser

Trevor Sorbie, hairdresser

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Trevor Sorbie, hairdresser

Trevor Sorbie, hairdresser, shares the soundtrack of his life with Lauren Laverne.

Trevor Sorbie, hairdresser, shares the eight tracks, a book and luxury he would want to take to a desert island. With Lauren Laverne.

Trevor Sorbie is known as an innovative hairdresser and is the founder of the charity, MyNewHair. 

Born into a family of hairdressers – both his father and grandfather were barbers – he spent the first decade of his life in Scotland before the family relocated to Essex. His first ambition was to become an artist, but when he left school aged 15 with no qualifications after being bullied, his father suggested that he could help out at his barbershop. Within three months, Trevor was cutting hair and found that he loved it. 

Five years down the line, however, he decided to learn about cutting women’s hair and following his training, his first job was at a Vidal Sassoon salon.  He would later go on to work at both John Frieda and Toni & Guy, before launching his own salon with his business partner in 1979. He invented several iconic haircuts of the era, including the Wedge and the Chop, and he came up with the technique of scrunch drying. His innovative styles won him the British Hairdresser of the Year award four times.  

In 2006, he set up his charity MyNewHair to teach hairdressers how to cut and style wigs after his sister-in-law lost her hair in the course of her cancer treatment. Since then, he has trained nearly a thousand hairdressers. He was the first hairdresser to be awarded an MBE by the Queen in 2004.

BOOK CHOICE:  All of Jeremy Clarkson’s books 
LUXURY:  A bottle of wine
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE:  My Sweet Lord by George Harrison

Presenter: Lauren Laverne
Producer:  Cathy Drysdale

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Desert Island Discs

Trevor Sorbie, hairdresser

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4