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Desert Island Discs

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.

Desert Island Discs: Jasper Conran

25/06/1995

Jasper Conran

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Jasper Conran

Sue Lawley's castaway is designer Jasper Conran

Sue Lawley's castaway is designer Jasper Conran.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is clothes designer Jasper Conran. Son of Sir Terence Conran and Shirley Conran, he has art, design and business in his blood and was always determined to make his own way in the world of fashion without parental influence. He has said, "in a family like mine, if you're not successful, you drown".

He'll be telling Sue Lawley about his difficult childhood of nannies and his public school where he was bullied for being overweight, all of which he overcame to win a scholarship to the prestigious Parsons School of Art in New York. After that, his career took off and, at the age of 27, he was named Designer of the Year. By the late 1980s he was almost bankrupt and had to re-invent his business to a 1990s-type smaller and more manageable outfit.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] 

Favourite track: Tosca Vissi D' Arte by Giacomo Puccini
Book: Tales by Hoffman
Luxury: Vintage Krug Champagne (endless supply)

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Letter from America by Alistair Cooke

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics, as broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from 1946 – 2004.

Alistair Cooke’s weekly talks on American life, history and politics. Over 900 programmes, as broadcast from 1946 – 2004.

Letter from America by Alistair Cooke: St Patrick's parade ban

St Patrick's parade ban

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, St Patrick's parade ban

The ban of homosexuals and bisexuals from the St Patrick's Day parade by Boston veterans.

The ruling allowing a group of Boston war veterans to ban homosexuals and bisexuals from the St Patricks Day parade, and the division it has caused in America.

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