BBC Radio 4 LW

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: Sir Terence Conran

01/09/1996

Sir Terence Conran

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Sir Terence Conran

Sue Lawley's castaway is interior designer Sir Terence Conran

Sue Lawley's castaway is interior designer Sir Terence Conran.

The castaway in Desert Island Discs this week is the designer and entrepreneur Terence Conran. He first came to fame with the Habitat store which introduced British shoppers to consumer delights like the chicken brick and the duvet. Now considered one of the country's most successful restaurateurs - he currently owns seven restaurants and is involved in designing another 17 - he'll be talking to Sue Lawley about his original foray into the restaurant world. His first venture was called The Soup Kitchen - and, misled by its name, attracted all the local tramps on its opening night. 

He'll also be describing how Picasso bought one of the first chairs he designed. Finally, he'll be talking about how, after a somewhat tumultuous personal life, he now feels he has achieved some sort of equanimity.

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

Favourite track: Keith Jarrett's Koln Concert Part One by Keith Jarrett
Book: History of the World by H G Wells
Luxury: An endless supply of A4 paper and 4B pencils

BBC Radio 4

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

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: Cruise missile strike in Iraq

Cruise missile strike in Iraq

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, Cruise missile strike in Iraq

The "unfinished" Gulf War and the use of cruise missiles.

The US cruise missile strike in Iraq, the claims that the first Gulf War was left unfinished and the complexities of the first conflict, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.

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