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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: Chris Patten

03/11/1996

Chris Patten

BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Chris Patten

Sue Lawley's castaway is Governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten

Sue Lawley's castaway is Governor of Hong Kong Chris Patten.

He's called "His Excellency" by some; to others he's "Fatty Patten". Next year he will hand over Hong Kong to the Chinese.

Chris Patten, this week's castaway on Desert Island Discs, describes the challenges of being the colony's last British Governor. He recalls the moment he won the election for the Conservative Party, but lost his own seat, and how, as Environment Secretary, he found himself implementing "the single most unpopular policy that any British government has tried to introduce since the last war" - the poll tax.

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

Favourite track: Mass No. 18 in C minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Book: A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Luxury: A bath

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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: The 1996 presidential election

The 1996 presidential election

BBC Radio 4 - Letter from America by Alistair Cooke, The 1996 presidential election

Bill Clinton's presidential victory 1996 

The results of the presidential elections and how technology is turning busy television studios into silent cathedrals, as discussed by Alistair Cooke.

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