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Paul Dacre

Sue Lawley's castaway is Editor of the Daily Mail Paul Dacre.

This week Sue Lawley's castaway is one of Britain's most powerful newspaper men - Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail.

He was brought up in a household where news, and the coverage of it, was a daily topic of debate - his late father was a correspondent on the Daily Express - working variously as showbusiness editor, New York correspondent and foreign editor. His father's influence was tremendous and Paul Dacre says he can't remember a time when he didn't want to be a journalist and, in truth, an editor. He studied English at Leeds University but confesses to missing lectures in Anglo Saxon in favour of working on the student newspaper. Paul Dacre edited the student paper while Jack Straw was president of the students' union and, after graduating, he joined the Daily Express in Manchester. He became New York correspondent for the Express before being poached by the Daily Mail. He went on to edit the Evening Standard and turned down the editorship of The Times to take up the editorship of the Daily Mail. Away from the hectic world of newspapers, Paul Dacre spends his time at home, tending his garden and enjoying family life.

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

Favourite track: Theodora by George Frideric Handel
Book: The RHS A-Z encyclopaedia of Garden Plants by Christopher Brickell
Luxury: A subscription to the Guardian newspaper for one year

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 30 Jan 2004 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • The Oscar Peterson Trio

    Night Train

    • Night Train.
    • Verve.

  • Bing Crosby

    That's What Life Is All About

    • Just Breezin' Along.
    • EMI.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony No. 12 in D minor 'The Year 1917' - 4th movement

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Vladimir Ashkenazy

    • Shostakovich: Symphonies No. 3 & 12.
    • Decca.

  • Richard Wagner

    Tannhäuser (Overture)

    Orchestra: Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France. Conductor: Marek Janowski.

    Orchestra: New York Philharmonic Conductor: Zubin Mehta

    • Orchestral music from Tannhauser.
    • Sony Classical.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Variations on a Rococo Theme

    Soloist: Mstislav Rostropovich Orchestra: Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Dvorak: Tschaikowsky.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Aaron Copland

    Fanfare for the Common Man

    Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Carl Davis

    • Fanfare for the Common Man.
    • Virgo.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • George Frideric Handel

      Theodora

      Artist: Roberta Alexander Choir: The Arnold Schoenberg Choir

      • Theodora.
      • Teldec.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Requiem aeternam (from Requiem Mass)

    Artist: London Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

    • Verdi Requiem.
    • Chandos.

  • Book Choice

    • The RHS A-Z encyclopaedia of Garden Plants - Christopher Brickell

  • Luxury Choice

    • A subscription to the Guardian newspaper for one year

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Paul Dacre

Broadcasts

  • Sun 25 Jan 2004 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 30 Jan 2004 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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