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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)

Available now

40 minutes

Last on

Fri 30 Jun 1995 09:05
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Duke Of Westminster

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Music Played

  • Billie Holiday

    On The Sunny Side Of The Street

    • I'll Be Seeing You.
    • Commodore.

  • Dusty Springfield

    Son Of A Preacher Man

    • Dusty In Memphis.
    • Rhino.

  • Big Brother & the Holding Company

    Summertime

    • The Indian Runner.
    • Capitol Records.

  • Gloria Gaynor

    I Will Survive

    • Hits Of 79 & 80.
    • Polydor.

  • Ike & Tina Turner

    River Deep - Mountain High

    • The Best Of The Rock N Roll Years Vol 2.
    • Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

  • Γ‰dith Piaf

    La Vie En Rose

    • Edith Piaf: 25th Anniversary Vol. 1.
    • Columbia.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Giacomo Puccini

      Vissi d'arte (from Tosca)

      Soloist: Maria Callas

      • Opera - Passion 2.
      • EMI.

  • Marilyn Monroe

    Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend

    • Memories Are Made Of This.
    • Dino Entertainment.

  • Book Choice

    • Tales - Hoffman

  • Luxury Choice

    • Vintage Krug Champagne (endless supply)

Credits

Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest Jasper Conran

Broadcasts

  • Sun 25 Jun 1995 12:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Fri 30 Jun 1995 09:05
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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