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Sue Lawley's castaway is editor of the big issue John Bird.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Big Issue, John Bird. From a childhood in orphanages and approved schools, he has gone on to run the most successful street magazine in the world, with a circulation of over 250,000 a week in Britain and an overall turnover of some Β£24 million. With Big Issues in major cities all over Britain, Europe and the USA, he is returning his attention to his birthplace this time with his eye on becoming Mayor of London.

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

Favourite track: Caravan by Duke Ellington
Book: Encyclopaedia of London by Ben Weinreb
Luxury: Mont Blanc pen, notebook and ink

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 26 Jun 1998 09:00

Music Played

  • Arthur Tracy

    Trees

    • The Sweetest Song in the World.
    • Conifer.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Bolero

    Soloist: Louis Lortie and Helene Mercier

    • Music for Four Hands.
    • Chandos.
  • Come On

  • Bobby Darin

    Mack the Knife

    • That’s Jazz.
    • EMI.
  • Ferruccio Busoni

    Variations and Fugue on Chopin's C minor Prelude

    Soloist: Daniel Blumenthal

    • Variations & Fugue Op 22.
    • Autographe.
  • Chuck Berry

    Come On

    • The Great Twenty-Eight.
    • Chess.
  • Salad

    Kent

    • Singles Bar.
    • Island Red Label.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Duke Ellington

      Caravan

      • Duke Ellington and His Orchestra featuring Paul Gonsalves.
      • Fantasy.
  • Book Choice

    • Encyclopaedia of London - Ben Weinreb

  • Luxury Choice

    • Mont Blanc pen, notebook and ink

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest John Bird

Broadcasts

  • Sun 21 Jun 1998 11:15
  • Fri 26 Jun 1998 09:00

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