1 00:00:04,480 --> 00:00:08,240 Today I'm going on a style journey with the extraordinary 2 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:13,720 Dame Prudence Margaret Leith DBE, more commonly known as the 3 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,520 South African restaurateur, television presenter, 4 00:00:16,520 --> 00:00:20,120 broadcaster, cookery writer and novelist Prue Leaf. 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:26,160 Hello and welcome, Prue. Wow, it's such an honour to have 6 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:27,920 you here. It really is. 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,640 Thank you that it's such fun to to be here. 8 00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,400 Well, I'm. I'm impressed. 9 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:37,920 It's 9:00 in the morning and you are here with colour and smiles 10 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:42,400 and beautiful makeup. And for a person in their 9th 11 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:46,720 decade, you seem to be speeding up, not slowing down. 12 00:00:47,000 --> 00:00:50,040 Oh, I keep thinking I'm slowing down and that's it. 13 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:52,640 Remotely. I mean, what what? 14 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:55,920 What is the project that's really making your heart sing at 15 00:00:55,920 --> 00:00:58,640 the moment? I think the thing that I'm most 16 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,480 happy with at the moment is we've got this new little telly 17 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:04,640 thing that goes on on Saturday mornings. 18 00:01:04,920 --> 00:01:09,920 It's called Fruit Leafs Cotswold Kitchen and it's a cookery 19 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:13,600 program, which to be honest, I wasn't that interested in doing 20 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:15,440 because I think I've spent my whole life cooking. 21 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:17,880 It'll be quite fun to do something that was wasn't 22 00:01:17,880 --> 00:01:23,160 cooking, but ITV persuaded me that Saturday morning. 23 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:27,640 It's perfect for cooking and I've really loved it because 24 00:01:27,880 --> 00:01:31,840 it's tremendously casual. And I invite people. 25 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:34,640 If we get a second series out, you'll have to come. 26 00:01:35,440 --> 00:01:37,640 It's just fun. You invite people you think are 27 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,760 interesting and fun, and then we talk about other things other 28 00:01:40,760 --> 00:01:47,360 than food and we also cook. And so for example, we had, when 29 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:52,840 Sandy Toxford came, we did a recipe that Enid Blyton had put 30 00:01:52,840 --> 00:02:00,040 into a charity mag in 1930 or something, and it was sort of 31 00:02:00,760 --> 00:02:04,400 ham and egg pie. It was actually disgusting, but 32 00:02:04,400 --> 00:02:07,800 it was so interesting. But I would think Sandy is just 33 00:02:07,800 --> 00:02:11,000 so funny with it. In fact, I've seen a slippage of 34 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:12,600 it. She thought it was delicious, 35 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,480 but it would have been good if the pastry had been properly 36 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,680 cooked. But the lovely thing is that 37 00:02:17,680 --> 00:02:20,920 I've decided that I'm not going to do anything twice. 38 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:24,200 You know, in all cookery programs, the home economists 39 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:27,920 have a whole lot of extra chickens or extra onions or 40 00:02:27,920 --> 00:02:31,520 whatever it is so that you can mess up and then you can redo 41 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:33,960 it. But I we haven't got time and 42 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:37,320 we've only got a a day to do each program. 43 00:02:37,960 --> 00:02:39,920 And so I just thought, this is silly. 44 00:02:39,920 --> 00:02:41,640 We'll just do it like you would at home. 45 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:46,560 So quite often I'm trying to show you some wonderful trick 46 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:51,840 and it doesn't work. And then and then I just say, 47 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:54,000 oh, well, that didn't work. But you know, sometimes it 48 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:56,320 works. But there's something so 49 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:02,320 collaborative and social about cooking together. 50 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:07,480 I mean, I I still make marmalade with my 90 year old mother and 51 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:11,920 we love doing it together so. Yes, I agree if. 52 00:03:11,920 --> 00:03:14,840 You've got a Marga. I'll come and make my my lemon 53 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,360 marmalade which? I I do always make marmalade. 54 00:03:18,760 --> 00:03:21,280 I want to understand what makes you tick. 55 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:24,600 Sartorially. Sartorially, yes. 56 00:03:24,640 --> 00:03:27,960 And so how did you decide what you were putting on this 57 00:03:27,960 --> 00:03:31,120 morning? Well, to be absolutely honest, 58 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:34,400 I'm put, I put on this morning exactly what I put on yesterday 59 00:03:35,280 --> 00:03:37,680 because I came up from the country and I don't like 60 00:03:37,680 --> 00:03:42,080 carrying too much and I had to have a suitcase full of evening 61 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,080 clothes for last night. So I'm just dressed in what I 62 00:03:45,080 --> 00:03:51,000 was dressed in yesterday and that's happened because I I 63 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:55,480 don't know, I I have a lot of these little jackets like Giles 64 00:03:55,480 --> 00:04:01,160 with in every color with no sleeves and I'm really 65 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,360 comfortable without sleeves. So underneath I always have a 66 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:09,040 shirt and a gilay on top and so I choose a shirt and then think, 67 00:04:09,040 --> 00:04:12,280 well it might be chilly. So I put so this is a pink 68 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:13,960 shirt. Well it's actually a top. 69 00:04:14,800 --> 00:04:18,880 This is my top, one of my tops. I'm I have a little range with 70 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:23,120 Kettlewell, Kettlewell. Kettlewell have fantastic colour 71 00:04:23,680 --> 00:04:28,520 which is why I went with them because they they have an 72 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,360 amazing range of colours. Most most fashion houses are 73 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:37,720 deeply into Gray and and beige and cream and elegant, elegant 74 00:04:37,720 --> 00:04:43,800 clothes like you are wearing. And so if they have anything 75 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,320 they have one red thing or one yellow thing or something. 76 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:49,320 But Kettlewell really believes in colour. 77 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:53,600 And are you very particular about the shade of pink? 78 00:04:53,600 --> 00:04:54,520 The shade. Of yellow. 79 00:04:54,520 --> 00:04:59,520 I'm all into tone and the tone of colour is what matters. 80 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,960 I'd you know, people often say to me, I bought you this or 81 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,680 something because I know you love colour and I look at it and 82 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:10,160 I think not that colour because I I like very clean colour. 83 00:05:10,160 --> 00:05:11,400 I was. Going to say. 84 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:15,560 I now think that a lot of my colour comes from the fact that 85 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:20,320 South Africa is so clean and bright and the sky is really 86 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:26,240 blue and the the sea is greeny blue and but it's they are all 87 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:31,040 clean club and the flowers are all very in your face. 88 00:05:31,080 --> 00:05:33,200 I mean, there's nothing subtle about South African. 89 00:05:33,320 --> 00:05:37,360 Flower, Yes, but it's that beautiful pure color, isn't it? 90 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,680 Found, Found in nature. Do you get back there much? 91 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:44,000 I do. I do, because there's a a chef 92 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:48,360 school called the Prue Leaf Culinary Institute rather 93 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,040 grandly in Johannesburg. As it should be. 94 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:54,120 And so I go there to see how they're getting on. 95 00:05:54,400 --> 00:05:57,000 I mean, after the first time in my life I've had somebody to 96 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,680 actually help me with clothes and stuff because of just having 97 00:06:00,680 --> 00:06:03,160 to do so much. And she's wonderful. 98 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,640 She runs, she's called Jane Galpin and she does it and she 99 00:06:06,640 --> 00:06:09,240 has a company called How to Look Good. 100 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:14,200 And she got me straight away when I was before I was on Bake 101 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:21,640 Off, I was on some show called My Kitchen Rules and I just, she 102 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,800 was just given to me. And I was used to being having 103 00:06:25,280 --> 00:06:31,800 stylists who were very, very young and they tended to want to 104 00:06:31,800 --> 00:06:34,160 put me into things that late they'd like to wear. 105 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:40,920 So I was always being asked to wear shirt shirts was Fully 106 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,440 Cuffs, which is. Useless in the kitchen I. 107 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:48,840 Useless in the kitchen and be just not my style and all sort 108 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:54,040 of baby doll things in it. And I'm a large lady, you don't 109 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:56,080 want to put me in a baby doll dress. 110 00:06:56,760 --> 00:07:00,640 And anyhow, but Jane came along and she absolutely got it. 111 00:07:00,640 --> 00:07:03,760 You know, block colours, clean, simple. 112 00:07:03,840 --> 00:07:06,320 And did she take you out of your comfort zone at all? 113 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:09,880 Yes, she often does, and she often comes with and the best 114 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:11,440 thing, because I've never liked shopping. 115 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:13,160 I absolutely love. That's why. 116 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,280 I started my label. Yeah, because I hated shopping. 117 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:19,320 Exactly. Well, exactly. 118 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,560 I hate shopping, but I do love clothes. 119 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:27,400 And she she just arrives with a rack full of clothes and flaps 120 00:07:27,400 --> 00:07:29,680 through them. And I say what I don't like, but 121 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:31,320 very often I say, well, I don't like that. 122 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,600 And she'll just try it on. And I've tried on it. 123 00:07:34,640 --> 00:07:36,480 I love it. And I was going to say, how 124 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,280 often is it actually, you've got a good point. 125 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:43,320 There very often, very often. But the other, my other great 126 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:49,080 influence in my fashion, if you like or style, is my husband who 127 00:07:49,080 --> 00:07:53,280 was in the trade. I was going to ask about that. 128 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:58,920 Well, he he started as a salesman for a French fashion 129 00:07:58,920 --> 00:08:03,840 house and he so he got into fashion and he'd been to art 130 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:06,360 school. So he somehow got himself into 131 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:10,920 the designing side of it and he ended up with three factories in 132 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:13,760 the middle of London in the days in you know, where the red trade 133 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:15,680 was all round Golden Square and so. 134 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:21,280 And he had, and he made clothes for Louis Ferrero, who he'd 135 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,280 never heard of anymore. But of course you'd you'd know. 136 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,240 Back in the 70s. And 80s, that's right. 137 00:08:27,480 --> 00:08:33,240 And so he had a he had a really high class women's fashion. 138 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,280 He mostly was known for jackets and raised sort of structured, 139 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,960 more tailored things. And he and he does that 140 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:46,440 beautifully. But he then he SAT one day. 141 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:50,760 It's a lovely story. But one day the he had these 142 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:55,440 enormous fashion shows and I used to get all these a sort of 143 00:08:55,440 --> 00:08:59,120 Madam Shop ladies who would come all over the country, who would 144 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:02,320 come to see what he had to to show. 145 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:06,040 And one one day he had this enormous show going on and his 146 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,360 secretary came up and said there's a girl from British 147 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:12,800 Airways here and I think she's somebody's guest. 148 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,640 But anyhow she is really keen to have some jacket. 149 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:18,760 And John was very busy and said oh for goodness sake, just give 150 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:20,320 her one and give her what she wants. 151 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:24,680 And he said, well, she wants 30,000 of them. 152 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,240 Amazing. And it was British Airways 153 00:09:28,240 --> 00:09:31,000 wanting at one of his stretcher jackets, and he suddenly 154 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:34,400 realized that making uniforms was bliss. 155 00:09:34,400 --> 00:09:39,720 Because you have 30,000 orders of the same jacket in the same 156 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:47,320 colour and different sizes, but you it's just so much better 157 00:09:47,320 --> 00:09:51,640 than one really picky rich lady who doesn't like the yellow 158 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:56,040 buttons or says you know that's not not my color or and keep 159 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,440 saying she's a 16 when she's obviously an 18. 160 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:03,200 I have total empathy for him, but does he get involved in your 161 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:07,680 styling sessions with Jane? He does, and not so much. 162 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,160 Not so much. He sort of leaves Jane Bake Off 163 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:15,880 to Jane and he but he can't resist. 164 00:10:15,880 --> 00:10:20,880 He's become addicted to shopping on the Internet and for you, for 165 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:24,920 me and he and he and he is really good at it. 166 00:10:24,960 --> 00:10:28,520 It's mostly shirts and tops and things, but there are some 167 00:10:28,520 --> 00:10:31,400 amazing things for very little money. 168 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,560 And of course I keep saying, well, there's probably, you 169 00:10:34,560 --> 00:10:39,280 know, poor Chinese children, you know, in sweatshops making this 170 00:10:39,280 --> 00:10:41,840 stuff. And and then he says yes, but 171 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,480 that's probably all the money that that family gets, you know? 172 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,400 That that is the argument, isn't it? 173 00:10:46,400 --> 00:10:48,280 So you know, if we stop buying that. 174 00:10:48,560 --> 00:10:50,600 Yes, I I don't know what's the right thing to do. 175 00:10:50,600 --> 00:10:53,440 But anyhow I can't stop him because he is absolutely. 176 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:57,600 And so he often we have, you know, we'll be going to bed. 177 00:10:57,600 --> 00:11:02,040 And he says, well before you take the brown pants off, I've 178 00:11:02,040 --> 00:11:04,320 got these. And then we have this sort of 179 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:08,000 parade, rather. And they are amazing, some 180 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,280 really good stuff and beautifully made. 181 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:14,160 I remember buying stuff off the Internet years ago and it was so 182 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:16,600 badly made that you know you you didn't do it again. 183 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:20,640 But he would have the eye for the detail, so I bet you he 184 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:25,040 spends a long time zooming in on images to make sure that that 185 00:11:25,040 --> 00:11:27,600 detail is. And I'm completely conflicted in 186 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,320 this because I love the result of all this scrolling through 187 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:34,200 the his phone, but I really hate him scrolling through this. 188 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:36,760 You've got a. Teenager at the table. 189 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:40,000 I've got a teen, you know, I'll be watching. 190 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:41,960 We'll be watching some really good movie. 191 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,800 And then I suddenly realised that he's actually looking at 192 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:47,800 fashion. I think it was fantastic built 193 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:51,400 in, stylish. Just going back to South Africa 194 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:55,400 and your childhood for a moment. Your mother was an actress. 195 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:57,320 Were you very aware of her style? 196 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:03,480 Yes, she was really very elegant when I was at school. 197 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:08,080 I'd really resented it because I wanted, I want. 198 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,960 She was very well known actress. She was South Africa's sort of 199 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:15,720 premier actress and so she never came to the school fate and she 200 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,320 didn't make cakes and she wasn't fat and cuddly. 201 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:24,840 She was very elegant. She wore hats and and she, her 202 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:28,360 picture was in the paper all the time and and I really didn't 203 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:36,440 like that and I remember once the head teacher said to me, 204 00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:40,080 we've invited your mum to come and talk to the girls about 205 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:44,520 Shakespeare. I think about Shakespeare and I 206 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:47,520 just thought oh I can't bear it. I'll die of embarrassment. 207 00:12:47,560 --> 00:12:51,200 And so I went to right to the back of the hall and sort of 208 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:54,680 hid. So I, you know, I really thought 209 00:12:54,680 --> 00:12:56,360 I could just slip out of back need. 210 00:12:57,120 --> 00:13:00,920 And she came onto the stage looking unbelievably glamorous 211 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:07,480 and she she's told us the story of Romeo and Juliet and then she 212 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:12,800 was Juliet and she became this 14 year old girl in love and she 213 00:13:12,800 --> 00:13:16,560 was absolutely magic and she had the whole school just 214 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:19,240 completely. And then she became Hamlet and 215 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,800 Horatio and then she Henry the Fifth. 216 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:23,560 And and it didn't matter what she did. 217 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:26,760 She had a little box of hats that she wore to sort of change. 218 00:13:27,560 --> 00:13:32,400 And and I walked out of that hall thinking, my mother's an 219 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:34,640 actress. Of course she can't make cakes 220 00:13:34,640 --> 00:13:37,920 and come to school face. I was so proud of her. 221 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,760 Oh. What a lovely story. 222 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:44,080 And then I really began to appreciate the way she looked. 223 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:47,080 It was the fashion when I was leaving school. 224 00:13:47,400 --> 00:13:54,040 It was this end of the end of the 50s really. 225 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:59,640 And she the fashion was shirt waisters, really beautiful 226 00:13:59,640 --> 00:14:03,440 cotton, nicely made shirt waist and she had quite a low waist 227 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:05,960 and so she looked great in the shirt waist. 228 00:14:06,920 --> 00:14:10,120 And in those days, you know little girls wanted to look like 229 00:14:10,120 --> 00:14:12,800 their mothers. Now of course, they wanted to 230 00:14:13,120 --> 00:14:15,120 look as anything but not like their mother. 231 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:18,600 And so did you follow her style? So I did. 232 00:14:18,600 --> 00:14:21,360 And I couldn't pin pinch her clothes because she was smaller 233 00:14:21,360 --> 00:14:24,640 than me. But I did like you know and I 234 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,320 yes, yes, I. Did and so you went from grunge 235 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,600 colours to. Shirt waisted? 236 00:14:30,720 --> 00:14:33,880 Yes, clean. Do you think it was sort of, was 237 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:39,000 that talk at the school quite a catalytic moment in your 238 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:41,480 relationship with your mother? No, I don't think so. 239 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:45,240 To be honest, when I was young we didn't think a lot. 240 00:14:45,320 --> 00:14:49,440 It was only when I became about, I suppose, when I got into boys, 241 00:14:49,440 --> 00:14:52,320 you know, 16 or so, that I became really interested in what 242 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:55,480 I wore. But as a child, you know, I see 243 00:14:55,480 --> 00:15:00,000 my grandchildren fussing about what T-shirt they get to wear 244 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:04,320 and what sneakers they get to put on, and they're two or 245 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,560 three, but they mind about their clothes. 246 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,000 I never, I will always pull the T-shirt that was on the top of 247 00:15:12,000 --> 00:15:14,840 the pile and that's what I wore. And it didn't matter if it 248 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:18,480 didn't go with the shorts. It's it's fascinating, isn't it? 249 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,520 I wonder if it's this bombardment of visual 250 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:24,960 information we're getting from the television, from the 251 00:15:24,960 --> 00:15:28,920 Internet and all the rest of it, whether that just sort of sparks 252 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:33,360 the synapses in a different way to when we were growing up. 253 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:36,600 I think so. Well, it might be that or it 254 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:41,360 might be. Yes, I I think it's it's it's a 255 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:45,640 mostly I imagine, about television and now phones that 256 00:15:45,640 --> 00:15:49,040 you're constantly bombarded with pictures of how you're meant to 257 00:15:49,040 --> 00:15:51,160 look. Yeah, it's a bit unhealthy 258 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:52,120 really. I'm. 259 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,080 I'm not convinced that it's the healthiest thing, but it is. 260 00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:59,400 It's it's life. I mean, you then moved to Paris. 261 00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:04,520 Yeah, As a teenager, Yes, I did. And did your style change 262 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,240 dramatically then or did it just evolve? 263 00:16:08,960 --> 00:16:13,480 Do you know, I don't remember ever thinking about clothes at 264 00:16:13,480 --> 00:16:16,520 all when I was in Paris? I must have and then. 265 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,480 You came to London at the beginning of the. 60s, didn't 266 00:16:19,520 --> 00:16:21,720 you? That's exactly. 267 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:24,720 And then I did become really interested in fashion because 268 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:26,760 the 60s were so obvious. Yeah. 269 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:30,440 And so colorful. And Bieber had arrived. 270 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,520 And I remember queuing for purple suede boots and Bieber. 271 00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:36,840 God, don't. You wish you still had. 272 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:38,240 Them I do. And you know what? 273 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,720 I did have them for many, many years. 274 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,480 They were, they were. They were well made Bieber 275 00:16:43,480 --> 00:16:44,640 stuff. It was beautiful. 276 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,720 Anyway, so I and I had, you know, the Kings Rd. was, I 277 00:16:49,720 --> 00:16:54,880 remember buying a a sequin actually a little sleeveless 278 00:16:54,880 --> 00:16:59,960 waistcoat in sequins, which was just a little like clowns outfit 279 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:00,440 really. But. 280 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:02,760 It was 60s. Yeah, it was fabulous. 281 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:08,400 And I and I and I wore masses of necklaces, mostly long beads, 282 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:11,400 you know, all together. And was the the love of 283 00:17:11,400 --> 00:17:15,079 necklaces, do you think that was inspired by Africa or was that 284 00:17:15,079 --> 00:17:17,319 inspired by? Fashion At the time, a lot of my 285 00:17:17,319 --> 00:17:20,880 necklaces in those days were African because of the beading 286 00:17:21,599 --> 00:17:23,880 and I was used to buy them and when I went back to South 287 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:27,160 Africa. Something about the movement of 288 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:32,320 clothes and jewelry that I think is quite important, yes. 289 00:17:32,320 --> 00:17:37,760 And that's and and when I often think the point about necklaces 290 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:44,600 is sort of to hold your clothes against you so that you it sort 291 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:48,160 of accentuates your shape. They're an anchor, aren't they? 292 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,040 Yes, they are. They are and and so and I I I 293 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:54,000 fuss about whether my necklace should be. 294 00:17:54,520 --> 00:17:56,880 I mean this sort of one. This is one of mine by the way 295 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:01,360 you. You have become a fashion icon 296 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,640 in this. In this time of your life, how 297 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:09,520 do you feel about the fact that you are you're you are actually 298 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:11,760 a fashion. I I mean, you are. 299 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:16,280 You're becoming our Irish apple. Oh my God, I hope not. 300 00:18:16,840 --> 00:18:20,760 I do very much like the fact that a lot of women write to me 301 00:18:20,760 --> 00:18:26,800 or say to me, you know, I never dared wear colour until I saw 302 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:30,760 that you did it. And and some of them unhappily 303 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:36,320 say things like, um, you know, I used to wear color, but after I 304 00:18:36,320 --> 00:18:38,920 turned 50, I don't think it's appropriate now. 305 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:44,400 And I think, I think this is so sad and and that's why I do 306 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:50,960 really feel it's fantastic that you're embracing colour and I 307 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:52,920 mean let's talk about your glasses. 308 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,160 So that's another little collaboration you've got going. 309 00:18:56,160 --> 00:18:58,520 I know I've got lots of these little businesses going but 310 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:01,120 that's because I'm I actually love business. 311 00:19:01,120 --> 00:19:05,720 I I've always loved it. I I I I hugely enjoy it and when 312 00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:11,840 I sold my restaurant and school and and umm catering companies, 313 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:15,120 I really missed it. I I you know, I just it's a 314 00:19:15,120 --> 00:19:19,000 funny thing to say but I think I get almost the same buzz out of 315 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:23,560 a profit and loss sheet as I used to get out of a perfect 316 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:27,200 wedding buffet in it I. I can understand that because it 317 00:19:27,200 --> 00:19:30,800 has creative challenges. You know, being an entrepreneur, 318 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:35,240 which I consider you to be, and you fantastic restaurateur and 319 00:19:35,240 --> 00:19:38,400 broadcaster and all the rest of it, but you, you have an 320 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:41,600 entrepreneurial spirit. I do, and I absolutely love it. 321 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,560 And I I I really think it's so sad. 322 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,720 So many young people. Less so now because it's 323 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:51,240 becoming much more fashionable to be entrepreneurial and young 324 00:19:51,240 --> 00:19:54,840 people often know better than older people about IT. 325 00:19:56,160 --> 00:20:01,080 Businesses. But there used to be a feeling 326 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:05,920 that anything to do with business was naff. 327 00:20:05,920 --> 00:20:12,400 You know you didn't profit was a bad word and and you and it 328 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:15,080 would be very boring to go into a company. 329 00:20:15,640 --> 00:20:18,560 You know you had to be an artist or an actress or something. 330 00:20:19,120 --> 00:20:21,840 And you know, it's business is really exciting. 331 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:23,320 It is. I love it. 332 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:25,000 Well, yeah, of course you did very well. 333 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:32,080 I I think that my let me say what I've done is is the glasses 334 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:38,160 came from the fact that I could only find one company that that 335 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:42,640 had enough color in their glasses and enough variety and 336 00:20:42,640 --> 00:20:46,040 so in the end I did a deal with them and so that started the 337 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:51,440 glasses thing and then something similar with necklaces. 338 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:54,240 Jane has helped me a lot because she she does a lot of the 339 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:02,880 quality, quality control and and yeah, so but I I love it. 340 00:21:03,120 --> 00:21:05,480 I mean, they don't make it really, don't hardly make any 341 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:08,120 money at all, but as long as they break even or make a bit. 342 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:12,920 But it but it's fun and it gives you an endless supply of. 343 00:21:13,480 --> 00:21:14,960 Wonderful. Yes, Wonderful. 344 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:16,240 It does. It does. 345 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:18,720 Can we talk about shoes for a second, though? 346 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:23,120 Because, God, I think everyone, It doesn't matter what your age 347 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:28,040 is, you know, after lockdown, no woman I know wanted to go back 348 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:33,400 into a pair of heels. And I know that I love being in 349 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,720 flats. And you know, as you get older, 350 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:40,440 you really probably don't want to totter around on heels. 351 00:21:40,440 --> 00:21:47,480 But I feel that the right pair of shoes can make you so much 352 00:21:47,480 --> 00:21:51,960 more youthful or make you so much older if they're wrong. 353 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:56,520 And, and I mean, how many women do we see in their 70s and 80s 354 00:21:56,520 --> 00:22:00,680 and 90s looking a lot older just because of their footwear? 355 00:22:00,680 --> 00:22:01,960 Yeah. And because they're they're 356 00:22:01,960 --> 00:22:04,080 they're tottering because they're uncomfortable. 357 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:08,440 Yes, but even the Flats, you know, sometimes it's just what I 358 00:22:08,440 --> 00:22:11,320 call granny shoes and they don't need to be because I'm looking 359 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:17,360 at you today in your fabulous sneakers with the pink laces and 360 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:21,360 do you have a a shoe license? No, I don't. 361 00:22:21,400 --> 00:22:22,560 A sneaker. License. 362 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,120 You should do. But these are these. 363 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:27,720 These are called soul bliss and I love them because they're 364 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,480 really comfortable. Yeah, very soft leather, but 365 00:22:30,480 --> 00:22:33,360 they're trainers, but they're leather and they're and they 366 00:22:33,360 --> 00:22:36,880 come in every colour and then and they all laces, but they 367 00:22:36,920 --> 00:22:41,160 look, you can change the laces. And I and I love that because, 368 00:22:41,520 --> 00:22:46,600 you know, you could have a very sturdy. 369 00:22:47,040 --> 00:22:50,080 Yeah. Older looking pair of shoes on, 370 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,360 Let's put it that. Way and it would. 371 00:22:52,520 --> 00:22:55,960 It would take your whole appearance in a different 372 00:22:55,960 --> 00:22:59,440 direction. So do you still wear any heels? 373 00:22:59,760 --> 00:23:03,320 Do you know I've got one pair of heels which I've had probably 374 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:08,200 for 10 years, which is they're suede boots and their ankle 375 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:11,360 boots and they're Russell and Bromley and they're absolutely 376 00:23:11,360 --> 00:23:13,080 so comfortable. I I can't tell you. 377 00:23:13,920 --> 00:23:18,600 And the trouble is that since lockdown, I haven't worn them, 378 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:22,040 but I can't throw them away. I absolutely cannot. 379 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:24,400 Do they still fit you? Yes, they do. 380 00:23:24,640 --> 00:23:27,320 No 'cause that's interesting, cause a lot of people talk about 381 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:33,040 how their feet me too, spread during lockdown and slopping 382 00:23:33,040 --> 00:23:38,200 around and working stocks. No, no, I think no, they they do 383 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:40,560 slop it. And I wore them the other day in 384 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:43,520 the house and I thought, you know, I could, but I suppose I'm 385 00:23:43,520 --> 00:23:46,640 actually now quite nervous of falling over and stuff and they 386 00:23:46,640 --> 00:23:49,800 are quite high, but I can't throw them away. 387 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,920 Yes, but but why do you need to? Why do you need to? 388 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:59,000 Can we talk about dressing for awards ceremonies and dinners 389 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:02,520 and how? How do you approach all of that? 390 00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:07,600 Well, my, I realised that if you've got a cope with the red 391 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:12,280 carpet, that what you don't want is what young people manage it 392 00:24:12,280 --> 00:24:18,760 to do, which I can't do, which is walk down in the winter with 393 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:25,000 nothing on top, you know, a sort of bare arms and low dress and 394 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:32,080 or sleeveless or sometimes strapless, however glamorous it 395 00:24:32,080 --> 00:24:33,400 is. I mean, I just shivering to. 396 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:35,720 I can't bear it all. I'm thinking about. 397 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:37,640 I'm freezing. I've got can't you know. 398 00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:40,560 Kept me off here. And so I find myself wearing my 399 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:46,800 old raincoat or or coat coat. So what I like to do is to have 400 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:51,960 something that looks quite good without a coat because so that 401 00:24:52,160 --> 00:24:54,120 you can. Go straight from the car. 402 00:24:54,120 --> 00:24:58,040 Yeah, exactly. So. 403 00:24:58,600 --> 00:25:03,120 And I've got a I've got one coat, which is, which is really 404 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:09,560 good for that because it's it's bright red and it has a sort of 405 00:25:09,560 --> 00:25:14,600 fake fox fur collar. Huge and and sleeves, so it 406 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:16,120 doesn't really matter what's underneath it. 407 00:25:16,120 --> 00:25:20,920 The coat itself is so glamorous. What about a vintage kimono? 408 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:24,240 Yes, that would look like nice. Too get Jane onto that. 409 00:25:24,360 --> 00:25:26,280 And I think that could be. Fabulous. 410 00:25:26,480 --> 00:25:29,400 She has got given me a got me a couple of kimono. 411 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:33,240 I do like the style. Yes, yeah, I I was always very 412 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,280 inspired by the simplicity of it and and the fabrics and the 413 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:38,840 colours are. I know. 414 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,320 And the embroidery on on a good kimono. 415 00:25:41,320 --> 00:25:42,560 Just so beautiful. Yeah. 416 00:25:43,400 --> 00:25:49,720 What is amazing now is how. How the most exquisite 417 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:53,960 embroidery happens all by computer in India or somewhere. 418 00:25:54,240 --> 00:25:57,880 And it's honestly, it's better than anything you've ever seen 419 00:25:57,880 --> 00:26:00,160 It. It is extraordinary. 420 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,840 How the? Fine. 421 00:26:02,840 --> 00:26:09,480 Yes it is and and and the the embroideries onto mesh actually 422 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:13,960 look like lace now and beautiful but you know phenomenal seeing, 423 00:26:13,960 --> 00:26:18,560 seeing all of that development. When do you think you really 424 00:26:18,560 --> 00:26:25,800 discovered your style DNA? Do you know I think I'm still 425 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:28,960 am. I mean, I I I still quite like, 426 00:26:29,600 --> 00:26:33,000 I mean I think it's John is really, I've been with John now 427 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:36,840 for 13 years and he has. I think he made a real 428 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:40,720 difference because he often produced stuff that I would not 429 00:26:40,720 --> 00:26:45,120 have thought of and says go on try it and it works. 430 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:49,400 So I think probably the last 10 years I've had more fun. 431 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:50,520 Yeah. Mm hmm. 432 00:26:50,680 --> 00:26:53,680 It it strikes me also you're having more fun with your hair, 433 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,840 You know, have this lovely choppy haircut. 434 00:26:57,160 --> 00:27:00,720 Yeah, and that feels more youthful. 435 00:27:00,840 --> 00:27:03,720 Yeah, and when I. Look at pictures of you 20 years 436 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,520 ago. I think you look younger now 437 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:07,360 than you did 20. Years, you know, and that is 438 00:27:07,360 --> 00:27:10,320 definitely John because he wanted to get that my hair off 439 00:27:10,320 --> 00:27:13,200 my face and so that. So that's what started this 440 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:15,400 business of pushing it up and back love it. 441 00:27:15,560 --> 00:27:18,480 And I always thought I had to have a fringe to hide my 442 00:27:18,960 --> 00:27:22,760 wrinkles on my stop it. Not my for it, Lisa. 443 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:28,360 Forget it. I mean, with 318,000 followers 444 00:27:28,360 --> 00:27:31,840 on Instagram, you're undoubtedly an influencer. 445 00:27:32,200 --> 00:27:38,560 Do you get bombarded with offers of to be dressed by brands and 446 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:40,760 designers? It's rather touching, but I'm. 447 00:27:40,760 --> 00:27:45,360 I'm always embarrassed by it. Ordinary individual women will 448 00:27:45,360 --> 00:27:50,360 send me things that they think I just saw this and I knew it was 449 00:27:50,360 --> 00:27:52,040 for you and you have to have it in it. 450 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:55,280 And I think often, I often. I don't want it to, you know, 451 00:27:55,280 --> 00:27:58,520 it's not what I I want, but they it's what they think I'd like. 452 00:27:59,320 --> 00:28:02,920 And how do you handle that? Well, you just have to be, you 453 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:06,360 know, I mean, I just have to be as nice as I possibly can and 454 00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:10,320 say thank you and but I'd like to discourage it because I don't 455 00:28:10,320 --> 00:28:12,360 want people spending lots of money on me. 456 00:28:12,600 --> 00:28:15,800 John, he's your second husband. What did you wear to get 457 00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:17,040 married? Oh. 458 00:28:17,960 --> 00:28:23,040 The night before we got married, I wore a red long bath dress 459 00:28:23,040 --> 00:28:25,000 that I bought at Harrods for lots of money. 460 00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:28,080 Had he been with you? To choose it? 461 00:28:28,080 --> 00:28:31,680 No, I did it on my own and it it's absolutely plain. 462 00:28:31,680 --> 00:28:34,920 And last week I gave it to my daughter because I'm not too fat 463 00:28:34,920 --> 00:28:37,080 to wear it. Lucky daughter. 464 00:28:37,400 --> 00:28:39,280 She's thrilled with it, So that's. 465 00:28:39,440 --> 00:28:45,440 Not surprised. And and then then when we 466 00:28:45,440 --> 00:28:47,840 actually got married, that was the night before when we went to 467 00:28:47,840 --> 00:28:51,520 dinner and we were married in in Scotland, in Edinburgh. 468 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:58,160 And then on the day I wore a jacket from Beatrix Francesca, 469 00:28:58,400 --> 00:29:02,120 because I love all her Indian embroidery and colors and things 470 00:29:02,600 --> 00:29:06,040 in turquoise and a black pair of pants. 471 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:09,240 And was John involved in the decision? 472 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:12,320 Yes, I think he actually bought that jacket. 473 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:15,960 Yeah, and that, but that was its first outing. 474 00:29:16,200 --> 00:29:19,760 Yes, yes. What would you say you've 475 00:29:19,760 --> 00:29:21,960 reached for when you want to feel empowered? 476 00:29:22,440 --> 00:29:28,640 Oh, probably something red. I remember years ago when I had 477 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:30,760 my company, I had one of those days. 478 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:35,720 When you ask a colour expert to come and talk to people about 479 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:40,720 what their colour should be, she came and did everybody's colors 480 00:29:40,720 --> 00:29:44,080 And she started with me and she and I was wearing a red jacket 481 00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:46,320 and she said you shouldn't wear red. 482 00:29:47,480 --> 00:29:50,760 And I said oh why? So she said it's very aggressive 483 00:29:51,240 --> 00:29:55,200 and you're the boss and people will feel frightened of you if 484 00:29:55,200 --> 00:29:58,000 you wear red. And I thought this has got to be 485 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:03,040 rubbish and I was extremely resentful about it. 486 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:09,200 So I, you know, took no notice basically, but and I realized 487 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:11,640 that I have more red jackets than everything else. 488 00:30:11,840 --> 00:30:15,920 I love red. I think my attitude about red is 489 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:19,080 that it's it's, you know, the Chinese aren't stupid. 490 00:30:19,080 --> 00:30:24,880 They think it's it symbolizes happiness, wealth, you know, 491 00:30:24,880 --> 00:30:29,480 they paint everything red. And that's quite right. 492 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:36,000 If someone was to describe your style, style, DNA in three 493 00:30:36,000 --> 00:30:40,080 words, what would you want those 3 words to be if John was to 494 00:30:40,080 --> 00:30:42,920 describe your style in three words? 495 00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:48,840 Well, I think his his. His words would be elegant, fun 496 00:30:49,120 --> 00:30:53,280 and colourful. But interestingly, he manages to 497 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:56,960 combine the idea of fun with elegance. 498 00:30:56,960 --> 00:31:04,560 I mean last night I wore a a necklace which is just multi 499 00:31:04,560 --> 00:31:08,600 colored glass beads and it's rare and when I first saw it I 500 00:31:08,600 --> 00:31:12,240 thought that's really enough. But actually it's it's huge fun 501 00:31:12,800 --> 00:31:18,800 and and sparkly earrings in the star sort of * shape and I 502 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,680 didn't want to wear them but he's said just did them and then 503 00:31:21,680 --> 00:31:24,520 he said they looked terrific because I was on on the stage 504 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:29,520 doing my little piece and he said you you need something with 505 00:31:29,520 --> 00:31:32,520 sparkles. So, so fun is his. 506 00:31:32,520 --> 00:31:37,280 He thinks it's fun. If you're unsure of something, 507 00:31:37,280 --> 00:31:40,120 who is the person you really trust for their opinion? 508 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:43,920 I think probably John. I mean John and Jane between 509 00:31:43,920 --> 00:31:46,360 them. Would you say you've got a style 510 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:49,040 icon? Well, you know, it's very 511 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:52,480 interesting because I say all the time that I love colour, but 512 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:57,520 the but the people I admire and when I'm flapping through a a 513 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:03,040 magazine are generally dressed like you are in cream and beige. 514 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:07,000 And I mean, I think there's something so elegant about, if 515 00:32:07,000 --> 00:32:12,920 you get that right, if you get the, you know, the sort of gold 516 00:32:12,920 --> 00:32:19,040 jewelry and the tan suede jacket and the but it's cashier. 517 00:32:19,200 --> 00:32:20,880 Coloring, hasn't it? Yes. 518 00:32:21,640 --> 00:32:26,080 I mean, you've talked about needing a lot of clothes for 519 00:32:26,280 --> 00:32:30,480 television, and everything that you do is your phenomenal. 520 00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:33,360 Is your wardrobe phenomenally well organized it? 521 00:32:33,400 --> 00:32:36,840 Is, and I love that. Is that I am. 522 00:32:36,920 --> 00:32:42,080 Yes, I am. One of the the constant 523 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:45,880 underground debates in our house, which sometimes bubbles 524 00:32:45,880 --> 00:32:52,440 into absolute arguments, is about what's John Will sometimes 525 00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:56,160 accuse me of wanting the house to be sterilely tidy. 526 00:32:56,200 --> 00:33:02,320 Because I have all my, you know, the all the jars that have the 527 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:06,800 sugar and the and the flour and the spices and everything else 528 00:33:06,800 --> 00:33:09,400 are on shelves and then they're in the right order and that I 529 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:13,680 can find them and I'm glad. That you've been in the kitchen 530 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:18,240 this morning? And and I like, you know, I have 531 00:33:18,240 --> 00:33:22,240 my shoes on shelves and I have all the black ones together and 532 00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:24,800 then the Navy blue ones and then the red ones and so on. 533 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:29,760 And the same with, you know, I color coordinate everything so I 534 00:33:29,760 --> 00:33:33,040 can find them because otherwise you're flapping around if 535 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:35,280 they're all muddled up. You sound like a secret 536 00:33:35,280 --> 00:33:38,720 retailer, A merchandiser I am probably. 537 00:33:39,320 --> 00:33:46,960 Whereas John is famously untidy. I mean, I can tell where he's 538 00:33:46,960 --> 00:33:50,800 been because he leaves a trail of, you know, pastor will arrive 539 00:33:50,800 --> 00:33:54,960 and and he will open it, which means he'll borrow a knife from 540 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:58,200 my very well organized knife, he. 541 00:33:58,200 --> 00:34:00,320 Must love that on paper or cardboard. 542 00:34:00,320 --> 00:34:04,880 He takes it, uses it on the cardboard, leaves the cardboard 543 00:34:04,880 --> 00:34:07,920 there, leaves the knife there, leaves the inner wrapping there, 544 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:09,679 leaves everything there except what? 545 00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:12,600 What was? And he'll take that out and dump 546 00:34:12,600 --> 00:34:14,719 it somewhere. Else, this is sounding horribly 547 00:34:14,719 --> 00:34:21,600 familiar to me, but we won't go. There, so, so the I mean a lot 548 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:25,400 of it is I tease him quite good at naturally but every now and 549 00:34:25,400 --> 00:34:28,719 again I I say, look if you leave something in the same place for 550 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:31,920 two weeks, I'm I'm, I'm allowed to move it. 551 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:37,400 Rules in the House. Would you say you had a worst 552 00:34:37,400 --> 00:34:42,040 fashion moment? I find that I'm looking at 553 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:45,960 myself on television. You know I'm I'm looking at some 554 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,360 show I've been in and it's not usually that the the clothes 555 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:53,360 wrong it's the way I'm sitting. You know I will lie back because 556 00:34:53,360 --> 00:34:56,400 I'm feeling quite relaxed and enjoying myself and I'm really 557 00:34:56,400 --> 00:35:01,560 sort of slouching in this in the chair and you know so that you 558 00:35:01,560 --> 00:35:10,920 get all my chins in on display. And you know you, you have to be 559 00:35:10,920 --> 00:35:14,200 aware if you're trying to look good that you put yourself in 560 00:35:14,200 --> 00:35:17,000 the right position. Otherwise you just don't do 561 00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,400 yourself any favours. So true, isn't it? 562 00:35:19,800 --> 00:35:22,520 I mean, I am vain, there's no question about it. 563 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:26,160 And so I don't like it when I look awful. 564 00:35:27,760 --> 00:35:32,400 I was in a couple of nights ago, I was doing Ant and Dec's 565 00:35:32,920 --> 00:35:35,400 Saturday, whatever it's called, Saturday take away. 566 00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:41,840 And I had to lie on a on a you know here they do these silly 567 00:35:41,840 --> 00:35:44,320 little tableaus in a really quite funny. 568 00:35:44,720 --> 00:35:52,640 And I I was lying in a Bunny suit with ears on a chaise long 569 00:35:52,640 --> 00:35:57,360 being fed by Father Christmas, you know, poking cake into my 570 00:35:57,360 --> 00:36:00,000 face. And I've no idea what it was all 571 00:36:00,000 --> 00:36:07,480 about but I was most concerned that I having to lie down on a 572 00:36:08,480 --> 00:36:11,040 on a chaise long. I would just look awful because 573 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:13,120 I was. You know, that's the perfect way 574 00:36:13,120 --> 00:36:17,120 to get lots of chins. Let's just talk about travel for 575 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:21,440 a moment. Do you have a go to airport 576 00:36:21,440 --> 00:36:24,080 look? Oh, no, no. 577 00:36:24,080 --> 00:36:27,520 I'm just mostly concerned about what I really have on the plane 578 00:36:27,520 --> 00:36:30,920 and how I can reach it. And have I, You know, have I got 579 00:36:30,920 --> 00:36:33,800 my book and my computer and. Are you a good Packer or a bad 580 00:36:33,800 --> 00:36:34,960 Packer? I'm quite good. 581 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:39,520 Number of pieces of luggage if you're going for more than a 582 00:36:39,520 --> 00:36:40,200 few. Days. 583 00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:43,000 Minimal. Honestly, I try very hard not to 584 00:36:43,000 --> 00:36:47,360 take too much. And when it comes to shopping, 585 00:36:48,160 --> 00:36:52,600 what would you say is the most expensive item of clothing or 586 00:36:52,600 --> 00:36:54,720 accessory that you've ever bought? 587 00:36:54,760 --> 00:36:57,120 Now I'm not asking the price tag I. 588 00:36:57,120 --> 00:37:07,280 Remember when I was about, I suppose 30? 589 00:37:08,440 --> 00:37:11,480 Yeah, about 30. I bought a Zander Rhodes silk 590 00:37:12,600 --> 00:37:22,080 top and skirt and it was hugely expensive and it didn't suit me 591 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:25,960 and I didn't wear it and it was such a waste of money. 592 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:28,720 And of course, because it was so expensive, I kept it for years 593 00:37:28,720 --> 00:37:30,760 and years and never wore. A guilty secret. 594 00:37:30,760 --> 00:37:32,560 That's cool. What happened to? 595 00:37:32,600 --> 00:37:36,400 It in the end. I said no, I can't remember. 596 00:37:36,560 --> 00:37:40,840 It's a charity shop, I think it was such a pity because I I I 597 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:44,080 always admired Sandra Rose. But. 598 00:37:44,360 --> 00:37:45,600 Brilliant. Absolute. 599 00:37:45,600 --> 00:37:48,440 Such an artist, actually. And such a colourist. 600 00:37:48,440 --> 00:37:51,400 Yes, exactly. And does even now. 601 00:37:51,400 --> 00:37:54,720 She does all sorts of things. Have you ever bought recently 602 00:37:54,720 --> 00:37:56,600 from her it? Wasn't recent. 603 00:37:56,600 --> 00:37:58,880 I'm talking about 20 years ago, but I've still got it and I love 604 00:37:58,880 --> 00:38:06,880 it. It's a black gauze jacket, which 605 00:38:06,880 --> 00:38:12,560 is embroidered, you know, they embroidered on, you know, on 606 00:38:12,560 --> 00:38:18,000 lace or on tool, whatever. And it it just goes over 607 00:38:18,000 --> 00:38:20,680 anything and it's got these flowers all over it. 608 00:38:20,680 --> 00:38:24,720 It's beautiful. Yeah, clever lady, lover lady. 609 00:38:25,280 --> 00:38:28,880 Hypothetically speaking, if your house was on fire, 610 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:33,720 hypothetically speaking, you could only save one outfit. 611 00:38:34,160 --> 00:38:37,680 What would it be to be a wedding dress? 612 00:38:38,680 --> 00:38:43,960 No, I've got my wedding dress from my first marriage, which I 613 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:47,920 was very pregnant at the time. So this is a huge wedding dress. 614 00:38:48,440 --> 00:38:54,760 And it was by Thea Porter, Thea Porter, and it was cotton and it 615 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:57,960 had antique lace, like a dungarees suit, you know, like a 616 00:38:57,960 --> 00:39:00,480 finniful dress. It was a sort of finniful dress 617 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:06,240 and I've kept it ever since and it still hangs in my cupboard. 618 00:39:06,880 --> 00:39:11,080 So I was going to say that must be the oldest piece in your in 619 00:39:11,080 --> 00:39:12,520 your wardrobe. Probably is. 620 00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:15,320 But would that be the piece that you would reach for? 621 00:39:15,440 --> 00:39:17,560 I don't think so, because I know I'd never wear it. 622 00:39:18,480 --> 00:39:22,160 Too practical. I think it would probably be a 623 00:39:22,160 --> 00:39:24,240 piece of jewelry. I bought a piece of jewelry. 624 00:39:24,360 --> 00:39:27,440 I bought a necklace from a gold necklace. 625 00:39:27,880 --> 00:39:33,880 It's the only it's the only posh piece of jewelry I've got from 626 00:39:35,080 --> 00:39:39,760 I've forgotten what his name was, a jeweler in Elizabeth St. 627 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:44,080 And I remember very well buying this because my I was recently 628 00:39:44,080 --> 00:39:48,440 widowed and I was really unhappy and a girlfriend of mine said 629 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:53,480 you need cheering up. Let's go to this guy who has a 630 00:39:53,480 --> 00:39:57,000 sale on in his jewelry shop and it she's he says. 631 00:39:57,000 --> 00:40:02,320 He always gives you champagne and vodka jellies, so it's fun 632 00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:04,800 sounds. Like a fun way to shop. 633 00:40:05,000 --> 00:40:08,880 Well, exactly. This was a disaster because I I 634 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:13,360 mean, vodka jellies, they just taste like Jelly, but they're 635 00:40:13,360 --> 00:40:15,640 full of vodka. And we were having glasses with 636 00:40:15,640 --> 00:40:19,440 champagne, so of course we both got barely. 637 00:40:19,840 --> 00:40:22,760 Of course I tried on this necklace and I couldn't resist 638 00:40:22,760 --> 00:40:23,960 it. And so I bought it. 639 00:40:23,960 --> 00:40:29,000 And I told myself, well, and I told him the the reason I'm 640 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:34,440 getting this is because while my husband was alive, every year 641 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:38,560 for Christmas, my birthday or something, there was always one 642 00:40:38,560 --> 00:40:41,720 present, which was this present, most special present you got, 643 00:40:41,720 --> 00:40:43,760 which was from your mate, you know, from your husband. 644 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:48,600 And it's perfectly true that I used to have to do to shop for 645 00:40:48,600 --> 00:40:53,760 it, buy it, probably pay for it, wrap it, give it to him to write 646 00:40:53,760 --> 00:40:55,600 the card. But at least I knew it was. 647 00:40:56,560 --> 00:40:59,280 And then you'd be surprised. And then I'd be surprised that 648 00:40:59,280 --> 00:41:03,160 I'd be thrilled, you know. Anyway, so I my excuse to myself 649 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:05,600 was that nobody gives me that. What? 650 00:41:05,640 --> 00:41:08,920 You know, I got a lot of, you know, my you still get presents, 651 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:11,600 but you don't get that. Justification going on here for. 652 00:41:11,600 --> 00:41:13,160 Exactly. A lot of dustbin. 653 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:17,400 So I bought this. We're in lured of room and shop 654 00:41:17,680 --> 00:41:21,840 and he gives me this amazing necklace to try on and I go and 655 00:41:21,840 --> 00:41:25,560 buy it. And then I said to him, you 656 00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:28,640 know, it's because I'm trying to make up for the fact that I 657 00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:31,400 don't have a husband anymore who gives me this one special, 658 00:41:31,400 --> 00:41:36,080 wonderful present. And so he said, well, every year 659 00:41:36,400 --> 00:41:40,480 afterwards, at the same time he would, he would bring me up and 660 00:41:40,480 --> 00:41:44,200 say it's time for you to have your annual present. 661 00:41:44,720 --> 00:41:45,920 And I never brought anything else. 662 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:49,240 He was always hopeful that I would and. 663 00:41:49,560 --> 00:41:51,920 Do you still have that I? Still and I still wear it and 664 00:41:51,920 --> 00:41:54,800 it's absolutely lovely and. Did it bring you comfort? 665 00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:57,520 Did it make you think of your late husband? 666 00:41:57,960 --> 00:42:02,400 Well, yes, it does. And it's and I'm very glad I 667 00:42:02,400 --> 00:42:04,320 bought it. You know, it's just beautiful. 668 00:42:05,360 --> 00:42:11,120 But it's not, you know, it's it's a very far, you know, it's 669 00:42:11,120 --> 00:42:13,600 a million miles from this. It's, you know, it's not. 670 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:18,600 It's not fun and it's not vulgar and it's not colourful, but it 671 00:42:18,600 --> 00:42:21,560 is very beautiful. Let's turn to some quick fire 672 00:42:21,560 --> 00:42:24,280 questions. So these just simple quick 673 00:42:24,280 --> 00:42:28,200 answers, what fashion advice would you give your 20 year old 674 00:42:28,200 --> 00:42:31,600 self? I think to stop, try to getting, 675 00:42:31,600 --> 00:42:36,840 stop trying to get into a size 12 when you're a 14 nowadays. 676 00:42:36,840 --> 00:42:39,800 I would have to say stop trying to get into it at 16 when you're 677 00:42:39,880 --> 00:42:43,360 at 18. Which fashion trend would you 678 00:42:43,360 --> 00:42:45,080 most like to see make a comeback? 679 00:42:45,480 --> 00:42:50,080 Do you know, I think I'd love to see dungarees back. 680 00:42:50,520 --> 00:42:51,640 And would you wear them? Yes. 681 00:42:52,560 --> 00:42:56,560 What fashionable beauty trend would you consign to Room 101? 682 00:43:00,440 --> 00:43:04,640 I think Botox. I'll try and lift my eyebrows 683 00:43:04,640 --> 00:43:12,720 now your last impulse buy. My last impulse buy, oh, I went 684 00:43:12,720 --> 00:43:18,720 to, I had to do a literary festival, talk about books at 685 00:43:18,880 --> 00:43:22,000 that thing called The Spirit of Christmas, you know, which is a 686 00:43:22,000 --> 00:43:26,120 sort of show that goes on in Olympia Christmas Fair. 687 00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:30,040 And I was so impressed with the sort of quality of all the 688 00:43:30,040 --> 00:43:34,200 stores and the and the shops in there because it was all quite 689 00:43:34,200 --> 00:43:39,720 quiet and there was no loud music and it was all very 690 00:43:39,720 --> 00:43:43,960 elegant. And so I went into this coat 691 00:43:43,960 --> 00:43:47,160 place called, I think it's called the London Fur Company or 692 00:43:47,160 --> 00:43:51,880 something. And the and I bought, I bought 693 00:43:51,880 --> 00:43:54,320 that red Jack jacket I told you about. 694 00:43:54,320 --> 00:44:01,720 It was big fake fur collar. The lady said to me she she 695 00:44:01,720 --> 00:44:06,320 wanted me to try on one another one with which was had no 696 00:44:06,320 --> 00:44:12,280 sleeves and big fur cock pockets and it was long like a long 697 00:44:12,280 --> 00:44:13,880 waistcoat right down to the ground. 698 00:44:15,440 --> 00:44:18,080 So she said if you buy that you can have that you see. 699 00:44:18,080 --> 00:44:21,280 So I got 2 for the price of one and then my husband came along 700 00:44:21,280 --> 00:44:25,920 and he bought me another jacket. So I had said to him, let's do 701 00:44:25,920 --> 00:44:29,400 all our Christmas shopping here because it's such a nice place 702 00:44:29,400 --> 00:44:34,400 and, you know, comfortable and there's nothing left here and 703 00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:36,560 anybody would like anything we bought. 704 00:44:37,720 --> 00:44:40,040 And so we set off to do the Christmas shopping and we came 705 00:44:40,040 --> 00:44:42,240 out with three coats for me and no Christmas shopping. 706 00:44:43,960 --> 00:44:47,200 So it was 3 impulse buys. So I've got three really nice 707 00:44:47,200 --> 00:44:48,480 coats. They sound pretty good ones. 708 00:44:48,800 --> 00:44:53,400 Your views on tattoos? You know, I think it's such a 709 00:44:53,400 --> 00:44:55,280 disaster. I know it's an old fashioned 710 00:44:55,280 --> 00:44:58,480 thing to say, but I think it's so difficult to get rid of them. 711 00:44:58,480 --> 00:45:01,600 And I really think you shouldn't do things you can't reverse. 712 00:45:02,840 --> 00:45:04,600 Beauty. Treatment you couldn't give up. 713 00:45:07,200 --> 00:45:09,560 Well, I don't do any beauty treatment. 714 00:45:09,760 --> 00:45:14,440 High End or High Street? Ideally high end. 715 00:45:15,000 --> 00:45:21,160 Minimalism or maximalism? Well, minimalism in in shape and 716 00:45:21,160 --> 00:45:25,960 maximalism in colour Crocs. Cute or puke? 717 00:45:28,760 --> 00:45:33,200 Certainly not Crocs. Sneakers or stilettos? 718 00:45:33,680 --> 00:45:37,280 Or sneakers. Skinnies or boyfriends or wide 719 00:45:37,280 --> 00:45:42,160 legs when it comes to jeans. Straight legs I like. 720 00:45:42,720 --> 00:45:46,000 Sports Lux or Rock chick? I don't know what that mean. 721 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:51,040 Red carpet or relax? I like both. 722 00:45:51,080 --> 00:45:53,360 I'm such a wonderful for attention. 723 00:45:53,360 --> 00:45:55,600 I love the attention, so I do like red carpet. 724 00:45:56,000 --> 00:45:59,560 Trend or style? Style, I think. 725 00:45:59,960 --> 00:46:04,600 Color or monochrome? Guess Experimental or uniform? 726 00:46:04,600 --> 00:46:09,080 I think experimental. Cashmere or cotton? 727 00:46:09,440 --> 00:46:14,800 Cotton hoarder or editor? Well, unfortunately, edit. 728 00:46:14,960 --> 00:46:18,160 I'm hoarder, but I'm I'm getting better at editing. 729 00:46:18,920 --> 00:46:24,080 Shapewear or sexy lingerie? I've never had any sexy lingerie 730 00:46:24,080 --> 00:46:29,200 in my life, but I do have a sort of vague lust for the idea. 731 00:46:30,400 --> 00:46:34,760 Tights or stockings? Well, I did wear I'm either. 732 00:46:35,400 --> 00:46:37,600 Bikini or One Piece? One piece. 733 00:46:38,560 --> 00:46:45,680 Beanie beanie or Berry Berry? Vain barrier Tamashanta finally. 734 00:46:46,000 --> 00:46:49,320 At the end of the day, what do you or don't you wear in bed? 735 00:46:51,080 --> 00:46:57,040 I didn't wear much in bed. If it's chilly, I'll wear a a 736 00:46:57,040 --> 00:47:06,640 sort of shift, which is Indian cotton was bought as a dress. 737 00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:11,440 But there's now my 90. Relegated Prue. 738 00:47:11,480 --> 00:47:16,160 Thank you so much for your time and your thoughtful answers. 739 00:47:16,400 --> 00:47:19,200 It's an honour to be sitting here with you. 740 00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:20,680 I've really enjoyed our conversation. 741 00:47:20,680 --> 00:47:22,840 I'll tell you what, Amanda, I've enjoyed it too. 742 00:47:22,840 --> 00:47:26,920 And since I've never given that much thought to style or fashion 743 00:47:26,920 --> 00:47:29,680 or anything else, I've had to tax my brain all morning. 744 00:47:30,480 --> 00:47:32,720 So sartorial therapy. Yes. 745 00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:35,920 Yes, Well, thank you very much. Great fun. 746 00:47:36,120 --> 00:47:36,600 Thank you.