1 00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,600 Today I'm going on a style journey with the English 2 00:00:06,600 --> 00:00:11,520 singer-songwriter, actress and radio personality, the undoubted 3 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:16,960 Queen of British Soul, the extraordinarily talented Beverly 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:20,880 Knight MBE. Hello and welcome Beverly. 5 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,760 Hello, how are you? I am so good God, I was trying 6 00:00:24,760 --> 00:00:29,360 to work out as I was preparing for this, how it's probably 20 7 00:00:29,480 --> 00:00:33,440 years since we saw each other must be, and I was trying to 8 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:37,280 remember what event it was at. But we sat together, had a 9 00:00:37,280 --> 00:00:37,720 blast. A. 10 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:40,880 Lovely time. I'm trying to think myself now, 11 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,640 but a long time. It was a long time ago. 12 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:47,160 But you haven't changed neither a bit. 13 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:49,680 Time. Flies. 14 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:53,080 Time flies. My God, where does it go? 15 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:55,680 But congratulations on your new album. 16 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:59,200 Thank you so much I. Loved the title of 5th chapter 17 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,840 and I love listening to it while while preparing for this because 18 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:07,400 it sort of really got me into the spirit of you right now. 19 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:11,240 Yes, and I just it feels like this album is sort of the 20 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:16,520 culmination of your 50 years of life and music to date. 21 00:01:16,520 --> 00:01:21,560 Is that a sort of Fair analysis? I wanted to make an album that 22 00:01:23,400 --> 00:01:30,200 was joyful and a celebration of me becoming 50, because as we 23 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:35,880 know, women at this age often are encouraged to kind of fade 24 00:01:35,880 --> 00:01:38,360 into the background and everything plateaus, if not 25 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:39,400 falls. Off. 26 00:01:39,960 --> 00:01:46,120 And I wanted to say no. Contrary to that popular 27 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:50,440 narrative, things actually get better and more exciting. 28 00:01:50,760 --> 00:01:54,360 So I wanted to celebrate it. And we were coming out of 29 00:01:54,360 --> 00:01:56,600 lockdown, so I wanted to celebrate that too. 30 00:01:57,120 --> 00:01:59,200 Great. And So what was the creative 31 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:03,880 process that you went through to to put this album together? 32 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:11,560 For the first time in my career, I decided to involve lots of 33 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,520 different songwriters and songwriting partners. 34 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,720 Usually I've done the lion's share of the writing myself. 35 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:24,760 Yeah, but I wanted to not only a different kind of attitude, I 36 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,360 wanted a a specifically, I wanted a different sound. 37 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:32,560 And often these days songwriters are producers. 38 00:02:33,040 --> 00:02:36,560 So in order to achieve that sound, I thought that's where I 39 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:38,720 need to start. So. 40 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:44,760 And so do you go to a specific producer for a different almost 41 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:48,880 genre and then and then sort of move it around? 42 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:55,960 Yeah, sort of. I I I, for example, worked with 43 00:02:55,960 --> 00:03:01,280 Serben Kazan, who is a new up and coming producer who's who's 44 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:05,120 now beginning to have huge success, and he kind of 45 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,520 specialises in that new disco sound. 46 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,880 I wanted an album that had disco on it because to me, when I 47 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:14,720 think of celebration and energy, I think a disco. 48 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:19,360 But I wanted it to sound modern. So I I turned to him and he gave 49 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:25,680 me that kind of sound and then I kind of did my little editorial 50 00:03:25,680 --> 00:03:29,960 thing on there and and, you know, shifted it into my world 51 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:34,280 vocally at least. But then I turned to Diane 52 00:03:34,280 --> 00:03:38,240 Warren, because she's one of the world's great songwriters and 53 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,640 writes fantastic ballads, and I knew I wanted a really strong 54 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:46,640 ballad. So I turned to her and she gave 55 00:03:46,640 --> 00:03:51,160 me a ballad which is just fantastic. 56 00:03:51,800 --> 00:03:54,600 And then in and amongst all of that, other songwriters have 57 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:59,960 given me different colours, but all with this positive, hopeful 58 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:02,120 sound. And then when it goes through, 59 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:08,080 if you like, the machine of my voice, that's what ties the 60 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:12,280 sound together, and that that was the process I went through. 61 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,800 Do you Did you find yourself dressing differently for the 62 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:19,760 different collaborators? Were you conscious of that? 63 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:24,440 That's really interesting because I think I did a lot of 64 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:28,760 recording here and it was fairly sunny. 65 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,760 And then when I went to Los Angeles, where I did the other 66 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:36,480 kind of collabs, you know, it was very sunny, very, very 67 00:04:36,480 --> 00:04:40,880 sunny, very warm. And I think I did. 68 00:04:41,360 --> 00:04:46,320 I'm not sure I was conscious of doing that. 69 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:57,120 But somewhere in the back of my mind, I wanted to show strength 70 00:04:58,280 --> 00:05:04,720 but also a playfulness. So when I went to see Diane for 71 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:09,720 example, I knew I'd be in the studio with her and with a 72 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:16,720 couple of her producers. I wanted to show that I wasn't 73 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:20,200 scared of the space. Even though she is this 74 00:05:20,680 --> 00:05:27,560 powerful, I mean really powerful multi award-winning songwriter I 75 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:30,560 wanted to show. Yeah, you know, I've, I've got 76 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:36,880 my my skills too. So I came in with bold T-shirts, 77 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:42,760 little shorts, like I am not scared of who I am and and I 78 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:49,120 went and also when I went to to meet Mitch Allen, who is another 79 00:05:49,360 --> 00:05:53,600 songwriter who I worked with, I had it was a bit cooler. 80 00:05:53,600 --> 00:05:58,720 So I had on, you know, strong, clean jacket, the jeans, but 81 00:05:58,720 --> 00:06:04,160 again with a slogan T-shirt, just to kind of show a bit of of 82 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:07,800 of my personality, yeah. I mean thank you for squeezing 83 00:06:07,800 --> 00:06:11,960 this interview in because you have so much on at the moment 84 00:06:12,400 --> 00:06:16,120 performing with Adam Lambert presenting your gospel show on 85 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:21,160 radio two real variety performance not to mention 86 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:25,600 rehearsing for sister act which returns to the West End in 2024 87 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:31,320 and and and is it fair to say what project are you most 88 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:34,840 excited about at the moment. Well, I'm really looking forward 89 00:06:34,840 --> 00:06:41,200 to sister act. Yeah, which will be so much fun. 90 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:45,720 Yeah, And so much joy. Yeah, it's a comedy. 91 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:49,040 It's a comedy where I get to sing. 92 00:06:49,280 --> 00:06:55,520 I had to dress up as a nun and a gangster's mole and I I get to 93 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,080 embrace the side of myself that I hadn't done before. 94 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:02,280 I've I've played this role, you know, previously and it went 95 00:07:02,280 --> 00:07:06,440 brilliantly. But I'd never done comedy prior 96 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,200 to doing sister act. So I'm looking forward to 97 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:15,560 putting the comedic hat on and learning from someone who is 98 00:07:15,560 --> 00:07:17,920 very naturally funny. Ruth Jones, who's playing 99 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:22,000 opposite me as Mother Superior of course, from Gavin and Stacey 100 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:26,160 fame. I had the most incredible 101 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:30,520 teacher the first time I did sister act in Jennifer Saunders. 102 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:31,840 Oh. My God. 103 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:34,840 I'll be taking some of those skills. 104 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,960 I learnt timing from her. I'll be taking some of those. 105 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:39,320 She's brilliant, isn't she? Oh my. 106 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:42,720 God, it is the timing, though. It's the timing. 107 00:07:42,720 --> 00:07:44,400 It's those pauses. That's. 108 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,240 Right, knowing when to land the line. 109 00:07:48,240 --> 00:07:52,760 So I'll be taking what I've learned and applying it again, 110 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,360 but with Ruth Jones and a host of other brilliant people. 111 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:58,640 So I'm. I can't wait to come into that, 112 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:00,520 yes. Absolutely. 113 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:02,640 Today we're going on a style journey. 114 00:08:02,640 --> 00:08:05,600 We are. So how did you decide what you 115 00:08:05,600 --> 00:08:09,000 were going to wear here today? Well, because of course I was 116 00:08:09,000 --> 00:08:15,080 going to be speaking to you and you have such a wonderful, long 117 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:17,280 and established career in fashion. 118 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:20,720 I thought I'm, I'm going to make a better make an effort. 119 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:25,080 But also it's it's, you know we're in, we're in, we're in 120 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:29,080 winter now, autumn, winter, that kind of season where it's not 121 00:08:29,080 --> 00:08:32,799 quite freezing but it's definitely not warm at all. 122 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:36,320 So I thought, you know, something which is kind of a 123 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:42,919 cashmere blend, Warm, creamy colours, tonal, which looks 124 00:08:43,360 --> 00:08:46,320 sleek but hopefully not to try hard. 125 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:48,760 That was what I had in. My no, gorgeous. 126 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,200 And so, for those who are listening, not watching, you're 127 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:57,480 wearing a gorgeous camel camel Y coloured jersey dress. 128 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:00,920 Yes. Big old leopard scarf around 129 00:09:00,920 --> 00:09:04,440 your neck and your boots. And my and my boots are, you 130 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:09,360 know, the kind of similar tone to to the dress, so it's all 131 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,200 very tonal. Cowboy style. 132 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:15,200 Cowboy style. Very chic, very chic. 133 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:18,200 Thank you. We know that you grew up in 134 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:19,640 Wolverhampton. I did. 135 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,560 And I want to know if you were very aware of your parents style 136 00:09:23,560 --> 00:09:25,520 when you were growing up. I was. 137 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:32,680 I really was. My dad dressed smartly apart 138 00:09:32,680 --> 00:09:35,080 from when he was at work. He was a builder so of course he 139 00:09:35,080 --> 00:09:39,600 was in his builders wear, but outside of that you would never 140 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,720 see my dad without a hat. Oh, how lovely. 141 00:09:42,840 --> 00:09:47,080 And he always, always had some kind of suit, whether it was 142 00:09:47,080 --> 00:09:52,640 more relaxed for day-to-day or whether he was going to church. 143 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:58,440 And I grew up in a very, very kind of religious, evangelical, 144 00:09:58,920 --> 00:10:01,480 you know, background, you know, gospel, church, etcetera. 145 00:10:01,920 --> 00:10:05,280 And my dad would dress to the nines as as did my mum. 146 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:07,080 I was going to say did your did your mother? 147 00:10:07,080 --> 00:10:10,920 Because I know that they, they're very keen churchgoers 148 00:10:10,960 --> 00:10:16,960 and I wondered how that impacted on their style and actually what 149 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:22,520 you were wearing as a child as a result of being in the church, 150 00:10:22,520 --> 00:10:26,400 so much so. And and I'm glad you asked it 151 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:28,080 like that. That's such a brilliant 152 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:33,200 question, because having to go to church not just on a Sunday, 153 00:10:33,200 --> 00:10:37,240 not just twice on a Sunday, but going to church a lot through 154 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:37,960 the. Week. 155 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:43,280 Because of the various different services meant that I had to 156 00:10:43,280 --> 00:10:49,880 dress quite conservatively and I would do my best to kick against 157 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,440 it in my little Wolverhampton E way. 158 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:57,880 And So what did that look like when you were, I would imagine, 159 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:03,160 a teenager and sort of slightly kicking against that, that whole 160 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:07,440 system, absolutely not necessarily the system, but but 161 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:10,520 just the the conservativeness of that. 162 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:13,520 How? How did that play out in terms 163 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:19,160 of your clothes? So in my teenage years, I would, 164 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:26,760 you know, absolutely voraciously consume all the the magazines 165 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:32,600 that were available and look at a lot of the adverts and see 166 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:38,400 what I could get away with. So if it's going to be a pencil 167 00:11:38,400 --> 00:11:41,200 skirt, you know, how short can I go? 168 00:11:41,720 --> 00:11:44,640 You know, how tight can I go? I'm a teenager. 169 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:50,240 I'm trying. Often I would where there were 170 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:53,400 the the there was a look, you know, you're thinking the 80s, 171 00:11:53,640 --> 00:12:00,280 so a blouse, which was expected because, you know, cover the 172 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:04,280 arms, cover the but tucked in, I'm like, if I can wear a 173 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:08,600 blouse, but tucked into the skirt, a pencil skirt, that will 174 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:11,480 at least give me a nice clean silhouette, you know? 175 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:13,280 I think that's how I was thinking. 176 00:12:13,280 --> 00:12:18,600 A little cute courtier. How much make up could I get 177 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,360 away with? And was it your father or your 178 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,680 mother that policed your look more? 179 00:12:24,680 --> 00:12:29,440 My mom would police the look, but my dad dressed really well. 180 00:12:30,240 --> 00:12:36,680 So yeah, my mom would have me dressing quite from police. 181 00:12:36,680 --> 00:12:39,640 She could have got away with it to be honest, she just didn't 182 00:12:40,480 --> 00:12:43,480 when she was younger she she, she went the whole 9. 183 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:49,200 She was flares and the Afro and the, you know, and then as she 184 00:12:49,200 --> 00:12:53,560 got older, that kind of disappeared and she dressed well 185 00:12:53,560 --> 00:12:56,720 for church. But it was too conservative for 186 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,440 my taste. My dad actually had much more of 187 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:04,760 a handle on what would look good and what would suit me and my 188 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:06,800 body type. Did he ever go shopping with 189 00:13:06,800 --> 00:13:08,920 you? He never went shopping with me, 190 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:12,440 but he would go for me. Oh, Christmas. 191 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:21,160 Dad's presents and and and I have kind of adopted the same 192 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,320 thing. He'd buy clothes for us at 193 00:13:23,320 --> 00:13:25,600 Christmas. That was always his gift, not 194 00:13:25,800 --> 00:13:27,640 things. It was always clothes. 195 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:32,480 So he would turn up with a dress and the dress would look 196 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,000 fabulous and I'd love it if Mom bought me a dress. 197 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:40,240 I'd always be like, it's not quite, it's a bit baggy, it's a 198 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:45,480 bit dad, no, always on the money, always form fitting, you 199 00:13:45,480 --> 00:13:48,320 know, clean like. How lovely. 200 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:51,400 I think that relationship between a father and a daughter 201 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:56,760 in in sort of those years can be really, really special. 202 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,720 That sort of was guiding this young woman. 203 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:01,760 Yeah. Do you have siblings? 204 00:14:01,760 --> 00:14:03,600 I mean, I know you have a sister A. 205 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,400 Sister and a brother. But was there any sort of 206 00:14:06,480 --> 00:14:10,800 sibling rivalry with your sister in terms of getting dressed or 207 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:15,160 did you help each other? Or did you compete against each 208 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:16,560 other? I would. 209 00:14:16,640 --> 00:14:23,280 I would kick against kind of clothing and try and follow 210 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:28,240 trends and and and beg my mom for what was, you know in 211 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,480 fashion way more than my sister would. 212 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:36,840 My sister was tall. Really tall, still is 510. 213 00:14:37,160 --> 00:14:42,640 Lucky girl so exactly and statuesque with it and pretty. 214 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:48,480 So me I was. I didn't grow any further than 215 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:52,560 55 S average height. Pretty, skinny. 216 00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:57,480 She was. Amazonian like I was not, and I 217 00:14:57,480 --> 00:15:03,400 would envy her more than compete with her because to me there was 218 00:15:03,400 --> 00:15:07,600 no competition. I had my thick glasses and I 219 00:15:07,600 --> 00:15:10,400 looked as nerdy as I I was, as I was. 220 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:14,760 I was a real bookish person. She to me was just beautiful, 221 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:18,240 but we couldn't share clothes or anything like that. 222 00:15:18,240 --> 00:15:23,720 Nothing would fit me so much longer, arms and everything, so 223 00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:31,880 I just would look at her and she always looked great and I was 224 00:15:31,880 --> 00:15:36,520 always trying to look great. That was in my in my opinion, 225 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,480 that was, that was what I I I saw. 226 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:43,920 But do you remember the very first time that clothes had that 227 00:15:43,920 --> 00:15:49,480 you put something on and you thought, wow, I love the feel of 228 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:55,360 this, this is empowering. And this is for people of, of, 229 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:58,760 of, of, of, of generation. They'd get this. 230 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:06,200 I badgered mom for a rah rah. It was a dress but had the rah 231 00:16:06,200 --> 00:16:12,120 rah ruffles, you know? And I remember it was pink but 232 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:17,360 the IT was piped at the edge of each ruffle a different color 233 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:24,840 and it was the top half was like a a short sleeve like a slash 234 00:16:24,840 --> 00:16:30,920 sleeve like this boat neck and then sort of fitted and then the 235 00:16:30,920 --> 00:16:34,440 rah rah you know the the ruffles and quite sure I was quite 236 00:16:34,440 --> 00:16:38,120 surprised mum would buy it for me but she did and I will be. 237 00:16:38,800 --> 00:16:49,280 I was about 13 round there and I put it on and I felt like I 238 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:56,640 could conquer the world. I just felt fabulous and I I 239 00:16:56,640 --> 00:16:58,680 wore it to bits. I wore it all the time. 240 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:01,320 Couldn't wear it to church though. 241 00:17:01,320 --> 00:17:05,079 It's a picture of the church, but anywhere that I could wear 242 00:17:05,079 --> 00:17:07,680 it, I was in it. I just loved it. 243 00:17:07,680 --> 00:17:13,040 And if that was probably the first time I I thought, clothes 244 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:19,119 can really do wonders for your mood and for how you feel about 245 00:17:19,119 --> 00:17:21,920 yourself. Yeah, and how you feel the world 246 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:24,480 is looking at you. So it's so true. 247 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:27,400 It's so true. Did you wear a school uniform? 248 00:17:27,920 --> 00:17:30,720 Had to wear school uniform. How did you feel about that? 249 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:36,800 Or did you? I when I was very young it 250 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:41,800 didn't really bother me and school uniform kind of followed 251 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:44,240 the trends a little bit. I've there's a picture of me as 252 00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:49,000 a very young child with huge like dagger collars because it 253 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:51,560 was the late 70s going into the 80s. 254 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:55,320 So these huge dagger collars. Thick tie, thick school tie. 255 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:56,800 Short, short. Short. 256 00:17:57,760 --> 00:17:59,120 And did you tie it every morning? 257 00:17:59,120 --> 00:18:02,360 And I had to tie everyone and learn to do my tie and you know, 258 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:05,040 and felt very fabulous. Thank you very much. 259 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:10,880 As I got older I started to like most people. 260 00:18:12,120 --> 00:18:19,840 How can I adapt this uniform to look vaguely decent and at the 261 00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,640 same time get through the front door without my mum ringing my 262 00:18:23,640 --> 00:18:28,320 neck? Answer was I couldn't. 263 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:33,240 So I the thing that I resented the most about my school uniform 264 00:18:33,240 --> 00:18:35,200 was what I had to put on my feet. 265 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:39,520 My mom insisted on sensible shoes that would last. 266 00:18:39,600 --> 00:18:43,760 Now those sensible shoes are everywhere, you know, with the 267 00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,760 the cleated sole and and you know, that kind of look. 268 00:18:47,920 --> 00:18:50,880 But then I hated it because everything was the little. 269 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:54,240 I forget what they call them, but you know the very pointed 270 00:18:54,840 --> 00:18:57,600 shoe at which a lot of my friends would wear? 271 00:18:57,600 --> 00:18:59,680 And there was me clumping around in these shoes. 272 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:01,560 And you've got the good feet now and. 273 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:04,000 As a result, I'm the one with decent. 274 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:05,080 Feet. Thank you, Mummy. 275 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:06,800 So. There you go. 276 00:19:07,040 --> 00:19:10,320 Absolutely. And you first performed on Top 277 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:14,160 of the Pops in 1999. Oh my life. 278 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:18,520 Such an ironic and really important show. 279 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:21,000 Yes, it. Was How do you remember going 280 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:24,880 about choosing your look for that performance I? 281 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:32,400 Had a stylist back then called Faye and she would you know, 282 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:37,600 help me to to to put the look together now at that age in in 283 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:42,840 the year 1999, I was not as confident as I am now. 284 00:19:42,840 --> 00:19:47,040 It's quite funny. When I was a teenager I would 285 00:19:47,040 --> 00:19:54,960 kick against, you know, looking too conservative when I was a 286 00:19:54,960 --> 00:20:00,960 young woman and at that age in my kind of coming into my my mid 287 00:20:00,960 --> 00:20:06,120 20s. I was very self-conscious. 288 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:13,440 I was bigger than I was, you know, at school and that and so 289 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,120 I felt like I needed to cover up. 290 00:20:15,120 --> 00:20:20,120 I felt, if I'm honest with you, quite ashamed of how I looked 291 00:20:20,200 --> 00:20:24,480 bodily and. So do you think you compensated 292 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:26,000 for that? So I did your clothing choices. 293 00:20:26,000 --> 00:20:27,200 Choices. Right. 294 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:30,960 I did. So I was less. 295 00:20:31,080 --> 00:20:34,800 That's a really, that was a really awkward period of my life 296 00:20:34,840 --> 00:20:38,720 where I didn't feel confident. I'd gone from being this 297 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:44,160 confident child, very confident in my voice and and that and had 298 00:20:44,280 --> 00:20:47,440 kind of descended into someone who wasn't confident. 299 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:50,400 Did do you think during that time you used clothes as your 300 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,560 armor in any way? Did it? 301 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:56,000 Did they give you if you got the clothing right, it gave you 302 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:00,120 power. It did, but I never really felt 303 00:21:00,120 --> 00:21:06,240 powerful. I I gave the illusion of feeling 304 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:11,080 powerful and because I was so confident in my abilities, my 305 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,680 talent. But I I went through a stage 306 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:18,000 where I wasn't confident in anything aesthetically. 307 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:24,080 And did you have much help in terms of stylists to help you 308 00:21:24,120 --> 00:21:29,000 sort of find who Beverly Knight is or was sartorially? 309 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:32,800 I did, but you weren't really finding. 310 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:37,160 It wasn't finding it because ultimately I wasn't happy with 311 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:42,280 me and my body. I I felt I was carrying far too 312 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,160 much weight for what I had carried my entire life. 313 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:49,320 I was always athletic. I was always, you know, didn't 314 00:21:49,440 --> 00:21:51,040 have to make too much of an effort. 315 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,720 But I loved sport. And then you know what it's 316 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:55,960 like? You, you, you think you can get 317 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:59,640 away with eating what you like. You hit your mid 20s, you can't 318 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:01,120 get away. Suddenly you can't. 319 00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:06,680 And I let me slide. So no matter what I put on, even 320 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:12,280 when the the the photos looked pretty decent, I didn't feel 321 00:22:12,520 --> 00:22:16,560 great. So I didn't exude that 322 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:19,920 confidence and that what the kids call swagger, I didn't 323 00:22:19,920 --> 00:22:24,480 exude that. And when, When do you feel that 324 00:22:24,480 --> 00:22:28,000 you've found that when your power? 325 00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:36,800 I came out the other end in around 2003, and I'm specific 326 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:45,160 with that because in the year 1999 I met a man, a gay man, 327 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:50,000 Tyrone, who very quickly became the closest friend I had. 328 00:22:50,560 --> 00:22:56,840 And he was instrumental in helping me to find me again. 329 00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:01,160 And you know. Was he a stylist or just a mate 330 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,920 who? Just a fabulous friend who was 331 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,720 fabulously himself and did not care. 332 00:23:09,400 --> 00:23:14,400 And that taught me a lesson. He was so instrumental in 333 00:23:15,760 --> 00:23:20,000 finding the woman that was hiding away in me. 334 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:24,200 And then how did that manifest itself in your clothing? 335 00:23:24,200 --> 00:23:31,520 Choices. Oh, I I started to find the real 336 00:23:31,920 --> 00:23:36,440 power in wearing things that made me feel sassy and 337 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,160 confident. I wouldn't. 338 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,960 It's funny, when I was a kid begged my mum for for this 339 00:23:41,960 --> 00:23:45,040 little short rah rah dress as I as I'd said. 340 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:48,120 And then as an adult I started to cover up. 341 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:55,280 Oh I started to uncover again. I I I I felt physically. 342 00:23:55,680 --> 00:23:58,960 I started to work on myself physically and that gave me the 343 00:23:58,960 --> 00:24:03,240 confidence to put on a a a little skirt and not feel like 344 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:04,960 the whole world's looking and laughing. 345 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,240 And he would tell me how wonderful I looked. 346 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:12,000 So you felt better in your body? So I felt better in my body 347 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:18,200 which meant I've started to make better choices for myself and 348 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:19,720 and he really was at the helm of that. 349 00:24:19,920 --> 00:24:27,600 I lost Tyrone in in 2003. Oh no, yes, sadly, really tough, 350 00:24:27,800 --> 00:24:31,720 really tough. He was only 31 but you know AIDS 351 00:24:31,720 --> 00:24:37,440 took him away. But but he really started to. 352 00:24:37,480 --> 00:24:41,520 He planted that seed in me and from that point onwards I 353 00:24:41,520 --> 00:24:46,000 started to really dress the best I'd ever dressed. 354 00:24:46,320 --> 00:24:51,080 Have you ever made a clothing choice with him in mind, in sort 355 00:24:51,080 --> 00:24:54,280 of in his memory, sort of thought put something on and 356 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:58,280 thought Tyrone would really, really get this? 357 00:24:58,640 --> 00:25:00,520 All the time. That's lovely. 358 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:01,440 So he's still with. You. 359 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:04,640 He's still. Tyrone has never left me. 360 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:08,720 He's never left me. I wear him in my heart. 361 00:25:09,120 --> 00:25:15,120 He's always there, his spirit is always there and the amount of 362 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:20,840 times I've put on something and thought he would lose his mind 363 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:22,320 for this. Oh, I love that. 364 00:25:22,320 --> 00:25:29,560 I mean I performed at Mighty Hoopla and did my own set and 365 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:36,760 came out with a an all in one like a Unitard Patiri Moodler. 366 00:25:36,760 --> 00:25:42,480 It was amazing and had it stoned covered in crystals from head to 367 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:49,040 foot and then had little bit like feathers added to it and 368 00:25:49,040 --> 00:25:52,480 chained. So I I dramatic absolutely 369 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:56,880 extrovert. And I bounced onto that stage 370 00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:02,760 and thought, you know, I'm here kids, here we go, you know, this 371 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:06,840 is me. And the crowd roared their 372 00:26:06,840 --> 00:26:10,720 approval and all I could think of was Tyron, I wish you could 373 00:26:10,720 --> 00:26:13,720 see this. You'd absolutely love this. 374 00:26:14,320 --> 00:26:15,720 And then you'd want to borrow it. 375 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:20,000 Do you remember what you wore to his funeral? 376 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:23,800 I do. Did you get dressed up for him? 377 00:26:23,800 --> 00:26:30,280 I did, I did. I wore a black suit, but I wore 378 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:36,920 a waistcoat and and and the like a three piece suit with a really 379 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:45,960 high heel and I had a brooch on the on the on the lapel just to 380 00:26:45,960 --> 00:26:48,880 give a little bit of something. So I had this really like 381 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:55,120 structured power suit, power suit and I knew he would 382 00:26:55,120 --> 00:26:58,000 approve. I knew he'd he'd love that with 383 00:26:58,000 --> 00:27:01,120 a little polo underneath. And I knew he'd he'd he'd be 384 00:27:01,120 --> 00:27:03,480 like, Oh yeah, that that looks good, babe. 385 00:27:03,480 --> 00:27:06,040 You look good. I'm, I'm a big believer and we 386 00:27:06,040 --> 00:27:09,040 should dress for the people that we're sending off. 387 00:27:09,280 --> 00:27:12,720 Yeah, I I absolutely agree. It's not just, oh, I'll just 388 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:18,600 pull on whatever. I wanted him to know that I was 389 00:27:18,760 --> 00:27:21,240 looking the best I could for him. 390 00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,600 Beautiful, beautiful. Now I have to ask you about 391 00:27:24,600 --> 00:27:27,440 this. Prince invited you to play at 392 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,600 his post Oscars party and I always think of Prince as a 393 00:27:30,640 --> 00:27:36,400 complete style icon and I just wondered how you went about 394 00:27:36,520 --> 00:27:39,760 choosing what you were going to wear for that performance. 395 00:27:40,480 --> 00:27:43,080 This is what? Another great question. 396 00:27:43,120 --> 00:27:48,120 Oh my God. So when I turned up in LA, I 397 00:27:48,120 --> 00:27:50,480 didn't actually know why Prince wanted me there. 398 00:27:50,480 --> 00:27:53,640 He never told me. He just said I want you to come 399 00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,920 to LA this weekend. It was a Tuesday. 400 00:27:56,920 --> 00:27:59,400 He wanted me on on the flight on the Saturday. 401 00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:02,560 So I just turned up not having a clue. 402 00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:11,000 I certainly wasn't dressed for a Oscars party, so I arrive 403 00:28:11,040 --> 00:28:15,720 eventually. I discover because he phoned me 404 00:28:15,720 --> 00:28:20,320 when I arrived in the hotel and told me he wanted me to get 405 00:28:20,320 --> 00:28:23,080 dressed up because we're going to be going to a party tomorrow. 406 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:25,760 Had you Twitch? Have you put two and two 407 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:26,280 together? I. 408 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:30,600 Hadn't not until I woke up in the morning, the Sunday morning, 409 00:28:30,600 --> 00:28:32,440 and saw the great and good of Hollywood. 410 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,880 And I thought, why, Why are all these a listers here? 411 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:40,200 You know, this is bit unusual. Turned on the TV and they were 412 00:28:40,200 --> 00:28:43,840 like and we'll be transmitting live from the red carpet, blah 413 00:28:43,840 --> 00:28:46,000 blah. It's the Oscars. 414 00:28:46,320 --> 00:28:47,720 I wonder if I'm here for the Oscars. 415 00:28:47,720 --> 00:28:48,480 Right. Great. 416 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:51,840 OK, can't be the actual Oscars. Maybe it's a party. 417 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:55,680 Went shopping. Straight to the Grove. 418 00:28:55,880 --> 00:28:57,800 Went shopping. What did you find? 419 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:03,120 So found a gorgeous, gorgeous teal dress. 420 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,080 I thought colour. I love colour. 421 00:29:05,960 --> 00:29:08,560 And he loved colour and he loved colour he. 422 00:29:08,560 --> 00:29:12,280 Dressed in colour a lot. So I found this gorgeous teal 423 00:29:12,760 --> 00:29:20,760 dress which was a really like a low V not not dissimilar to this 424 00:29:20,760 --> 00:29:25,080 shape here which was kind of loose at the top but form 425 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:30,960 fitting at the bottom and teamed it with a a a high heel like 426 00:29:30,960 --> 00:29:37,360 with a a a any crew kind of coloured high heel and bold 427 00:29:37,360 --> 00:29:39,360 jewellery. I thought you know they're going 428 00:29:39,360 --> 00:29:42,400 to see me coming, they are going to see me coming. 429 00:29:44,080 --> 00:29:48,160 And luckily my friend DeAndre who is a fabulous makeup artist 430 00:29:48,160 --> 00:29:53,840 of the stars was there to do my face and did my hair so and did 431 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:58,760 it in a in a ponytail. So I I felt really good, but I'm 432 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:02,800 so glad that, you know, I actually had the chance to go 433 00:30:02,800 --> 00:30:05,400 shopping. So did you feel like Prince 434 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:08,040 approved? Yes, he definitely did. 435 00:30:08,120 --> 00:30:10,720 He liked because he commented on what I was wearing. 436 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:13,880 So. Your new album, The 5th chapter, 437 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:16,480 Yes. Do you think of your life in 438 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:25,720 clothes through chapters? I do because I can identify the, 439 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:30,920 for a start, everything. I think my my, the way I dress 440 00:30:31,040 --> 00:30:32,760 has gotten better as I've gotten older. 441 00:30:33,080 --> 00:30:36,520 So I can identify certain periods of my life, certain 442 00:30:36,520 --> 00:30:42,320 chapters with this is the the the me that was less confident. 443 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:47,280 This is the me where I found my confidence and you can see it in 444 00:30:47,280 --> 00:30:51,960 the choices of clothes I made. This is the me where I really 445 00:30:51,960 --> 00:30:55,600 came into my own. And I would say that happened in 446 00:30:55,600 --> 00:31:00,560 the past decade. I just I I started to feel my 447 00:31:00,560 --> 00:31:05,880 most confident, my most powerful from my 40s onward. 448 00:31:06,400 --> 00:31:13,000 Well, welcome to the club. No, but I, I it's I'm seeing so 449 00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:17,560 many women in their 50s and 60s who are talking about finding 450 00:31:17,560 --> 00:31:18,800 their power. Yes. 451 00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,360 And it's just lovely. It's fantastic. 452 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:23,760 This is the best I've ever felt about myself. 453 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:29,120 And I I'm so glad about it because I I because of that. 454 00:31:29,120 --> 00:31:34,680 It's so interesting how the minute you, you know who you 455 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:38,000 are, you know your strength, you know your challenges. 456 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:41,240 You know what suits you. You know what really doesn't. 457 00:31:42,120 --> 00:31:44,720 But more than that, I'm willing to try. 458 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,840 That's what's great. Before I would dismiss things 459 00:31:48,840 --> 00:31:51,040 out of hand without even trying them on. 460 00:31:51,200 --> 00:31:56,840 Now I'll try it all and then say actually that's best, that's not 461 00:31:56,840 --> 00:32:01,920 quite working, This looks great and and and making much better 462 00:32:01,960 --> 00:32:05,200 choices. 50th birthday outfit, that. 463 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:11,080 Was that was another that was this. 464 00:32:11,240 --> 00:32:14,120 I've I've been doing a lot of kind of unitard things. 465 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:21,360 I I threw a party on my 50th but it was a gig, so it was a a gig 466 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:24,560 come party and. Oh, it's the happy space. 467 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:26,320 Isn't it? That's right that that's where 468 00:32:26,320 --> 00:32:30,200 I'm most happy. So I I had another unitard, but 469 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:38,440 it was a silver look. Masses of hair and. 470 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:42,120 But it was a very brave. I mean, it's beautiful. 471 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:46,800 Yes, very brave and sexy. Yes, Sorry, we're on the flight 472 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:49,880 path today. Yet another helicopter goes 473 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:51,640 overhead. Going, they keep, they keep. 474 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:54,960 Going around, they know you're here, they know you're here, 475 00:32:54,960 --> 00:32:58,800 they're spying. But no, just tell me the because 476 00:32:58,840 --> 00:33:02,960 it was quite it had quite a lot of sheer panels. 477 00:33:03,360 --> 00:33:08,160 Sheer panels form unitards are form fitting, completely form 478 00:33:08,160 --> 00:33:10,840 fitting. Lots of sheer panels and very 479 00:33:10,840 --> 00:33:13,280 daring. Very daring. 480 00:33:13,320 --> 00:33:14,440 Yes. Fabulous. 481 00:33:14,480 --> 00:33:20,760 I I wanted to make a statement on that day specifically to say 482 00:33:21,920 --> 00:33:27,120 OK this is what 50 look like, this is what 50 looks like guys 483 00:33:27,120 --> 00:33:29,480 you know? Just getting started I am. 484 00:33:31,160 --> 00:33:35,040 The, the, the, the, the Ferrari is getting into those fast 485 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:40,640 gears, you know, get ready and silver with mesh panelling all 486 00:33:40,640 --> 00:33:44,600 the way through. And there were gasps when I 487 00:33:44,600 --> 00:33:46,200 walked out. Oh. 488 00:33:46,200 --> 00:33:47,520 Great. And shoes. 489 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:51,920 And the shoes I wore let me think. 490 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:55,240 I think it was a boot. I actually, I think it was boots 491 00:33:55,240 --> 00:33:59,080 because when I perform, I like to make sure that, you know, I'm 492 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:00,240 pretty sturdy. It's. 493 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:02,840 Nothing better than a boot for holding your foot in place. 494 00:34:02,840 --> 00:34:06,600 Yeah, absolutely. And I think it was a a a black 495 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:10,760 boot. I'm pretty sure it was, 496 00:34:10,800 --> 00:34:12,920 actually. I'd have to remind myself, but 497 00:34:12,920 --> 00:34:17,800 I'll always remember the the, the, the, the silver and looking 498 00:34:17,800 --> 00:34:21,679 at myself thinking, yeah, this is, this is good. 499 00:34:21,679 --> 00:34:23,400 Did you choose a high heel? Did you? 500 00:34:23,400 --> 00:34:27,679 Choose it with James. I didn't choose it with James. 501 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:33,760 I chose it with my stylist Carl. But I chose it with James in 502 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,800 mind. I won't even pretend I wanted 503 00:34:36,800 --> 00:34:40,560 James to go. Oh my God, that's my. 504 00:34:40,560 --> 00:34:44,920 Wife and I I am sure he did. He did. 505 00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:48,239 Now I've noticed a bit of latex creeping in. 506 00:34:49,040 --> 00:34:53,199 You totally smashed it when you collected your Olivier Award. 507 00:34:53,280 --> 00:34:57,240 Congratulations. How did the latex dress come 508 00:34:57,240 --> 00:34:59,800 about? That was just an incredible look 509 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:01,520 on you. Thank you so much. 510 00:35:02,200 --> 00:35:08,160 The the Olivier Awards are, you know, the the the pinnacle of 511 00:35:08,160 --> 00:35:14,600 British theatre and people will dress but have their best red 512 00:35:14,600 --> 00:35:19,160 carpet glam. But it's often quite what I 513 00:35:19,160 --> 00:35:22,600 would call a traditional red carpet look. 514 00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:31,160 A lot of younger people go for the sequin glitzy thing and I 515 00:35:31,160 --> 00:35:33,080 thought, I want to buck against all of that. 516 00:35:33,520 --> 00:35:38,280 I want to wear something which is really edgy, something which 517 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:44,000 might be more at home at, I don't know, the L style awards 518 00:35:44,000 --> 00:35:49,080 or something like that. Something that was very, very 519 00:35:49,280 --> 00:35:55,320 fashion forward and that would make the the your typical Oscars 520 00:35:55,400 --> 00:36:02,080 kind of regular go. Oh again with 50 in mind. 521 00:36:02,400 --> 00:36:05,600 So Latex was the order of the day. 522 00:36:05,600 --> 00:36:08,440 I thought they'll give him something to talk about. 523 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:12,400 And the other thing I thought was this is my third time being 524 00:36:12,400 --> 00:36:16,480 nominated for an Olivier Award, of which I was so, you know, 525 00:36:16,840 --> 00:36:18,960 honoured to be. Did you have any? 526 00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:22,520 Any feeling in your gut that it might be you? 527 00:36:23,160 --> 00:36:26,640 I felt it might be me. I really did feel that way. 528 00:36:26,640 --> 00:36:30,880 And I thought, well, if it's me, I want to give him a look to 529 00:36:30,880 --> 00:36:33,840 remember. If it's not me, I want to give 530 00:36:33,840 --> 00:36:36,640 him a hook to remember. I thought, I'm going to win that 531 00:36:36,640 --> 00:36:40,520 red carpet if I'm not taking home a Winnie, a a a little Mini 532 00:36:40,520 --> 00:36:43,160 Larry. Luckily for me. 533 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:46,280 You you did both. You won the won the red carpet. 534 00:36:46,440 --> 00:36:50,400 You've got to talk me through the process of getting into a 535 00:36:50,400 --> 00:36:56,560 latex dress, though. There were two things I 'cause I 536 00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:59,360 I had two different looks. I had the red part. 537 00:36:59,440 --> 00:37:01,200 I noticed there was one with sleeves. 538 00:37:01,200 --> 00:37:03,200 With the sleeves, so it was a a top and bottom. 539 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:10,480 The top, which was the long sleeve right up to the neck. 540 00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:21,120 I had to be, quite frankly, lots of Lube, Lube. 541 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:25,360 But aren't you frozen with all of that Lube on you? 542 00:37:25,360 --> 00:37:27,440 And then the latex? Isn't it freezing? 543 00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:30,080 Cold. First it was cold, but it was a 544 00:37:30,120 --> 00:37:34,360 a warm day in the sun, so I warmed up pretty quickly. 545 00:37:34,360 --> 00:37:37,640 And then you're baking. And then I was hot and somebody 546 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:40,080 asked me on the red carpet, one of the journals, oh, you're not 547 00:37:40,080 --> 00:37:41,920 hot in that. And I was like, oh, I'm not too 548 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:43,480 bad gluing. Yeah. 549 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:49,440 So yes, that was lots of Lube. But the skirt which I stepped 550 00:37:49,440 --> 00:37:51,920 into and then they pulled it up. Talc. 551 00:37:52,760 --> 00:37:56,320 So there was talc at the bottom, Lube at the top. 552 00:37:56,760 --> 00:38:00,520 Oh my God, how hysterical. I I mean just comedy. 553 00:38:00,760 --> 00:38:03,600 So. And the reason that there was 554 00:38:03,600 --> 00:38:10,200 Lube at the top is that I was changing into my kind of, you 555 00:38:10,240 --> 00:38:12,360 know, just the the the what I was going to wear for the rest 556 00:38:12,360 --> 00:38:14,400 of the ceremony. I had the red carpet look 557 00:38:14,400 --> 00:38:17,120 specifically and then the rest of the ceremony and that was 558 00:38:17,120 --> 00:38:20,360 short sleeve. So we didn't want me to have any 559 00:38:20,360 --> 00:38:22,640 residue at all of talc, which would have. 560 00:38:22,640 --> 00:38:24,400 That would have been quite a look, wouldn't it? 561 00:38:24,400 --> 00:38:26,200 Exactly. Lube. 562 00:38:26,400 --> 00:38:29,840 Not so much. I did, just looked quite shiny. 563 00:38:30,720 --> 00:38:36,080 So the the look I had was a a, a shorter, a sleeve like a muscle 564 00:38:36,200 --> 00:38:38,440 sleeve and then our very high neck. 565 00:38:38,440 --> 00:38:40,120 Yeah, and an amazing piece of jewelry. 566 00:38:40,120 --> 00:38:41,680 And and jewelry. Yeah. 567 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:43,960 So. And then I I, you know, put my 568 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:46,600 arms in and then just sit me up at the back. 569 00:38:46,600 --> 00:38:48,480 Kept the skirt. Wow. 570 00:38:48,480 --> 00:38:51,160 And and then they went around literally buffing it. 571 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:54,440 So it was really shiny. Really. 572 00:38:54,440 --> 00:38:55,840 Really. Shiny Who was it? 573 00:38:55,840 --> 00:38:57,280 By Who? Who made it? 574 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:04,280 I want to get the name right, so Aksuto Kudo, Japanese designer 575 00:39:05,040 --> 00:39:08,880 and. The silhouette was brilliant. 576 00:39:09,160 --> 00:39:12,280 Thank you. I mean, you know, amazing 577 00:39:12,280 --> 00:39:14,560 silhouette underneath it. Can I just say that? 578 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:19,280 Thank you so much. In all the different shows 579 00:39:19,280 --> 00:39:26,120 you've performed in, was that one particular character or set 580 00:39:26,120 --> 00:39:29,720 of costumes that you felt most you in? 581 00:39:30,280 --> 00:39:36,080 Certainly the look that I I loved the most of the character 582 00:39:36,080 --> 00:39:39,960 that I played and I just love the look, was playing Faye 583 00:39:39,960 --> 00:39:45,280 Treadwell where I had to wear a lot of 50s and then evolving 584 00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:49,240 into the 60s and then the 70s. That kind of 50s, sixties, 70s 585 00:39:49,240 --> 00:39:56,960 look where fashion for me really kind of exploded in its bold 586 00:39:57,160 --> 00:40:03,080 choices from quite neat and conservative and lines to, you 587 00:40:03,080 --> 00:40:05,880 know, all the way through the 70s floating. 588 00:40:06,760 --> 00:40:10,920 I loved that look, but everything I've worn so far has 589 00:40:10,920 --> 00:40:15,920 very much been a costume. Playing Rachel Marron in The 590 00:40:15,920 --> 00:40:19,880 Bodyguard, There were a lot of kind of Rachel Marron in her 591 00:40:19,880 --> 00:40:22,440 casual clothes, but they weren't really casual clothes that I 592 00:40:22,440 --> 00:40:26,520 would wear. And certainly playing Grizabella 593 00:40:26,520 --> 00:40:28,400 with a cat outfit? Definitely not. 594 00:40:28,400 --> 00:40:30,360 Oh. My God and all that makeup and 595 00:40:30,360 --> 00:40:34,120 all. That makeup also playing Felicia 596 00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:40,240 Farrell in Memphis that was very much set in the 50s with, you 597 00:40:40,240 --> 00:40:44,440 know, form fitting dresses and you know, that kind of starlet 598 00:40:44,440 --> 00:40:46,400 silhouette that that was gorgeous. 599 00:40:46,800 --> 00:40:53,000 Again, not necessarily what I would wear, but I appreciated 600 00:40:53,040 --> 00:40:55,600 those those looks. I thought, you know, back in the 601 00:40:55,600 --> 00:40:57,480 day, I'd have loved to dress. Like this? 602 00:40:57,760 --> 00:41:01,080 How do you go about choosing what you know when you're doing 603 00:41:01,080 --> 00:41:05,120 Royal Variety or your own shows? How do you go about choosing 604 00:41:05,120 --> 00:41:09,040 your costumes for that? Part of me has the event in 605 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:16,160 mind, so I will think so for, for example, Royal Variety. 606 00:41:16,520 --> 00:41:18,200 The Royals are going to be there. 607 00:41:18,960 --> 00:41:22,440 So no red latex. So I won't be wearing red latex, 608 00:41:23,880 --> 00:41:28,880 but you know, I still want to give them a look, you know. 609 00:41:28,920 --> 00:41:36,720 So my go to is give them colour because colour can say so much 610 00:41:37,760 --> 00:41:41,480 no matter what the cut of the, the, the, the outfit is. 611 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:47,040 If you're giving them colour, especially a strong colour, you 612 00:41:47,040 --> 00:41:48,920 know it. It says so much about your own 613 00:41:48,920 --> 00:41:50,960 personality and how you're feeling. 614 00:41:50,960 --> 00:41:57,000 So that is always my go to. I start with color, whatever it 615 00:41:57,000 --> 00:42:00,600 is, make sure I've got color and and and go from there. 616 00:42:00,600 --> 00:42:04,920 Really. I also think you do amazing 617 00:42:04,920 --> 00:42:07,960 things with your hair. That performance that you gave 618 00:42:07,960 --> 00:42:11,560 on strictly when you had the little plaits in the front and 619 00:42:11,600 --> 00:42:17,200 then that mass of hair. It was so beautiful, Beautiful. 620 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:20,240 Thank you. Loved that that look. 621 00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:27,600 Was I? I I wanted to almost give a nod 622 00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:31,000 to a warrior queen. That. 623 00:42:31,120 --> 00:42:32,040 Was what I wanted. It was. 624 00:42:32,040 --> 00:42:35,440 So powerful. And yet you were sitting and 625 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:39,280 that was just doubly powerful. You weren't all out there. 626 00:42:39,280 --> 00:42:42,000 Do you know what I mean? I just love the the 627 00:42:42,000 --> 00:42:46,880 contradiction really. Yes, I I wanted a very powerful 628 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:49,440 look. But because the reason I was 629 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:53,680 sitting was because I'd injured my foot, I I read it. 630 00:42:54,480 --> 00:42:56,680 Yeah, but actually I thought it worked so. 631 00:42:56,680 --> 00:43:00,280 Well, so I thought. Well, I'm going to give a whole 632 00:43:00,280 --> 00:43:02,280 look. I've got this powerful look. 633 00:43:02,280 --> 00:43:05,280 You were in your throne. I'm on a throne, I'm going to 634 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:10,080 sit just sideways, so you just get the the, the, the just leg 635 00:43:10,440 --> 00:43:14,520 and cross legged and draped across this, this, this thing 636 00:43:14,680 --> 00:43:19,840 singing the song. And I thought that's that is a 637 00:43:19,840 --> 00:43:24,120 very powerful look in and of itself, you know? 638 00:43:24,160 --> 00:43:25,600 It really was. Strength. 639 00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:30,920 That's what I want you to show. Now I'm curious about Jamaica. 640 00:43:31,440 --> 00:43:33,920 Yes, your parents are from. Yes, they are. 641 00:43:34,040 --> 00:43:39,400 And you, I I've read bits about you going to Jamaica for the 642 00:43:39,440 --> 00:43:46,040 first time and I just wondered, did the island, indeed the 643 00:43:46,200 --> 00:43:52,840 Islanders or your heritage have any sort of impact on your style 644 00:43:53,120 --> 00:43:57,520 when you were on the island? Did your style of Volvo tour 645 00:43:57,520 --> 00:43:59,840 when you were on the island for the first time? 646 00:43:59,840 --> 00:44:02,240 Oh, that's. Absolutely brilliant. 647 00:44:03,480 --> 00:44:07,240 My look became you. It is it's it's a it's a 648 00:44:07,240 --> 00:44:11,080 brilliant question. And you're right, because my 649 00:44:11,080 --> 00:44:14,360 look became more fun, interesting. 650 00:44:14,680 --> 00:44:19,840 I I introduced more patterns and local patterns. 651 00:44:20,400 --> 00:44:22,920 Yeah, yeah, a lot more. Kind of. 652 00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:31,560 I I I did a little bit of of kind of look at how people in 653 00:44:31,560 --> 00:44:34,320 general dress and people in Jamaica, they go hell for 654 00:44:34,320 --> 00:44:41,320 leather on colour, on fabric, on loud. 655 00:44:41,640 --> 00:44:44,520 I would say Jamaicans tend to be quite young. 656 00:44:44,520 --> 00:44:46,840 Jamaicans are very loud in the way they dress. 657 00:44:46,840 --> 00:44:51,960 If you've ever seen any of the athletics teams, the the they've 658 00:44:51,960 --> 00:44:54,280 got all kinds of colours in their hair, which I embraced for 659 00:44:54,280 --> 00:44:56,560 a little while and. The nails. 660 00:44:56,760 --> 00:45:01,760 The nails and the you know, my generation will remember Flo Jo. 661 00:45:02,000 --> 00:45:05,360 It's Flo Jo. Do you know to the NTH? 662 00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:07,640 Degree on steroids, Yeah, absolutely. 663 00:45:07,920 --> 00:45:12,240 So that is the, that is the the, the, the look of of young 664 00:45:12,240 --> 00:45:15,200 Jamaica and I think it encouraged me to just go for it 665 00:45:15,200 --> 00:45:20,000 a bit more. So I wore fabrics which were 666 00:45:20,000 --> 00:45:27,440 more to do with Jamaica, rootsy Jamaica. 667 00:45:27,760 --> 00:45:33,320 So I had my hair went into head wraps and you know, colourful 668 00:45:33,320 --> 00:45:35,800 head wraps with like a kente cloth. 669 00:45:37,560 --> 00:45:40,240 Did you buy much when you were there that first trip? 670 00:45:40,920 --> 00:45:43,320 A lot of those head wraps were bought there, yeah. 671 00:45:43,920 --> 00:45:48,600 Loads and loads and loads of colour and little, little tops, 672 00:45:48,680 --> 00:45:53,560 You know, very bright colors. Just because I I could The sun 673 00:45:53,560 --> 00:45:57,520 shining always. It's always hot. 674 00:45:57,840 --> 00:46:02,400 Never ever, ever cold. Cold to a Jamaican is maybe 675 00:46:02,400 --> 00:46:06,840 2223° and then moaning about it's cold. 676 00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:09,560 It might be cooler, it's not cold. 677 00:46:09,960 --> 00:46:13,960 So I embraced that side that that fun. 678 00:46:14,240 --> 00:46:15,600 And the freedom. The. 679 00:46:15,600 --> 00:46:17,840 Freedom that temperature gives you. 680 00:46:17,960 --> 00:46:22,200 Absolutely. You can wear, you know, clothes 681 00:46:22,200 --> 00:46:28,920 which are a bit more sheer, you know and and feel completely 682 00:46:28,920 --> 00:46:33,440 confident in that and it just had so much more fun. 683 00:46:34,080 --> 00:46:40,520 Who would you say you dress for? I dress for me. 684 00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:46,040 When I was younger, I I I would say I dressed so that people 685 00:46:46,040 --> 00:46:49,720 wouldn't. Judge you. 686 00:46:49,920 --> 00:46:55,280 Judge me they did because people could see that the clothes were 687 00:46:55,280 --> 00:46:56,800 wearing me. I weren't wearing the clothes. 688 00:46:56,800 --> 00:46:59,440 The clothes were wearing me. And that was where I made my 689 00:46:59,440 --> 00:47:03,200 biggest fashion. I was going to say worst 690 00:47:03,200 --> 00:47:06,640 fashion, worst fashion moment. Do you remember one in 691 00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:14,800 particular? I remember getting really camed 692 00:47:14,880 --> 00:47:20,040 for it in the in the the, the, the glossies. 693 00:47:21,760 --> 00:47:27,720 I wore a Missoni dress which just was ill fitting, didn't 694 00:47:27,720 --> 00:47:32,200 look good. Stripes were going across me and 695 00:47:32,720 --> 00:47:36,680 it it just looked awful. I looked horrendous. 696 00:47:38,400 --> 00:47:44,000 How did the dress come about? I I thought, oh, Missoni 697 00:47:44,000 --> 00:47:51,920 Missoni's a wonderful label and speaks to, you know, in my head 698 00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:59,440 I'm thinking kind of chic Italian, you know that? 699 00:47:59,680 --> 00:48:01,920 Can't get it wrong because it's a designer label. 700 00:48:02,000 --> 00:48:10,400 Designer label and well you can and I did and the actual fit 701 00:48:10,400 --> 00:48:12,960 just didn't didn't work for me at. 702 00:48:13,080 --> 00:48:16,920 All what, what lesson did you take out of that, that sort of 703 00:48:16,920 --> 00:48:20,120 horrible experience of being criticized? 704 00:48:20,120 --> 00:48:27,720 Yeah, at first. I realized eventually that the 705 00:48:27,720 --> 00:48:32,520 clothes would be wearing me and. But because it it was a lesson 706 00:48:32,520 --> 00:48:37,840 that I was slow to learn, I kept making that error, that same 707 00:48:37,840 --> 00:48:48,000 error going to labels to somehow validate my fashion, you know 708 00:48:48,600 --> 00:48:55,280 know how or fashion look. But it wasn't who I was. 709 00:48:55,680 --> 00:49:01,560 So it I would look awkward and again, the magazines would be 710 00:49:01,560 --> 00:49:04,440 like, what's she wearing? Not that there was something 711 00:49:04,440 --> 00:49:06,800 inherently wrong with the clothing. 712 00:49:06,960 --> 00:49:10,360 What was wrong was me in it. Interesting. 713 00:49:11,200 --> 00:49:13,800 And I and I eventually learned that lesson. 714 00:49:13,960 --> 00:49:22,960 And again, that was where Tyrone came in and learned to dress for 715 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:28,000 me and what would work with me as opposed to working trying to 716 00:49:28,000 --> 00:49:34,640 fight to square peg round hole. I finally thank you Lord, I 717 00:49:34,640 --> 00:49:38,000 found I I got there in the end. When do you think the Sony thing 718 00:49:38,000 --> 00:49:39,360 was? That was yeah. 719 00:49:39,440 --> 00:49:41,080 I mean I got brutalized for that. 720 00:49:41,160 --> 00:49:45,480 So how do you? Think you really found your 721 00:49:45,480 --> 00:49:49,240 fashion mojo? So found your style DNA. 722 00:49:51,800 --> 00:49:56,080 Definitely. It was definitely in my 40s when 723 00:49:56,600 --> 00:50:03,280 actually it coincided with me doing theatre and so, so late on 724 00:50:03,280 --> 00:50:06,280 really, I think I I I moved towards it. 725 00:50:06,280 --> 00:50:09,800 I started on that journey in my 30s. 726 00:50:10,320 --> 00:50:13,720 I'd lost Tyrone by then, but I I started in that journey. 727 00:50:14,560 --> 00:50:18,360 But by the time I hit my 40s I definitely was much more 728 00:50:18,360 --> 00:50:20,160 comfortable. I think it was the contrast 729 00:50:20,160 --> 00:50:28,080 between wearing a a a a a a a a costume and seeing myself in the 730 00:50:28,080 --> 00:50:34,080 mirror look like someone who wasn't me, and knowing once I'd 731 00:50:34,080 --> 00:50:37,520 taken off that costume, looking in the mirror and saying, ah, 732 00:50:37,680 --> 00:50:40,440 there I am. Interesting, if that makes 733 00:50:40,440 --> 00:50:42,880 sense. Makes complete sense, yeah. 734 00:50:43,960 --> 00:50:51,000 If someone were to describe your style DNA in three words, how 735 00:50:51,000 --> 00:50:53,680 would you want them to describe you? 736 00:50:56,360 --> 00:51:00,000 Colorful because I do love color. 737 00:51:01,800 --> 00:51:04,400 Even when the color is a bit more neutral like it is today, 738 00:51:04,560 --> 00:51:07,040 it's still colorful. Thank you. 739 00:51:08,920 --> 00:51:15,200 Colorful. I would say structured. 740 00:51:15,360 --> 00:51:24,960 I tend to like lines because I'm not so tall and I'm pretty slim 741 00:51:26,840 --> 00:51:30,400 I don't like things to to I I I'm not I I I wouldn't get away 742 00:51:30,400 --> 00:51:33,480 with like when I see models wearing something that's really 743 00:51:33,480 --> 00:51:38,240 Vol volumous you know that would right where you can see just leg 744 00:51:38,320 --> 00:51:41,560 for days but there's lots of material you just see leg. 745 00:51:41,720 --> 00:51:44,440 I'd love to do that. I can't get away with that. 746 00:51:44,600 --> 00:51:48,680 I know what works for me. Structured things with clean 747 00:51:48,680 --> 00:51:50,720 lines work for me. So I'd say structured. 748 00:51:52,160 --> 00:51:59,400 And the third thing I would say is I want to say eclectic, 749 00:51:59,400 --> 00:52:05,680 because some days I I dress like today is quite a chic look. 750 00:52:06,520 --> 00:52:09,240 Other days I might look more rock'n'roll. 751 00:52:10,080 --> 00:52:14,040 You know, I want to wear a little like a leather jacket 752 00:52:14,040 --> 00:52:19,240 with a little slogan, rock T-shirt and a skinny Jean or a 753 00:52:19,240 --> 00:52:22,800 flared Jean with a, you know, and have that kind of rock look. 754 00:52:23,920 --> 00:52:27,840 And in other days, I might come in my completely unitard with 755 00:52:27,840 --> 00:52:31,280 stones and feathers and my, what I would call a diva look. 756 00:52:31,560 --> 00:52:36,520 So yeah, I'd say eclectic. So we have got colourful, 757 00:52:36,840 --> 00:52:39,760 structured and eclectic. Eclectic, yeah, boom, boom, 758 00:52:39,760 --> 00:52:41,440 boom. I think that's really good. 759 00:52:41,440 --> 00:52:44,000 Do you think you've got a style icon? 760 00:52:47,400 --> 00:52:53,520 There are two women that I admire greatly. 761 00:52:55,040 --> 00:53:03,200 One is a woman who I loved but far too terrified to look like 762 00:53:03,880 --> 00:53:07,000 Nice Skin lead singer, Skunk and Nancy. 763 00:53:07,840 --> 00:53:10,280 She's got great style, hasn't she? 764 00:53:11,240 --> 00:53:19,160 She looks incredible all the time AT shirt with a Jean 765 00:53:20,160 --> 00:53:25,200 incredible. You know I saw her lately the 766 00:53:25,280 --> 00:53:29,600 the the the last time I saw her was she was I think she was 767 00:53:29,600 --> 00:53:35,200 performing for Chanel and she had on a a leather it's like a 768 00:53:35,200 --> 00:53:37,760 dungaree. Chanel, hopefully. 769 00:53:37,760 --> 00:53:42,960 Yeah, I think it was a Chanel dungaree with the quite bold 770 00:53:42,960 --> 00:53:47,280 buttons and and and like a thick thick straps form fitting, but 771 00:53:47,280 --> 00:53:51,880 the leg was quite straight and and then cropped. 772 00:53:52,160 --> 00:53:56,320 I wonder if she was involved in the design of that with the 773 00:53:56,320 --> 00:53:58,360 design. Team, It wouldn't surprise me if 774 00:53:58,360 --> 00:54:01,640 she would. And then a signature bald head 775 00:54:01,640 --> 00:54:05,880 and the makeup, really strong eyes and just the defiant way 776 00:54:05,880 --> 00:54:09,320 she was looking at the camera. And I thought, I am in love with 777 00:54:09,320 --> 00:54:10,880 you. I've loved her forever. 778 00:54:10,880 --> 00:54:13,040 I've told her I know her really well. 779 00:54:13,040 --> 00:54:17,360 I've told her over and over again she is a style queen. 780 00:54:18,600 --> 00:54:23,880 I there are aspects of what she might wear that I've I've I've 781 00:54:23,880 --> 00:54:27,560 taken like she had on these amazing McQueen boots once and I 782 00:54:28,320 --> 00:54:33,040 found them and had to buy them, but I couldn't look like her 783 00:54:33,040 --> 00:54:40,560 because she is so singularly her, you know, and she's just 784 00:54:40,560 --> 00:54:43,320 beautiful. I love her so much. 785 00:54:43,520 --> 00:54:45,160 Yeah, I think you've got a good one there. 786 00:54:45,200 --> 00:54:49,720 You said you said 2. The other person who I've taken 787 00:54:49,760 --> 00:54:54,080 aspects of as I've gotten older, definitely I've taken aspects of 788 00:54:54,080 --> 00:54:57,800 her look and probably wouldn't be surprising, is Tina Turner. 789 00:55:00,880 --> 00:55:04,560 Good look for you. Absolutely good look for you. 790 00:55:04,760 --> 00:55:09,480 She she my height. As she got older she shrank. 791 00:55:09,480 --> 00:55:13,520 But I've I another woman I've met about my height and and a 792 00:55:13,520 --> 00:55:16,360 similar build to me, quite athletic. 793 00:55:17,240 --> 00:55:22,480 So someone who I could look at and say that would suit me. 794 00:55:22,480 --> 00:55:24,960 It looks good on her. I'm pretty sure that would suit 795 00:55:24,960 --> 00:55:28,120 me. When I did a Tina Turner tribute 796 00:55:28,120 --> 00:55:34,800 on Strictly, I knew I wanted to wear a chainmail dress that was 797 00:55:34,840 --> 00:55:37,360 tiny, tiny, tiny. And it was based on something 798 00:55:37,360 --> 00:55:42,960 she had worn in the past. And I just knew instinctively it 799 00:55:42,960 --> 00:55:46,040 would it would work. And it really did. 800 00:55:46,040 --> 00:55:48,040 And I thought Tina was so much about her leg. 801 00:55:48,480 --> 00:55:49,200 Yeah. Legs. 802 00:55:49,480 --> 00:55:50,480 Plural. So. 803 00:55:52,760 --> 00:55:56,480 And so I thought, that's how I'm gonna honor her short dress. 804 00:55:57,120 --> 00:55:58,840 Love it. Short and legs. 805 00:55:58,880 --> 00:56:00,080 Love it. I would. 806 00:56:00,480 --> 00:56:04,200 I mean, I just have those memories of of Tina Turner and 807 00:56:04,200 --> 00:56:08,000 all of that fantastic ALYA leather. 808 00:56:08,160 --> 00:56:12,120 Like in the 80s. Oh my God, in the 90s she just 809 00:56:12,120 --> 00:56:14,560 rocked it. She really, really did. 810 00:56:14,560 --> 00:56:16,720 And she's. A vintage liar for you. 811 00:56:16,720 --> 00:56:18,800 Oh. Absolutely would love that. 812 00:56:19,960 --> 00:56:22,680 Do you archive all your important looks? 813 00:56:22,880 --> 00:56:27,000 You know, ones that you've collected your mobos or your 814 00:56:27,040 --> 00:56:32,200 oliviers in, or your MBE in? Do you archive those I've got? 815 00:56:32,400 --> 00:56:35,840 Some pieces I've had sadly had to hand back because because 816 00:56:35,840 --> 00:56:40,360 they were borrowed, but the ones that I could keep, I absolutely 817 00:56:40,360 --> 00:56:45,600 have. I remember wearing like a very 818 00:56:45,600 --> 00:56:51,440 long this was the first time I felt I felt really good in an 819 00:56:51,440 --> 00:56:56,080 outfit, a blanket. It was a it was a coat, but it 820 00:56:56,080 --> 00:57:00,480 was like wool and it like a like a blanket. 821 00:57:00,480 --> 00:57:01,840 That's the best way I can describe it. 822 00:57:02,040 --> 00:57:08,160 The arms were fitted to me but the the the body of it looked 823 00:57:08,160 --> 00:57:10,760 like a almost like a shawl like a blanket and it and and it 824 00:57:10,880 --> 00:57:14,920 fitted in and then it flared all the way out and I'm and I'm in 825 00:57:14,920 --> 00:57:16,680 the videos for the video made it back. 826 00:57:16,760 --> 00:57:21,640 My hair is very short and I'm walking with purpose down the 827 00:57:21,640 --> 00:57:26,720 street and it's raining and it's windy and then so the the, the, 828 00:57:26,800 --> 00:57:30,800 the, the coat kind of blows back and it looks really powerful. 829 00:57:31,160 --> 00:57:36,800 And I kept that as a moment where I felt strong and powerful 830 00:57:36,800 --> 00:57:42,000 and that was coincided with my career really taking on a a, a 831 00:57:42,000 --> 00:57:46,240 trajectory that just was upward. And so that was an important 832 00:57:46,280 --> 00:57:54,280 look for me. When I got my MB, EI had on a 833 00:57:54,280 --> 00:58:01,200 whole cream ensemble by Jasper Conran, which I still have, and 834 00:58:01,400 --> 00:58:05,640 this huge platform shoes which would cry towered over the 835 00:58:05,640 --> 00:58:08,960 Queen. It was ridiculous, yes. 836 00:58:08,960 --> 00:58:11,360 So I I I had to hand back the the, the, the hat. 837 00:58:11,360 --> 00:58:14,000 But I kept that look. And you keep them all 838 00:58:14,000 --> 00:58:16,000 immaculately. Oh, they're in. 839 00:58:16,000 --> 00:58:20,920 They're in their the, the covers, the cover bag, you know. 840 00:58:22,360 --> 00:58:25,200 Yeah. There's certain things I just, I 841 00:58:25,200 --> 00:58:28,480 keep. I think they're, I can look back 842 00:58:28,480 --> 00:58:31,040 and say that was a moment in my life. 843 00:58:31,080 --> 00:58:32,720 Yeah, you know and and and it's like. 844 00:58:32,800 --> 00:58:34,280 A diary, isn't it? It is like a. 845 00:58:34,280 --> 00:58:38,680 Diary and when I think of these great exhibitions, now that you 846 00:58:38,680 --> 00:58:44,720 see at the VNA the artists are often doing, I think Kylie was 847 00:58:44,720 --> 00:58:50,240 probably the latest one. I think it's important to have 848 00:58:50,240 --> 00:58:55,600 these looks, you know, to archive them because they point 849 00:58:55,600 --> 00:58:59,720 to such important points in my life. 850 00:59:00,800 --> 00:59:05,920 Some are because I won an award and some are because this 851 00:59:05,920 --> 00:59:11,000 specific thing happened at that specific time, and it speaks to 852 00:59:11,000 --> 00:59:12,800 the rest of how my career has gone. 853 00:59:12,800 --> 00:59:16,160 But I think it's so important to to treasure those moments. 854 00:59:16,280 --> 00:59:20,600 Women hang on to wedding dresses for the same reason. 855 00:59:20,600 --> 00:59:22,040 You know, I've got my wedding dresses, I. 856 00:59:22,040 --> 00:59:24,440 Was going to say I hope you're. Absolutely. 857 00:59:25,520 --> 00:59:27,240 But these moments are so important. 858 00:59:27,440 --> 00:59:30,320 My, my. One of the the the looks that 859 00:59:30,320 --> 00:59:36,520 I've held onto that was such a proud moment in my career was 860 00:59:36,520 --> 00:59:39,840 the Paralympics. When I opened, I sang in the the 861 00:59:39,920 --> 00:59:45,320 the opening ceremony. I was the last act, so I closed 862 00:59:45,400 --> 00:59:50,040 the opening ceremony and I sang I am what I am and did my own 863 00:59:50,040 --> 00:59:53,120 arrangement on it. And what did you wear? 864 00:59:53,160 --> 01:00:01,640 Had a custom made halter neck dress which was a color which 865 01:00:01,640 --> 01:00:09,120 was close to my own skin color, but again stoned quite. 866 01:00:10,280 --> 01:00:15,320 Form fitting. So I looked like AI was on this 867 01:00:15,400 --> 01:00:19,520 vast stage, you know, at the Olympic Stadium. 868 01:00:20,160 --> 01:00:22,400 And I knew that there was going to be loads and loads and loads 869 01:00:22,400 --> 01:00:24,120 of lights. They were going to get the 870 01:00:24,160 --> 01:00:28,640 audience to have lights on them. Not dissimilar to how Coldplay 871 01:00:28,640 --> 01:00:31,320 if you've ever seen Coldplay in concert with the lights I I have 872 01:00:31,320 --> 01:00:33,960 to where the audience become part of the light show. 873 01:00:33,960 --> 01:00:38,280 Well I myself was going to be part of that so I would twinkle 874 01:00:39,160 --> 01:00:44,320 and so the dress was completely kind of tonal but the the stones 875 01:00:44,320 --> 01:00:47,240 were in tiny tiny stones in different colors. 876 01:00:47,760 --> 01:00:52,600 So I I I not like a glitter ball because that's a little bit 877 01:00:52,600 --> 01:00:56,440 weird, but more just kind of this beautiful twinkle of a soft 878 01:00:56,440 --> 01:01:02,680 tone form fitted and then just kind of fell from the knee 879 01:01:02,680 --> 01:01:08,160 outward and puddled around me. It was a gown and I just felt 880 01:01:08,160 --> 01:01:12,000 really statuesque. It was so beautiful. 881 01:01:12,120 --> 01:01:15,040 It was so beautiful. And I've got that and I look at 882 01:01:15,040 --> 01:01:16,880 that sometimes. You ever worn it again? 883 01:01:17,960 --> 01:01:18,800 Or. Wouldn't you? 884 01:01:18,800 --> 01:01:22,400 Because was it just that moment? Was it almost like a wedding 885 01:01:22,400 --> 01:01:22,880 dress? You. 886 01:01:22,880 --> 01:01:24,800 It was. Like a wedding dress for me. 887 01:01:25,080 --> 01:01:27,720 I did actually wear it one more time where I I was. 888 01:01:28,360 --> 01:01:31,240 It was a Bond themed. Perfect. 889 01:01:32,240 --> 01:01:34,720 Little bond Goddess A a, a party. 890 01:01:34,720 --> 01:01:38,600 It was a private party and I kept thinking, what am I going 891 01:01:38,640 --> 01:01:39,800 to wear? What am I? 892 01:01:39,800 --> 01:01:42,040 I know what I'll wear that dress. 893 01:01:42,040 --> 01:01:44,880 And I wore it and I actually sang Licensed to Kill for my. 894 01:01:44,920 --> 01:01:46,320 Friends. Oh, I love it. 895 01:01:46,640 --> 01:01:49,440 Is your wardrobe phenomenally well organized? 896 01:01:49,680 --> 01:01:54,480 No, the answer is no. It's actually quite messy. 897 01:01:55,400 --> 01:01:58,680 I do need to put it in some kind of an order. 898 01:01:58,680 --> 01:02:00,800 But that takes time, doesn't it? Does. 899 01:02:00,800 --> 01:02:04,200 Take time and I'm always running here, there and everywhere. 900 01:02:05,440 --> 01:02:10,560 Everything is looked after. Yeah, but I know where things 901 01:02:10,560 --> 01:02:12,920 are. But if someone had to find a 902 01:02:12,920 --> 01:02:16,120 dress for me in my wardrobe, they'd just go. 903 01:02:16,520 --> 01:02:19,600 We have a saying in our family, organized chaos. 904 01:02:20,400 --> 01:02:24,680 Absolutely, absolutely. Talking about, let's talk about 905 01:02:24,680 --> 01:02:28,280 travel for a moment. Yes, you're a well known face, 906 01:02:28,440 --> 01:02:31,960 so are you particularly aware of what you're wearing through the 907 01:02:31,960 --> 01:02:35,040 airport? Yes, yes I am. 908 01:02:35,720 --> 01:02:42,960 And I know that people will go night. 909 01:02:43,040 --> 01:02:46,360 They usually see my hair and my hair's a bit slicker today. 910 01:02:47,160 --> 01:02:53,000 But usually they see my my big kind of curls and go, that's 911 01:02:53,000 --> 01:02:55,160 definitely Beverly Knight. Oh, they'll hear me singing. 912 01:02:55,320 --> 01:03:01,400 So I I'm aware of how I look and I will dress accordingly. 913 01:03:01,400 --> 01:03:05,520 I want to be comfortable, but I still want to look good, you 914 01:03:05,680 --> 01:03:09,920 know. So I I I will always be mindful 915 01:03:09,920 --> 01:03:15,840 of of going through the airport and just being on the plane in 916 01:03:16,040 --> 01:03:19,160 in general. Good Packer, bad Packer. 917 01:03:19,560 --> 01:03:24,280 Really good. I've learned over the years I 918 01:03:24,440 --> 01:03:30,560 will purposely look at my clothes and keep it as lean as 919 01:03:30,560 --> 01:03:33,080 possible in case there's more shopping to be done. 920 01:03:34,800 --> 01:03:40,080 So I will say OK, this I can wear with that and that and that 921 01:03:40,120 --> 01:03:42,280 and that, right? Great. 922 01:03:42,480 --> 01:03:48,120 This is a look I I I tend to shop in a pack in looks that 923 01:03:48,120 --> 01:03:53,600 will all complement each other so that I can get the maximum 924 01:03:53,600 --> 01:03:57,440 amount of wear but have quite a slim. 925 01:03:58,000 --> 01:04:00,960 Room Room for the shopping. Always room for talking about 926 01:04:00,960 --> 01:04:03,200 room for the shopping. What luggage do you use? 927 01:04:05,240 --> 01:04:13,240 I don't have any kind of what I would call high end luggage, but 928 01:04:13,240 --> 01:04:19,040 I I have good old faithful antler because it's reliable and 929 01:04:19,040 --> 01:04:23,800 does the joint around. I'm always nervous of what the 930 01:04:25,120 --> 01:04:29,800 baggage handlers are going to do and so if I'm wearing, if I'm 931 01:04:29,800 --> 01:04:35,160 using antler, I know it's robust, it's sturdy, but colour, 932 01:04:36,000 --> 01:04:41,120 it's like yeah, it's a Peach coloured, it's a set because I 933 01:04:41,120 --> 01:04:45,000 have to have a set and it, you know, from the little to the the 934 01:04:45,120 --> 01:04:49,880 the big tour and it's it's a set and it's a Peach kind of just 935 01:04:49,880 --> 01:04:52,600 with a little bit of a metallic look like pearlescent that's 936 01:04:52,600 --> 01:04:55,440 better, not metallic pearlescent look. 937 01:04:55,520 --> 01:04:58,440 And so I can see it as it's going around the carousel. 938 01:04:58,440 --> 01:05:01,360 I think we're giving way too much information away because I 939 01:05:01,360 --> 01:05:06,880 have never seen a Peach set of antler, but now I know if I see 940 01:05:06,880 --> 01:05:09,400 it coming round the carousel. Yeah, it's gorgeous. 941 01:05:09,400 --> 01:05:11,600 It's ridged. It might make Beverly's on the 942 01:05:11,640 --> 01:05:13,480 plate, yeah. Exactly. 943 01:05:13,640 --> 01:05:17,200 Exactly. I do look at those women who 944 01:05:17,200 --> 01:05:22,200 have got Louis Vuitton, You know, the cases. 945 01:05:22,200 --> 01:05:25,200 And I do think they look so gorgeous. 946 01:05:25,200 --> 01:05:28,640 You know, the hard cases particularly. 947 01:05:28,640 --> 01:05:32,400 I mean, I do have a soft kind of Louis bag, but but generally if 948 01:05:32,400 --> 01:05:34,680 I'm going on a long trip, it's the hard shell. 949 01:05:35,920 --> 01:05:37,440 Practical. Practical. 950 01:05:38,360 --> 01:05:42,200 Let's talk about your approach to sustainable fashion. 951 01:05:42,400 --> 01:05:44,800 Yes. What's your views on that? 952 01:05:44,800 --> 01:05:46,400 How do you how do you approach it? 953 01:05:48,040 --> 01:05:52,280 There was a time when if it looked good, I'm going to buy 954 01:05:52,280 --> 01:05:55,320 it. No thought to anything else. 955 01:05:55,960 --> 01:06:01,680 Now you know it it it's that old spider man saying with with you 956 01:06:01,680 --> 01:06:05,800 know with the the the the the great knowledge the 957 01:06:05,840 --> 01:06:09,480 responsibility comes to with the power you have to use it 958 01:06:10,480 --> 01:06:18,640 responsibly and now I will not think anything of wearing and 959 01:06:18,640 --> 01:06:24,920 wearing again and wearing again. Now I'm embracing the pre loved, 960 01:06:25,440 --> 01:06:29,440 as they call it. Yeah, there's so many pre love 961 01:06:29,440 --> 01:06:33,360 sites where you can and get a vintage something. 962 01:06:33,440 --> 01:06:36,520 Are you a keen vintage shopper I love? 963 01:06:36,560 --> 01:06:38,560 It. I love it. 964 01:06:38,760 --> 01:06:42,640 So favorite little haunts or favorite sites for that could? 965 01:06:43,280 --> 01:06:47,320 Be so I go to Vestiere, which is lovely, which is brilliant, 966 01:06:47,400 --> 01:06:49,680 yeah. But there's one that I've just 967 01:06:49,680 --> 01:06:51,240 discovered. Oh, shed. 968 01:06:52,040 --> 01:06:53,920 It's called the Real, real. Oh, it's. 969 01:06:54,080 --> 01:06:57,760 Fantastic, isn't it brilliant? Yeah, I mean, you got to pay 970 01:06:57,760 --> 01:06:59,800 your import fees. I was going to say it because 971 01:06:59,800 --> 01:07:01,520 it's American, isn't it? It's American. 972 01:07:01,560 --> 01:07:04,240 Yeah. So there are the import fees. 973 01:07:04,920 --> 01:07:08,880 However, some of the things you find because America, because 974 01:07:08,880 --> 01:07:12,000 there's so much more to choose from. 975 01:07:13,200 --> 01:07:17,880 You know it just find fabulous the finds. 976 01:07:18,040 --> 01:07:21,520 Oh my God. And are you buying clothing as 977 01:07:21,520 --> 01:07:25,160 well as accessories? All of it, All of it. 978 01:07:25,160 --> 01:07:30,000 All of it. It's the the I find that 979 01:07:30,760 --> 01:07:36,120 something like Chanel jewellery which you know the costume 980 01:07:36,120 --> 01:07:40,080 jewellery and the fine jewellery, they they're, they're 981 01:07:40,080 --> 01:07:44,440 such kind of specific pieces you can look at something and go, 982 01:07:44,440 --> 01:07:49,720 ah, that was from, you know the mid 90s when Chanel was doing 983 01:07:49,760 --> 01:07:51,240 this. You know there was a period 984 01:07:51,240 --> 01:07:54,040 where the camellia kind of was everywhere. 985 01:07:54,520 --> 01:07:58,480 You can go to those sites and just find them. 986 01:07:58,480 --> 01:08:01,080 You can type it in and and. There they are. 987 01:08:01,080 --> 01:08:03,120 And I think there's something quite reassuring about those 988 01:08:03,120 --> 01:08:06,440 sites and the fact that they have authenticated all the 989 01:08:06,440 --> 01:08:09,280 pieces. So that exactly yes, you you 990 01:08:09,520 --> 01:08:13,720 feel that if you buy that piece of vintage Chanel it is going to 991 01:08:13,720 --> 01:08:16,080 be the real thing you? Can shop with confidence. 992 01:08:16,439 --> 01:08:20,840 Do you have a piece in your wardrobe that might be quite old 993 01:08:21,160 --> 01:08:24,960 that means the most to you? So one piece. 994 01:08:25,439 --> 01:08:32,200 I do. I have a little, and it's now 995 01:08:32,200 --> 01:08:36,560 quite battered. Catherine Hamlet Leather Bomber. 996 01:08:36,920 --> 01:08:43,680 Oh, I'm jealous. It's very very very thin, supple 997 01:08:43,680 --> 01:08:48,640 fine, fine fine leather and there's a little tear in it 998 01:08:48,640 --> 01:08:51,080 which I must get repaired on the on the sleeve. 999 01:08:51,920 --> 01:08:57,160 But it's tiny like a little really like a shrunken bomber. 1000 01:08:57,359 --> 01:09:00,479 You know when I put my hands in the pockets my hands are kind of 1001 01:09:00,479 --> 01:09:06,399 appear almost by my my my bust kind of like a you know how 1002 01:09:06,600 --> 01:09:11,080 Gucci with the round collar and the the the the the like that 1003 01:09:11,080 --> 01:09:12,960 you. Know and did you buy it new or 1004 01:09:12,960 --> 01:09:17,120 did you buy that vintage? And I bought it new when? 1005 01:09:17,600 --> 01:09:22,439 In 1996. Great, That's. 1006 01:09:22,439 --> 01:09:24,640 Sustainability for you? Absolutely. 1007 01:09:24,680 --> 01:09:27,880 And I love it and I wear it to this day. 1008 01:09:28,439 --> 01:09:36,760 It, I mean it's one of those little finds that every time I 1009 01:09:36,760 --> 01:09:40,640 look at it, I think thank God, I bought that, thank God. 1010 01:09:40,640 --> 01:09:42,880 And didn't get rid of it. And I never got rid of it. 1011 01:09:42,880 --> 01:09:44,920 On that note, what do you do with your clothes when you've 1012 01:09:44,920 --> 01:09:49,680 had enough of them? Depending on what it is some I 1013 01:09:49,680 --> 01:09:54,400 will give away to like you know the crisis shops we've got one 1014 01:09:54,880 --> 01:09:59,960 right near me and and they do really well they they put 1015 01:09:59,960 --> 01:10:04,800 together, their window displays are amazing and then sometimes I 1016 01:10:04,800 --> 01:10:08,840 will sell because I and what. Platform will you use to sell? 1017 01:10:09,400 --> 01:10:12,600 So again, vestiere vestiere getting a lot of love. 1018 01:10:12,640 --> 01:10:20,240 Yeah, but also D Pop. Yeah, God, but I don't you love 1019 01:10:20,240 --> 01:10:22,960 the the circularity of what's going on now? 1020 01:10:23,320 --> 01:10:24,760 Exactly. Exactly. 1021 01:10:24,760 --> 01:10:28,600 You know who? Who really inspires me with all 1022 01:10:28,600 --> 01:10:32,120 of that is Olivia Firth, because she's so much about the 1023 01:10:32,120 --> 01:10:36,960 sustainer, the sustainability of clothing and and encouraging 1024 01:10:36,960 --> 01:10:41,680 people to wear and wear. Again, I love the idea that 1025 01:10:41,680 --> 01:10:46,440 something that I wore and loved and treasured and still has 1026 01:10:47,560 --> 01:10:51,120 value, you know, and people will still pay for. 1027 01:10:51,400 --> 01:10:56,880 I can put it on a site, you know, and then somebody else 1028 01:10:56,880 --> 01:11:00,800 down the line is going to get so much joy from that piece. 1029 01:11:01,120 --> 01:11:03,240 Vice versa. The same for me. 1030 01:11:03,240 --> 01:11:07,160 I totally agree. I think it's so rewarding to see 1031 01:11:07,160 --> 01:11:10,480 this gorgeous piece go on a whole new journey. 1032 01:11:10,480 --> 01:11:15,880 Yeah, yeah. And I know if there are certain 1033 01:11:15,880 --> 01:11:20,880 sites like Depop and like you know Vestia, the different ends 1034 01:11:20,880 --> 01:11:26,240 of the of the buying scale, but it's it's for people who really 1035 01:11:26,240 --> 01:11:30,240 do value the clothes that they're looking for and that 1036 01:11:30,240 --> 01:11:34,680 they buy the way that I would. No, it's lovely. 1037 01:11:35,000 --> 01:11:38,120 Now let's spin on some quick fire questions. 1038 01:11:39,120 --> 01:11:41,920 What fashion advice would you give your 20 year old self? 1039 01:11:44,040 --> 01:11:47,960 Be bolder. Stop hiding. 1040 01:11:48,640 --> 01:11:53,120 Don't be ashamed of who you are. Which fashion trend would you 1041 01:11:53,120 --> 01:11:55,040 most like to see make a comeback? 1042 01:11:55,800 --> 01:12:04,520 The 50s fitted suits. Fashion or beauty trend that you 1043 01:12:04,520 --> 01:12:11,760 would consign to room one O 1. Frosted pink lip No. 1044 01:12:12,240 --> 01:12:13,480 Your last impulse? Buy a. 1045 01:12:14,560 --> 01:12:25,600 Tom Ford dress Costa. Vestiere or full price? 1046 01:12:25,600 --> 01:12:29,720 Oh. Vestiere. 1047 01:12:31,400 --> 01:12:36,280 Your views on tattoos? I like them, Not for me. 1048 01:12:37,080 --> 01:12:38,560 Beauty treatment you couldn't give up. 1049 01:12:40,240 --> 01:12:44,040 Oh, a Hydrafacial? Everyone says that really, I've 1050 01:12:44,040 --> 01:12:47,000 got to get one high end or High Street. 1051 01:12:49,640 --> 01:12:54,200 High end. Don't shrink away from it, bling 1052 01:12:54,200 --> 01:12:58,040 or bear. Oh, bling. 1053 01:12:58,920 --> 01:13:03,520 Minimalism or maximalism? Maximalism. 1054 01:13:04,520 --> 01:13:09,120 Couture or charity shop? Couture. 1055 01:13:10,320 --> 01:13:12,120 Crocs. Cute or puke? 1056 01:13:12,680 --> 01:13:17,600 Puke sneakers or stilettos? Sneakers. 1057 01:13:18,840 --> 01:13:22,840 Red carpet or relax? Red carpet. 1058 01:13:23,840 --> 01:13:26,840 Trend or style? Style. 1059 01:13:27,840 --> 01:13:31,200 Experimental or uniform? Experimental. 1060 01:13:31,760 --> 01:13:33,840 Cashmere or cotton? Cashmere. 1061 01:13:34,680 --> 01:13:41,960 Hoarder or editor? Hoarder, shapewear or sexy 1062 01:13:41,960 --> 01:13:45,000 lingerie? Sexy lingerie. 1063 01:13:45,560 --> 01:13:48,520 Tights or stockings? Tights. 1064 01:13:49,440 --> 01:13:51,840 Bikini or One Piece? Bikini. 1065 01:13:52,400 --> 01:13:57,280 Beanie or Berry? Beret. 1066 01:13:58,520 --> 01:14:02,880 Finally, one last question. At the end of the day, what do 1067 01:14:02,880 --> 01:14:07,840 you or don't you wear in bed? I don't wear anything a smile. 1068 01:14:08,440 --> 01:14:10,280 A smile. I love that. 1069 01:14:10,880 --> 01:14:14,080 My goodness, Beverly, what a wonderful, wonderful 1070 01:14:14,080 --> 01:14:17,480 conversation. Thank you in your incredibly 1071 01:14:17,480 --> 01:14:20,040 hectic life for giving me this time. 1072 01:14:20,160 --> 01:14:23,640 It's an absolute pleasure. Thank you so much for having me. 1073 01:14:24,000 --> 01:14:25,960 What a pleasure, what a pleasure.