Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Businesswoman called the First Lady of Football; at 23 became managing director of Birmingham City, leading the club from administration to the Premier League.
On the island
Eight records
(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
Gerry Goffin, Carole King, Jerry Wexler
I love the whole essence of the song and the harmony of the song. And it reminds me of sort of growing up and my mother used to play the song a lot and I love it.
Benny Andersson, Björn Ulvaeus, Stig Anderson
it's my earliest memory of a song. As I said, you know, we lived in a house in Edmonton, and I had a little bedroom that was very, very pink. And I was always in my room dancing around to this song because it was literally on a loop.
when I was at Pohl's Convent, I was probably about 14 or 15, and I was absolutely convinced that when I left school, I would marry George Michael, who I loved beyond any crush. He was my heartthrob.
I remember my heartbreak when I realised that George Michael was never going to look at me twice and I quickly switched my alliance to Paul Weller.
I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)
I picked it because I just love it. I think it's a very powerful song and I just love it.
I guess is Paul and and my song. I remember he asked me to listen to it when we were quite, you know, in the thick of our relationship and I think three months after listening to this song he asked me to marry him
Total Eclipse of the HeartFavourite
I just love. I find the whole song very uplifting. I think I was about 13 when it came out, and it never ceases to bring a smile on my face, or something I love to sing along to.
Albertae Brown, Faith Evans, Todd Gaither
it reminds me of my little girl, Sophia, when she was born. She was a really difficult sleeper, and this was the one song we got her into a routine by having this one song play, and she would love it, and she'd actually go to sleep.
In conversation
Presenter asks
1:08What sort of reception did you get when you arrived [at Birmingham City FC as Managing Director]?
I remember my first press conference, I was twenty three and I was desperate to look at least twenty five ... and this little hand went up and I said, Yes, sir and he said, Sunday people, what are your vital statistics? And I remember thinking, oh god, maybe this is going to be a mountain to climb. But in my first year, the club recorded a trading profit for the first time in its modern history.
Presenter asks
4:04What sort of home was it that gave you this confidence?
A very happy home, very happy home. ... We lived in Edmonton, very close to the um Tottenhotsburg ground. And my youngest memories are of my brother and I. We were always I think what you would lovingly call cheeky monkeys. But we were always sort of had schemes, sort of money making schemes.
Presenter asks
8:21How did you find [being at a strict convent school]?
I kind of manipulated the system a little bit, I guess. ... I always had schemes and ideas again, you know, about you know, what were the rules and regulations and how could we just, you know, find a way to get a bit more time on a Saturday to do the things that we wanted.
The keepsakes
The book
Jane Austen
I love the book. I love the romance of it. I love the fact that here's a woman that people want to put down and not only does she stand up for herself, but she gets the price pickings as well. So I I just adore the book. I could I've read it hundreds of times and could read it hundreds more.
The luxury
I would take my pillow, which I've had for certainly since I was at school, maybe even before that. And it's been all over the world with me, in hospital with me, and I I literally cannot sleep without it, so I'd have to take that.
Presenter asks
13:29Did [not being a graduate at Saatchi and Saatchi] bother you at all?
No, but I didn't tell anybody I wasn't. I just thought it was much easier just to keep it between myself and Saatchi's. ... I had a different kind of hunger to everybody else. And I actually when I kind of looked around, I realized that there was something special and compelling. There was a drive to me that other people lacked
Presenter asks
24:31Is it true you went back to work within three days [of your daughter being born]?
It is true. Yeah, it's not something I'm particularly proud of, nor that I don't kind of dwell on it very much. ... I really wanted to be a mother. I was really looking forward to it. And I also had a business to run. ... And I found a way to do it and do it, you know, try and do it to the best of my ability.
Presenter asks
26:32What happened [when you were forced to take a break last February]?
I had a routine scan ... and they said to me you know, we're sorry to have to tell you, but you have a brain aneurysm ... and of course it was really serious and I had to have a I had to have an operation
“You'll have to be twice as good as the men to be thought as even only half as good and I said, Well, luckily that's not difficult.”
“nothing's work unless you'd rather be doing something else. And there really hasn't in my life been anything else I'd rather be doing.”
“I've never understood the concept of having a day off completely, i.e. don't look at emails, don't answer the phones. Never”