That Is My Age: Desert Island Discs

Next year, Desert Island Discs will be 70-years-old. The BBC radio programme started life in a bomb-damaged London studio during the Second World War, with broadcast journalist Roy Plomley, who went on to present the show for 43 years.

This week's Castaway was Debbie Harry. The 65-year-old star doesn't usually give much away in interviews but once the lovely Kirsty Young, 42, endearingly admitted that she, 'Probably wasted a good 10 years wanting to be Debbie Harry,' the mood was quite relaxed. When asked how she felt about ageing, Harry remarked that, 'It's unfortunate women's calling cards are based on looks,' and how she, 'Tries her best. Exercises like a fiend and eats healthily - all those things that recovering drug addicts do.'

I realise it's not very hip to get excited over the BBC's new online archive but I love looking at who chose what. By entering the name of a band, a track or a Castaway, it's possible to click through the data and look at all the different choices. So, Jarvis Cocker likes Joy Division's, Transmission and Lieutenant Pigeon's Mouldy Old Dough, Rachel Whiteread loves Nick Cave and PJ Harvey and Lynne Barber chose Common People by Pulp. And I've listened to the Grayson Perry and Mary Portas shows, again!

For Mr That's Not My Age's birthday weekend, I have a real treat in store. We'll be nominating our very own Desert Island Discs online. Though I'm slightly alarmed to find that the only person to share our musical taste is Boris Johnson. His Castaway selection included The Clash's Pressure Drop and Start Me Up by The Rolling Stones. Desert Island Discs. Hours of fun. Mid-life doesn't get much better than this.



What's on your list? Nominate your own Desert Island Discs by clicking here. Nominations close on Friday 3 June.

Portas for prime minister

Don't tell Melanie Rickey (or Mr That's Not My Age), but I have a grown-up lady crush on the fabulous Mary Portas, 49. Not only does the queen of shops look fantastic, she has ace taste in music. Her Desert Island Discs, this week, included Marvin Gaye, Radiohead, Maria Callas and Mungo Jerry's In the Summertime - throw in The Clash's White Man in Hammersmith Palais and That's Not My Age would be begging for a civil partnership. Her analysis of Brand Cameron's new poster in The Daily Telegraph was superb. 'Presenting us with this fake, high-gloss image of perfection suggests that the Conservatives have little understanding of what's going on in the real world.' Style- wise, Portas recommends David Cameron takes a trip to Savile Row, 'Obama can pull off the dressed-down look because he's always immaculately turned out, so when he doesn't wear a tie, he's making it clear he's in informal mode. Cameron runs the risk of never looking formal enough to be taken seriously.'

From high street to Downing Street, Portas gets my vote any day.


The queen of shops says finding your own look comes with age. Simple, well-cut clothes and a good hair cut help. What do you like about Mary Portas' style?


Photo from www.telegraph.co.uk


Mary Portas is launching a new website in January.