FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Sophie Conran
What are you working on at the moment?
I have a website; we are in the process of giving it a whole new look. And I have a wonderful house in the country, which is a huge project. It needs a lot of work.
When are you at your happiest?
In the country with my family – I have a huge family and lovely friends and I love it when they all come to stay and we are together and can hang out and chat.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing my children.
What is your earliest memory?
Being in the garden with my dad digging potatoes and sitting in the garden with him.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I’m trying to like myself. I think it’s good for you to like yourself and I’m actually quite proud of myself.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My parents. They’re amazing people, really fantastic, really engaged and really interesting.
What is your most treasured possession?
This is very hard because I love things and I have beautiful things around me, but they’re just things. Just make sure the family is safe.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Rudeness. It’s very unnecessary. Being kind is easy and free. Be nice to people whatever they are.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I’d like longer legs. It’s not going to happen but there you go.
What is your favourite book?
Bill Bryson’s At Home, History Of The World In 1,000 Objects and Consider The Fork by Bee Wilson.
What is your favourite film?
Kung Fu Panda and Ratatouille.
And your favourite piece of music?
Lovely Day by Bill Withers and Pachelbel’s Canon.
What is your favourite meal?
In the garden with a kind of picnic-type thing with family and friends. Fresh Mediterranean food.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
I don’t get to see my girlfriend as much as I would like, so my best girlfriend.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
I did very badly at school and when I was dating my ex-husband he was friends with a friend of my mum’s, and he was talking to her. And my mum’s friend said to him, ‘Oh, you don’t want to bother with her, she’s just thick. She’s a waste of space.’ I’m sure she doesn’t remember saying it.
Do you believe in aliens?
I don’t actually but I certainly have friends who do.
What is your secret vice?
Bacon sandwiches with sliced tomato on toasted brown.
Do you write thank-you notes?
I do. I love receiving them too.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
‘We’re going in the right direction.’
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
An indoor swimming pool.
Tell us something people might not know about you.
That I have six brothers and a sister as well.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘Beloved mother, wife, daughter and sister’.
Sophie Conran has designed two pin badges for Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on 25 September. The badges will be on sale in M&S stores nationwide: www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee
I have a website; we are in the process of giving it a whole new look. And I have a wonderful house in the country, which is a huge project. It needs a lot of work.
When are you at your happiest?
In the country with my family – I have a huge family and lovely friends and I love it when they all come to stay and we are together and can hang out and chat.
What is your greatest fear?
Losing my children.
What is your earliest memory?
Being in the garden with my dad digging potatoes and sitting in the garden with him.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I’m trying to like myself. I think it’s good for you to like yourself and I’m actually quite proud of myself.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My parents. They’re amazing people, really fantastic, really engaged and really interesting.
What is your most treasured possession?
This is very hard because I love things and I have beautiful things around me, but they’re just things. Just make sure the family is safe.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Rudeness. It’s very unnecessary. Being kind is easy and free. Be nice to people whatever they are.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I’d like longer legs. It’s not going to happen but there you go.
What is your favourite book?
Bill Bryson’s At Home, History Of The World In 1,000 Objects and Consider The Fork by Bee Wilson.
What is your favourite film?
Kung Fu Panda and Ratatouille.
And your favourite piece of music?
Lovely Day by Bill Withers and Pachelbel’s Canon.
What is your favourite meal?
In the garden with a kind of picnic-type thing with family and friends. Fresh Mediterranean food.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
I don’t get to see my girlfriend as much as I would like, so my best girlfriend.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
I did very badly at school and when I was dating my ex-husband he was friends with a friend of my mum’s, and he was talking to her. And my mum’s friend said to him, ‘Oh, you don’t want to bother with her, she’s just thick. She’s a waste of space.’ I’m sure she doesn’t remember saying it.
Do you believe in aliens?
I don’t actually but I certainly have friends who do.
What is your secret vice?
Bacon sandwiches with sliced tomato on toasted brown.
Do you write thank-you notes?
I do. I love receiving them too.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
‘We’re going in the right direction.’
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
An indoor swimming pool.
Tell us something people might not know about you.
That I have six brothers and a sister as well.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘Beloved mother, wife, daughter and sister’.
Sophie Conran has designed two pin badges for Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on 25 September. The badges will be on sale in M&S stores nationwide: www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee