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Desert Island Discs

Kate Ewart-Biggs, Deputy Chief Executive, British Council

Desert Island Discs

BBC

Society & Culture, Music Commentary, Music, Personal Journals

4.413.7K Ratings

🗓️ 13 August 2022

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Kate Ewart-Biggs is the deputy chief executive of the British Council, which aims to build connections between the UK and countries worldwide, through education programmes, language learning and cultural activities. Kate was born into a diplomatic family and her early childhood years were spent in France and Belgium. In 1976, when she was eight years old, her father Christopher Ewart-Biggs was appointed British ambassador to Ireland. Two weeks into his new job, he was killed by an IRA landmine. Kate's mother Jane moved the family back to London and began to campaign for peace and reconciliation in Ireland: she became a life peer in 1981. After studying anthropology at university, Kate worked on charity projects for street children in Brazil and South Africa before joining the British Council. Her career has taken her all around the world including postings in Uganda, Tanzania and Indonesia. She lives in London with her daughter. DISC ONE: I Could Have Danced All Night by My Fair Lady Orchestra, My Fair Lady Chorus, Marni Nixon (soprano), André Previn (conductor), Mona Washbourne (played Mrs. Pearce), My Fair Lady Original Motion Picture Cast and Warner Brothers Studio Orchestra DISC TWO: Et Si Tu N’existais Pas by Joe Dassin DISC THREE: Mr Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan DISC FOUR: I Don’t Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats DISC FIVE: Lambada by Kaoma DISC SIX: Namagembe by Madoxx Sematimba DISC SEVEN: I And Love And You by The Avett Brothers DISC EIGHT: American Pie by Don McLean BOOK CHOICE: The Complete Novels of Jane Austen LUXURY ITEM: An asthma inhaler CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Mr. Tambourine Man by Bob Dylan Presenter Lauren Laverne Producer Sarah Taylor

Transcript

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0:00.0

BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts

0:04.9

Hello, I'm Lauren LeVern and this is the Deser Island Disks Podcast.

0:08.6

Every week I ask my guests to choose the eight tracks, book and luxury they'd want to take with them

0:13.9

if they were cast away to a desert island.

0:16.5

And for right reasons, the music is shorter than the original broadcast.

0:21.2

I hope you enjoy listening.

0:44.4

My cast away this week is the deputy CEO of the British Council Kate Ewitt Biggs.

0:49.5

She was born in London but describes herself as a citizen of the world

0:53.3

and her international career has been dedicated to improving lives through culture and learning.

0:59.1

At the British Council, the organisation dedicated to building lasting connections,

1:03.6

understanding and trust between the UK and other countries through arts, education and the

1:08.7

English language. She has the perfect platform for her professional values, though for her,

1:14.0

they have a much deeper personal resonance.

1:16.5

When she was just eight years old, her father, a diplomat who had just been appointed

1:21.1

the British ambassador to Ireland was assassinated by the IRA.

1:25.5

Determined to create a positive legacy, her mother became a prominent

1:29.3

campaigner for peace in Ireland, eventually earning a place in the House of Lords.

1:34.1

Kate says, to many on the outside, the story of my family was perhaps one of how hope and purpose

1:40.3

can transcend tragedy and it is in so many ways.

1:44.0

But I feel strongly that it is really important to recognise the impact this kind of loss and trauma

1:50.0

wreaks on so many across the world who have suffered an ethnic conflict.

1:54.8

Kate Ewitt Biggs, welcome to Desert Island Disks.

...

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