People
What the people who matter in the Country Life world are up to, from the British Royal Family, tastemakers and craftspeople, to farmers, designers and artists.
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‘I 100% always knew that I was going to do something creative’: Petra Palumbo on her design house, love of Scotland and consuming passions
The London ‘It Girl’ turned Scotland-based designer makes tiles with men’s torsos and Henry hoovers on them, has a pug called Raisin and is married to the 16th Lord Lovat Simon Fraser. She chats to Lotte Brundle.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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The dogs of Country Life, with Agnes Stamp
Country Life's deputy features editor Agnes Stamp joins the Country Life Podcast to talk all things dogs.
By Toby Keel Published
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The sparkling history of the match and why its inventor never got the credit he deserved
We’ve been using matches for 200 years–but, as Rob Crossan discovers, the story of how they came to be is far more colourful (and hair-raising) than we might imagine.
By Rob Crossan Published
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Madonna, David Bowie, Elizabeth II and me — this is what it’s like to have your photograph taken by Rankin
The world-renowned photographer has worked with everyone from acting royalty, to actual royalty. His next subject? Country Life’s wandering scribe, Lotte Brundle.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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The Falconer's Tale: Tommy Durcan on how an ancient art lives on in 21st century Ireland
Tommy Durcan of Ireland's School of Falcony joins the Country Life podcast.
By Toby Keel Published
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‘She was absolutely extraordinary. One of my favourite things, photographing her, was the power that came through the door’: Rankin on capturing Elizabeth II, embracing artificial intelligence and almost becoming an accountant
The world-renowned photographer tells Lotte Brundle about his most memorable meal, with Liam Gallagher, Patsy Kensit, Elvis Costello and the bass player in The Pogues — along with the rest of his consuming passions.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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'People always think that, working on The Telegraph, I'll be told that things aren't right wing enough. But in 37 years, I've never, ever been told that’: The Telegraph’s cartoonist Matt on his consuming passions
The Daily Telegraph cartoonist Matt — AKA Matthew Pritchett — talks to Lotte Brundle about his career as a cartoonist, his love of Snoopy and how he ‘stole’ his wife from Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Bunny Mellon: The Truman Capote ‘Swan’, muse and horticulturalist whose creations for The White House were recently lost forever
As Tiffany & Co. pay homage to Bunny Mellon with a new Bird on a Rock collection, Owen Holmes takes a look at the most iconic garden designs of this heiress-horticulturist, from her Virginia estate to the White House to Versailles.
By Owen Holmes Published
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'These days, they have almost nothing to do with Advent and quite a lot to do with bath oil and mini bottles of perfume': A snob’s guide to advent calendars
Sophia Money-Coutts questions whether advent calendars have gone too far.
By Sophia Money-Coutts Published
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Amelia Thomas: The woman who learned to talk to animals
Amelia Thomas, the real-life Dr Dolittle who spent years decoding how animals talk, joins James Fisher on the Country Life podcast.
By Toby Keel Published
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‘So many of us look at the world through our screens and forget to pay attention to the world outside’: Katy Hessel on the world’s great female artists, why free entry to museums matters and her consuming passions
The author of ‘The Story of Art Without Men’ speaks to Lotte Brundle about the dangers of AI, how she fell in love with the art world and why it’s okay that her favourite painting is by a male artist.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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'My family wore wool at a time when everyone else had cast it off in favour of manmade fabrics': The knitwear pioneer who is one of David Beckham's countryside champions
Julie Harding speaks to Rachel Carvell-Spedding the founder of British knitwear brand Navygrey, and one of David Beckham's countryside champions.
By Julie Harding Published
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What is everyone talking about this week: Why we love period drama
Observers cite a need for escapism, but Will Hosie thinks there's more to our enduring love of a period drama.
By Will Hosie Published
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‘I’m not impressed by an Oxbridge education’: Author Jessie Burton on her acting ambitions, writing ‘The Miniaturist’ and her consuming passions
The Sunday and New York Times bestselling author wrote her debut novel under her desk while temping as a PA for private equity companies. Lotte Brundle meets her.
By Lotte Brundle Published
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Guy Ritchie: 'My mother married an impoverished aristocrat with a knackered country pile. I've been chasing that dream ever since'
The film maker opens up about his love for the countryside, and his friendship with Sir David Beckham.
By Paula Minchin Published
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Barbecue it like Beckham: The 'lamb man' who taught David Beckham about fire cooking
Tom Bray, is co-founder and director of Fire Made, a Somerset-based company specialising in outdoor cookery accessories and barbecues. He's also one of the countryside champions nominated by Sir David Beckham in his guest edit. Tom spoke to Julie Harding.
By Julie Harding Published
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A grand milestone: Country Life's Mark Hedges celebrates a record-breaking 1,000 issues as editor-in-chief
The custodian of a 128-year-old British institution celebrated the milestone with a special edition guest edited by Sir David Beckham.
By John Goodall Published
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'Seeing the work that people are doing all around the world has given me hope for the future': The young naturalist who is one of David Beckham's countryside champions
Julie Harding speaks to Ramandeep Nijjar, a young naturalist who has made an impact on the world even before finishing university, and one of David Beckham's countryside champions.
By Julie Harding Published
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1,000 issues and counting: Editor-in-chief Mark Hedges on the Country Life Podcast
Mark Hedges has been editor of Country Life for 1,000 issues — and not far short of 20 years.
By James Fisher Published
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‘My football made me, my countryside saved me’: Vinnie Jones on going from the rough and tumble of the football pitch to the sanctuary of his West Sussex estate
A return to the land has been a redemptive journey for the gamekeeper’s son and former tough midfielder Vinnie Jones, finds Mary Skipwith.
By Mary Skipwith Published
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Poppy Okotcha, the model turned gardener who is one of David Beckham's countryside champions
Poppy Okotcha, the 29-year-old ecological community grower, garden content creator, author — and also one of David Beckham's countryside champions — speaks to Julie Harding.
By Julie Harding Published


