Chris Patten - Desert Island Discs

What this episode covers

He's called "His Excellency" by some; to others he's "Fatty Patten". Next year he will hand over Hong Kong to the Chinese.Chris Patten, this week's castaway on Desert Island Discs, describes the challenges of being the colony's last British Governor. He recalls the moment he won the election for the Conservative Party, but lost his own seat, and how, as Environment Secretary, he found himself implementing "the single most unpopular policy that any British government has tried to introduce since the last war" - the poll tax.[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Mass No. 18 in C minor by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Book: A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking Luxury: A bath

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Desert Island Discs?

This episode is 38 minutes long.

When was this Desert Island Discs episode published?

This episode was published on November 3, 1996.

What is this episode about?

He's called "His Excellency" by some; to others he's "Fatty Patten". Next year he will hand over Hong Kong to the Chinese.Chris Patten, this week's castaway on Desert Island Discs, describes the challenges of being the colony's last British...

Can I download this Desert Island Discs episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.