My Favourite Interviews - Jane Birkin Artwork

"Tales from a very minor celebrity"

Is it possible for someone with very little self confidence and who is also very shy to go on to become a radio and TV presenter?…Hosting their own live radio show, interviewing royals, Oscar winning actors and musical superstars as well as hosting shows in front of 20,000 people and even moving to another country to start a new career….Well I’m here to tell you that it is, because I did just that. My name is Simon Baldock and this podcast is called, “Tales from a very minor celebrity”….this is the story of how I overcame my insecurities and shyness and went on to have a 35 year career in broadcasting both in the UK and in Spain. You’ll hear some of my most memorable celebrity interviews and all the adventures I’ve had both in the UK and Spain and the stories behind them…like the time I delivered half a carcass of beef to Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street! “Tales from a very minor celebrity”, a weekly podcast from me Simon Baldock.

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"Tales from a very minor celebrity"

My Favourite Interviews - Jane Birkin

November 17, 2022 • Simon Baldock / Jane Birkin • Season 2 • Episode 7

Hi everyone, and welcome to episode 7 of this new season of Tales From a very minor celebrity, a delve into my celebrity archive a look back at some of my very favourite interviews from my career in radio and TV….

This week you’ll hear an interview I did with a woman who has a handbag named after her and recorded one of the most iconic love songs of all time, Je t’aime…she is Jane Birkin.

Born in London Birkin began her career as an actress, appearing in minor roles until she met Serge Gainsbourg while co-starring with him in Slogan, which marked the beginning of their long working and personal relationship.

The duo released their debut album Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg (1969), and Birkin also appeared in the controversial film Je t'aime moi non plus (1976) under Gainsbourg's direction.

Birkin would attain further acting credits in the Agatha Christie adaptations Death on the Nile (1978), and Evil Under the Sun (1982).

After separating from Gainsbourg in 1980, Birkin continued to work as both an actress and a singer, appearing in various independent films and recording numerous solo albums.

Birkin has lived mainly in France since the 1970s. She has three grown up children and In addition to her acting and musical credits, she lent her name to the famous Hermès Birkin handbag.

When we met in 2004 she was promoting her latest album rendezvous but it was that song Je t’aime that I started by asking her about….does she ever get fed up talking about it?

People on this episode

Simon Baldock

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