Patrick Grant, designer and broadcaster - a podcast by BBC Radio 4

Patrick Grant is a designer, clothing entrepreneur and a judge on the BBC TV programme The Great British Sewing Bee.

Patrick was born in Edinburgh in 1972. His interest in clothes and in making things was evident from a very early age, along with a love of sport: his father was a rugby coach and trained Patrick and his friends. Some of his friends went on to represent Scotland and Patrick played for Scotland's under-19 team.

He studied Material Science and Engineering at Leeds University and worked in industry for a decade. Then, after spotting an advertisement in a newspaper, he bought an ailing Savile Row tailoring company. It was almost an impulse buy, at great financial risk. After a shaky start, he turned the business around, and within five years he was named menswear designer of the year at the British Fashion Awards. Patrick went on to buy a factory in Blackburn, Cookson and Clegg. He is passionate about British manufacturing, and set up Community Clothing with the aim of making good quality affordable day wear.

He has been a judge on The Great British Sewing Bee since the programme began in 2013. He divides his time between London, Blackburn and the Highlands.

DISC ONE: Les Fleurs - Minnie Riperton
DISC TWO: My Heart’s in the Highlands - Else Torp and Christopher Bowers-Broadbent
DISC THREE: Do You Wanna Funk - Sylvester
DISC FOUR: Big Time Sensuality, the Fluke Magimix - Björk
DISC FIVE: Harry Patch (In Memory of) - Radiohead
DISC SIX: Kill Dem - Jamie xx
DISC SEVEN: Get Better - alt-J
DISC EIGHT: I Saw - Young Fathers

BOOK CHOICE: Green Woodwork: Working with Wood the Natural Way by Mike Abbott
LUXURY ITEM: A complete set of woodworking tools
CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Kill Dem - Jamie xx

Presenter Lauren Laverne
Producer Sarah Taylor

Further episodes of Desert Island Discs

Further podcasts by BBC Radio 4

Website of BBC Radio 4