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Annoushka Ducas MBE has been collecting charms for as long as she can remember, in her podcast she explores their unique ability to evoke memory and meaning with seven inspiring women, as they reveal their Life in Seven Charms.
  • SERIES: THREE
      EPISODE 1
      MELANIE GRANT
      We are delighted to launch Series 3 with an authority on jewellery and the 2022 Gem Award Winner for Media Excellence - journalist Mel Grant. Mel is an award-winning author, writer, curator, stylist and art director - she’s written a definitive book on jewellery designers and curated an influential exhibition celebrating black jewellery talent for Sotheby’s New York. She is the Jewellery Editor for The Economist and writes for Vogue, Vanity Fair and Tatler. Her fascinating journey from humble beginnings is an inspiration for all budding writers.

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      EPISODE 2
      CHARLI HOWARD
      Charli Howard is a model, a writer, an activist and an entrepreneur. Her stellar career, and her profile, was kick-started by a brilliantly defiant letter she posted on Facebook having been fired by the first agency who signed her. Since then, as well as writing novels and creating her own skincare brand, she has become a catalyst for women celebrating their bodies, embracing their curves, and loving the skin they are in - she is a fabulous example of doing so.

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      EPISODE 3
      ANGELA HARTNETT
      The world of Michelin starred chefs in the UK has traditionally been dominated by men. My guest today on My Life In Seven Charms was one of the first women to smash that particular ceiling with her brand of simple, beautifully cooked, delicious food. Born of Italian and Irish parentage, she spent her early childhood learning to roll pasta with her beloved Nonna. Her first accolade was her Brownie badge for cookery, which was to be followed by Michelin stars, an MBE for services to hospitality, a raft of TV appearances, and several books and newspaper columns. I’m so delighted to be talking to Angela Hartnett about her life in seven charms.

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      EPISODE 4
      NIKKI TIBBLES
      Back by popular demand and on International Dog Day, listen to the latest episode of our podcast My Life In Seven Charms, with iconic florist and founder of the Wild at Heart Foundation for dogs, Nikki Tibbles. In an emotive chat Nikki and Annoushka swap notes on their mutual love of clashing colour, the smell of dog paws (if you know you know!) and discuss why flowers and jewellery are the ultimate combination.’

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  • SERIES: TWO
      1 Denise Lewis
      Olympic gold medallist and sports presenter

      An OBE, Olympic Gold Medalist, an ambassador for many charities, and a cheerleader for girls participation in sport, she’s also a mother of four children, the youngest of whom was born when she was 46—a truly remarkable woman and an inspiration for women the world over. We're delighted to publish this International Women's Day special, with Denise Lewis.

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      2 Sophie Ashby
      Interior & Architecture Designer

      Founding her own agency aged only 24, Sophie Ashby quickly gained a reputation for warm, uplifting, gorgeous rooms filled with beautiful art. Eclectic and strong on sustainability, she draws on a boho upbringing which weaves together South Africa, Devon, New York and now London.

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      3Jung Chang
      Chinese born British writer

      Writer, historian, educator, and someone who shone a light for millions of people around the world onto the recent history of China, Jung Chang wrote Wild Swans, one of the most influential multi-generational biographies of our time. She has also written meticulously researched books on Chinese leaders such as Chairman Mao and the Dowager Empress Cixi. Born fourteen years before the Cultural Revolution began, Jung Chang was swept up by that particular tide of history.

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      4 Joan Burstein
      Founder of Browns

      Known to fashionistas as the much-loved Mrs B, today’s guest on MLISC is the original curator, the first and foremost fashion retailer with her multi-brand emporium Browns. A persuader, who was able to entice luxe brands to London, and a nurturer who scooped up entire collections from St Martin’s graduate shows, her career has spanned over fifty years in fashion. The first woman to wear trousers in Claridge’s, her style and her instinctive eye have made her an icon. I’m delighted to welcome Joan Burstein to MLISC.

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      5Bay Garnett
      Stylist, editor and creative director

      My guest today on MLISC is also known as the Queen of Thrift. A trailblazer who combined second-hand shop finds with couture for luxury shoots, she brought thrift into the mainstream. Her recent pop-up Oxfam store at Selfridges, fronted by Michaela Cole, was a sell-out. Her emphasis on the joy of thrifting has reached new audiences as fashion begins to think more about sustainability. She’s also a talented photographer who has shot covers and editorial for magazines all over the world, she has that most elusive of qualities –a brilliant eye. I’m delighted to welcome Bay Garnett to MLISC.

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      6Sophie Ellis Bextor
      A Musician and Author

      This week’s guest on MLISC began her life as an occasional very tiny guest on Blue Peter. Smart, beautiful and cool, she became a successful pop singer with a string of hits. She’s been a Strictly finalist and on of the Masked Singers. She’s the mother of five gorgeous boys. She danced into all of our homes with her Kitchen Disco during Lockdown and turned it into a best selling album. She’s currently brimfull of new projects, with a successful podcast and her first book coming out in the Autumn. I’m delighted to welcome Sophie Ellis Bextor to My Life in Seven Charms.

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      7Alice Temperley
      Fashion Designer

      Born into a creative, bohemian family who own the largest apple orchard in Europe, my guest this week has been called the Ralph Lauren of British fashion. Famous for her beautiful, ethereal clothing which is worn by women all over the world, she began, in her own words, as a ‘girl from Somerset designing tea dresses.’ During lockdown she has created a fabulous emporium back in her beloved Somerset. I can’t wait to hear all about it and am delighted to welcome Alice Temperley to My Life In Seven Charms.

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  • SERIES: ONE
      1 Caroline Issa
      Fashion Director and CEO TANK Magazine

      It has been said that ‘no other individual currently working in fashion has seen the industry from as many angles as Caroline Issa, she’s a designer an innovator and as the Editor of cult title TANK Magazine–a woman in love with both the written and spoken word.

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      2 Alexandra Shulman OBE
      Author and former Editor In Chief of British Vogue

      An icon in the world of fashion journalism, Alexandra Shulman OBE is British Vogue’s longest serving editor, as well as a successful author. In this candid chat she reflects on life post Vogue; shares anecdotes from her time in the lens and how she balanced that with her other role, as a Mother.

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      3 Lady Anne Glenconner
      Author and former lady in waiting to Princess Margaret

      Born into the rigid social hierarchy of the English aristocracy in the 1930’s, Lady Anne Glenconner’s life was stitched for many decades into the tapestry of the royal household, most notably as the late Princess Margaret’s lady In waiting. An author at 85 and on the cusp of launching her debut fiction Murder On Mustique, this is a candid and witty account of her truly remarkable life.

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      4 Kit Kemp
      Author, award-winning Interior Designer and Founder & Creative Director of Firmdale Hotels

      Interior and Textile designer Kit Kemp is best known for shaping the boutique hotel industry known and loved today. Renowned for her stylish and witty aesthetic, immortalised through three critically-acclaimed books, here she shares childhood memories and tales of young love with Annoushka in a relaxed chat at The Hamyard Hotel.

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      5 Lucia van der Post
      Luxury columnist, editor of Country and Townhouse Great British Brands and founding editor of The Financial Times 'How to Spend It'.

      The doyenne of decadence, Lucia van der Post is the pre-digital influencer having crafted a career as a tastemaker and a curator of beautiful things, most notably in her role which spans some decades, at The Financial Times How To Spend It Magazine, which she was fundamental to launching in the mid 1980’s. In this, at times emotional chat with Annoushka, Lucia shares tales of early years in her native South Africa, where she spent her formative years during apartheid and talks openly about her late, great philosopher, explorer and conservationist father Laurens van der Post.

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      6 Rachel Johnson
      Novelist, Journalist and Presenter

      Rachel Johnson is undoubtedly a high achiever, having navigated a career as a novelist, journalist, editor and now broadcaster on prime time radio and yet as many women of talent have often been, is all too often categorised primarily as the sister or daughter of a prominent man. A member of one of the most well-known political families of our time, in this chat Rachel, explores childhood memories on the family farm in Exmoor, her deep connection and admiration for her parents and how she manages her place among 4, independent-from-the-word-go, brothers.

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      7 Holly Tucker
      Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and UK Ambassador for Creative Small Businesses

      A must-listen for any budding entrepreneur or dynamic creative, this week’s episode is with Holly Tucker. A trailblazer, an entrepreneur and a cheerleader for hundreds of small businesses, she founded Not On The High Street and in more recent years, Holly & Co. However, like many people, Hollys path to her passion has had some major obstacles, which true to her effervescent spirit, she has overcome with determination and grace. She has, as the poem says, met with triumph and disaster and treated them the same. Ahead of her time in the opportunity she spotted, she had the guts to persevere in the face of the mostly-men who said no and went on to make the British high street a virtual one.

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“As a child my mother used to travel a lot and she’d always bring me back a charm, so for me they have this wonderful nostalgic feeling—every one holding a special story which connects me to her. There’s also something about the exquisiteness of the perfect, tiny form of a charm which is just so captivating, for me the pleasure is in perfecting the littlest detail, to make a charm spin or open—to design something which is the absolute miniature of the real thing.

It’s been such a pleasure to record this podcast and interview seven inspiring women who have all lived extraordinary lives—there are so few things that can stand the test of time like a charm—the individual narrative and personality of each gives them a very unique ability to tell a story—these well-known guests have truly let me and given me permission to retell their Life In Seven Charms, through a very special 18ct gold biography.”

Annoushka Ducas MBE