Homing In

Mary Portas: the queen of the high street’s inspiring journey from homeless orphan to a London townhouse that’s all hers


Listen Later

Most of us know Mary Portas as a swashbuckling TV presenter with a flame-red bob, but her career away from the screen has been no less remarkable. She did the window displays for Topshop during its heyday and was the creative director of Harvey Nichols when it was immortalised on Absolutely Fabulous. Nowadays, however, she runs her consultancy, Portas, which helps brands create purpose and beauty in everything they do. As this episode reveals, her life story is incredibly rich and filled with both trauma and triumph. 


This episode was recorded in person at the Portas offices, London.


For more: 


Head over to our website for more images of the places discussed

Visit Portas 

Sign up to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspiration 

Check out Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To Live 

Follow Matt Gibberd on Instagram

Follow The Modern House Instagram

Watch our Homing In films on YouTube


This episode is sponsored by Vitsoe.


Executive Producer: Kate Taylor of Feast Collective

Producer: Hannah Phillips

Music: Father

Graphic Design: Tom Young

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Homing InBy Matt Gibberd and The Modern House

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

76 ratings


More shows like Homing In

View all
Desert Island Discs by BBC Radio 4

Desert Island Discs

1,977 Listeners

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware by Jessie Ware

Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware

1,586 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,243 Listeners

The Great Indoors by Sophie Robinson and Kate Watson-Smyth: Interior Design Experts

The Great Indoors

418 Listeners

Talk Art by Russell Tovey and Robert Diament

Talk Art

490 Listeners

House Guest by Country & Town House | Interior Designer Interviews by Country and Town House

House Guest by Country & Town House | Interior Designer Interviews

45 Listeners

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends by Sarah Raven

grow, cook, eat, arrange with Sarah Raven & friends

200 Listeners

Ruthie's Table 4 by iHeartPodcasts

Ruthie's Table 4

302 Listeners

This Cultural Life by BBC Radio 4

This Cultural Life

89 Listeners

Amanda Wakeley: StyleDNA by Amanda Wakeley

Amanda Wakeley: StyleDNA

6 Listeners

Talking Gardens by Our Media

Talking Gardens

43 Listeners

The Ins & Outs by Jojo Barr, Pollyanna Wilkinson

The Ins & Outs

98 Listeners

Young Again by BBC Radio 4

Young Again

50 Listeners

Travel Secrets by Tanya Rose

Travel Secrets

49 Listeners

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud by Bella Freud

Fashion Neurosis with Bella Freud

187 Listeners