Published: Thursday, 2nd October, 2008 04:00
A TV window on Simon's world
By Rose Harland
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Simon Doonan, as pictured
A NEW TV comedy inspired by a celebrity window-dresser from Reading begins tonight (Thursday).
Beautiful People is based on the autobiography of New York-based Simon Doonan, who started work at Heelas in Broad Street before going on to find fame for his avant garde window displays – which have included stuffed rats, Prince Charles and Margaret Thatcher lookalike dummies.
In the TV show, the grown-up Simon remembers life with his eccentric family in Reading and his desire to leave and become one of the “beautiful people”.
Mr Doonan came of age in the early 70s, but the TV show is set in the 90s and is the latest offering from Absolutely Fabulous producer Jon Plowman.
Mr Doonan said: “It’s laugh out loud funny, totally mad, but in a good way!
“Jonathan says it was 'inspired” by my book, and so he took lots of poetic license, but the feeling of the happy but eccentric family is very much there.”
Mr Doonan is now creative director of Barneys department store in New York, a columnist for the New York Observer and has been a critic on America’s Next Top Model. He is a Royals fan and said: “I am so happy that Reading football team has risen to prominence in the last few years. When I was a kid I remember everyone shouting 'Up the Biscuits!’
“I met David Beckham at a party and told him I supported 'the Biscuits’. He looked at me like I was mental! When I got home I googled Huntley and Palmers and found out that they closed down decades ago!”
Mr Doonan recalls growing up in Reading, saying: “I was born in a two-roomed flat with no kitchen and bathroom in Caversham in 1952. Then we moved next door with my gran and uncle and all shared a bigger house.”
He went to Caversham Primary and EP Collier schools and did A-levels at Reading School. He said: “The most dedicated teachers were at EP Collier. They had a hard job teaching kids from all kinds of backgrounds but they were all amazing.”
He described his time at Heelas as “very Are You Being Served” and said: “I was a 'mobile’ – I moved between clocks and watches and luggage. My mum and dad were hard workers. It seemed like everyone in Reading had two jobs.
“Reading was a bit grim in the 1950s. I went through it recently on the train and was shocked by all the development. It’s a real metropolis.”
The six-part series starts on BBC2 at 9.30pm this evening (Thursday).
Were you at school or work with Simon? Did you know him or his family? Share your memories and let us know what you think of the show. Post your comments below or email Rose Harland rharland@berksmedia.co.uk
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