Published: Friday, 3rd October, 2008 12:00
Reading meets the Beautiful People
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Simon Doonan
NEW YORK glitz met teenage trauma in 90s suburban Reading last night in the first episode of a new TV comedy.
Beautiful People is based on the autobiography of celebrity window dresser Simon Doonan, 55, who grew up in Caversham.
The six-part BBC Two series opened with the adult Simon (Samuel Barnett) remembering his early years in “a time before Heat or The X Factor”, when the Spice Girls ruled the world. As he put it: “I wasn’t always a slightly fey window dresser in glamourous New York; I was a slightly fey schoolboy in humdrum Reading.”
The episode then flashed back to Simon as a preening, sensitive 13 year-old (Luke Ward-Wilkinson), living in fictional Melody Crescent with his eccentric family and Kylie Minogue-obsessed best friend Kyle (Layton Williams). The pair spend their time “doing everything that normal lads do - pretending to be Canadian in public places, working out complicated dance routines to 80s floorfillers and doling out unwanted fashion advice to the proletariat of Reading ('Ditch the fringe love, it ain’t working’).”
They dispensed the catty fashion tips in an area that could have been the Hosier Street market, but distinctive Reading landmarks were hard to spot. The programme also attempted to create a 90s Reading atmosphere by showing beer-swilling louts, graffiti and so much concrete that it deserved a mention in the cast list. The time was better evoked by the vibrant soundtrack, which included M People, the Spice Girls and D:Ream singing Things Can Only Get Better, to accompany footage of a fresh-faced Tony Blair taking office.
Much of the humour came from the dry commentary of the adult Simon and his family’s larger-than-life personalities, but the young Simon and Kyle stole the show with their perfectly balanced mix of angst, camp and zest for life.
The real Simon Doonan attended Caversham Primary, EP Collier and Reading School and worked at Heelas - now John Lewis - before heading to London and attracting fame and notoriety for his window displays, which frequently feature models of celebrities in compromising poses. He is now the creative director of Barneys department store in New York.
The comedy was scripted by Jonathan Harvey and produced by Justin Davies. Executive producer Jon Plowman’s previous credits include Bottom and Absolutely Fabulous. The next episode will be on Thursday at 9.30pm on BBC Two. Watch the first episode online on BBC iPlayer at www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer
Were you at school or work with Simon? Did you know him or his family? Share your memories or 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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