Margaret Thatcher: From MP to PM | Mrs Thatcher's journey from Finchley to Downing Street

The Jimmy Young Show

Margaret Thatcher's first interview after becoming Conservative Party leader.

CHANNEL | BBC 1

FIRST BROADCAST | 19 February 1975

DURATION | 58 minutes 3 seconds

FIRSTBROADCAST

1975

Synopsis

Margaret Thatcher talks to Jimmy Young and responds to listeners' questions on air. A day after appointing her shadow cabinet, Thatcher says she is still 'surprised' when she is announced as the Leader of the Opposition. Among other things, Young asks Thatcher about being a woman in politics (does she still cook her husband's breakfast?) and elicits some frank opinions from her, such as 'men are very limited in their views about women'.

Did you know?

Jimmy Young interviewed every Prime Minister from Harold Wilson to Tony Blair. Margaret Thatcher was a guest on his show 14 times. These appearances were often during major political events: the 'Winter of Discontent', the run-up to the 1979 general election, and the Falklands War in 1982.

Contributors

Jimmy Young
Presenter
Margaret Thatcher
Contributor

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Documents

Document - Letter to Margaret Thatcher about the General Election in 1959.

Letter to Margaret Thatcher about the general election, 1959.

WRITTEN 1959
1 Page

A letter asking Margaret Thatcher to take part in a radio programme.

Document - Memorandum about Margaret Thatcher in 1959.

Memorandum about Margaret Thatcher, 1959

WRITTEN 1959
1 Page

A memo to the producer of 'Any Questions?' about Margaret Thatcher.

Production notes about Margaret Thatcher in 1962.

Producer's comments on Margaret Thatcher in 1962.

WRITTEN 1962
2 Pages

Production notes from an interview with Margaret Thatcher on 'Woman's Hour'.

Document - Production notes about Margaret Thatcher in 1966.

Producer's comments on Margaret Thatcher, 1966

WRITTEN 1966
2 Pages

Production notes from a discussion about punishment of offenders with Margaret Thatcher.

Document - The earliest memorandum from the BBC Archives on Margaret Thatcher.

Memo from Joanne Symons on Mrs Thatcher

WRITTEN 1967
1 Page

A memo on the suitability of Margaret Thatcher for television appearances.

Document - Letter about a 'Panorama' profile of Margaret Thatcher.

Letter proposing a television profile of Margaret Thatcher, 1970

WRITTEN 1970
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Nicholas Harman outlines plans for a profile of Margaret Thatcher on 'Panorama'.

Document - Memorandum about Margaret Thatcher's interests in broadcasting as Secretary of State for Education.

Memorandum discussing Margaret Thatcher's areas of interest, 1973

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The Controller of Educational Broadcasting gives a rundown of Margaret Thatcher's interests in the BBC.

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