Vivienne Westwood on Wogan with Sue Lawley 

Why invite her on the show to present her work only to laugh at and mock her and her artwork. As an artist that is an absolute nightmare, the most humiliating and frightening thing to even think about. 30 years later and Westwood is the only person on that stage remembered. She's an icon and an artistic genius.

I remember being a kid watching this. It was horrible, and I felt really sorry for her. Its 2022 now. Russel Harty is long dead, and Sue Lawley is long forgotten. However, Dame Westwood, is 81 years old, still working, a legend in her field, and has a net worth of around $200 million. Who’s laughing now?😂

I remember seeing this at the time and feeling so angry and sorry for Vivienne that I turned the tv off. She's an amazing and iconic designer.

Bold , unapologetic, ages ahead of her time .. such a young soul … Rest in peace Queen of kings road 😢

Well done Janet for supporting Vivienne, one of our first class designers!

RIP Viv, never underestimate the power of clothing. So much of the 70s and 80s was defined by what you wore. Everybody was unemployed, and your identity was what group you belonged to, rockers, new romantic, punks, goths, new wavers. Viv was so influential in so many lives. They were who they were, because of her. Clothing doesnt mean much, but when its all you have, it is everything you hold on to.

RIP Vivienne, you absolute icon. The rest of them can go you know what themselves.

That red dress was beautiful, Those clothes are gorgeous. The First skirt suit was lovely.

I remember this being aired in the 80's and being very angry; shame you can't see it here, but Michael Clark danced onto the studio set, which was great. Sue lawley and Russel Harty were both tedious middle england bulley's.

I never thought I'd say this, but... Here goes... WELL DONE, JANET STREET PORTER!

I felt for Vivienne so much. A world class designer who should not of been mocked. Hurrah for Janet!

She maintained herself as a lady of class;)

Westwood knew exactly what she was doing by appearing on this show: It was a two-fingered gesture to the Establishment. Her whole MO was to provoke and cajole with her look and artwork/fashion statements. I found her fascinating because she looked like a (rather posh) librarian or school principal who was experimenting with being outlandish.

Just because the audience laughed it doesn't detract from Viviennes flare ...

This interview must have been in mind when they made the Alan Partridge interview series fashion sketch in the '90s. Even Russell Harty is like Partridge here.

The way they treated her infuriates me every time I see it.

Think i watched this when it was on, loved how Vivian handled it she kept her cool and carryed on whist they took the mick nice one Janet for sticking up for her!!

I remember when this happened, I was only little. Vivienne Westwood is a fashion icon and fashion historian, I hated the behaviour at the time - it feels like an attack on the working classes - Vivienne's links with the punk movement and coming from a working class family in Derbyshire. Russell Harty is just being deliberately obtuse - clearly the mini crini isn't something designed for the purpose of doing your weekly shop, what a ridiculous thing to say. I would wear that, I love the classic tailoring and grecian inputs with the capes and overcoats. His slack jawed expression just annoys me, he looks like some weird fish that smokes 40 a day.

I remember hearing that as time moves on we look back and reflect differently. This is one of those moments. The presenter appearing small town. It's so provincial. It's laughable. Dame Westwood way ahead of her time. The female guest Janet clearly on her side.

It's quite amazing how times change, like her dress, the pom poms to me just sound cute and I found none of the clothes terrible and quite inoffensive, like one of the dresses looked a little home made but that was it. I was more shocked at the huge umbrella walkijg stick thing the guy had out of everything.

3:20 can you imagine nothing better than going to sainsburys

Just like the scene in Knowing Me Knowing You

I love Janet Street Porter, I love her even more now seeing how she stood up for one of the best designers in the world. The sad people laughing would have been wearing a floral dress and Granny’s apron…what would the audience know about fashion

Rest in Peace Viv🕊❤

No wonder Grace Jones slapped his face on the air.

I can't believe i found this video. It's amazing, the clothes and the reaction. It gives me inspiration and strength that even the most talented designers work can be laughed at. Vivienne is adorable and if i was there i would have hugged her! Like a true punk and dame, she stood her ground and remained classy about it 💜

Hey great clip! I'm glad the 'chip shop' model speaks up and defends herself! Which TV show is this taken from? Not the 'Woagn' clip, but the other actual TV show? Thanks again! x

They are laughing at her, look at the trash they are wearing, probably some clearance lines from BHS or Debenhams, so fucking rude! Westwood is timeless!! Her stuff will always be in style!!!

I love Janet she’s great

if anyone's ever watched the episode of kmky. with alan partridge set in france with a fashion designer on called yvone boyd. Im sure this episode got to be based on this clip

Rest in Peace Vivienne Westwood

Amazed that that arch-reactionary JSP stood up for her.

Friggen love Janet Street Porter! Good on you girl for sticking up for an absolute icon! RIP VIVIENNE

I'm from Leeds and remember the first time i walked past the Westwood shop in the Arcade and her clothes were astounding i remember dresses that would just blow your mind at the quality and workmanship it eschewed quality, unreal fabrics some almost carpet like and colours that reminded me of royalty purples and reds then on other days flowing thin fabrics that looked like the wind. I get its not for everyone but until you have seen her clothes up close and dressed in a window you have zero clue about this amazing lady. RIP Vivienne a true pioneer her designs now now timeless and I empore anyone visiting Leeds for the day to take a route past her shop hopefully they keep her designs in the windows even if they don't sell them!!! A true genius!!!

I wonder what the ‘multi-millionaire’ Vivian Westwood thinks of those who were laughing.

Rest in peace vivienne

Wow. So rude. It’s crazy to me that they would invite her on to be so rude. Can you imagine doing that to a designer now.

RIP Vivienne Westwood

Russell's last tv appearance. :-*

Well done for laughing at them ...so what who cares bloody taking themselves too seriously...ooh I've never had that reaction AND??? GET OVER IT

Janet Street Porter didn’t say anything for AGES all whilst grinning. When she ‘stuck up’ for Vivienne it was only to make herself ‘look good’ it was very poor.

Pretentious clothing and the audience could see this that is why they were laughing, like most probably television viewers were laughing too and i was one of them.

Thank you Janet Street-Porter for your integrity. Dame Vivienne Westwood demonstrated such restraint and patience regarding this absolutely appalling interview.

I didn't realise that Alan Partridge borrowed this scene lock stock for his skit with Rebecca Front, and Partridge himself aped the unsophisticated remarks of Harty.

dude asked someone how "highly regarded they are" and expected an answer lmao

I totally agree with Russell Harty, what a load of rubbish fashion that nobody in their right mind would wear, and the laughter of the audience just proves it. The gentleman’s suit at the end was beautiful tailoring, but why put it up against a fancydress display. Just attention seeking. It’s a bit like the story of the King’s New Clothes, where only the little boy could see the truth, and Russell was that boy stating the truth.

Why isn't Janet Street Porter saying anything to support Vivienne Westwood. Ok, i read that she did. Westwood's clothes were fantastic, that suit is beautifully made. If i could have worn them, i would. I loved her looks. Westwood's red dress is great. Harty and Sue Lawley were drabs, drabbos.

I was a kid in the 80s. I sometimes yearn for certain aspects of my youth; but that staid, curtain-twitching, well-to-do, anti-alternative atmosphere amongst the grown ups is something I'm glad we've moved on from. This video sums it up. Big respect to Janet Street Porter.

Someone from 2023 looking at the clothes and geniunely not understanding whats being laughed at👀

A very low moment for Sue Lawley who really should have known better. You can always rely on Janet Street Porter to redress the balance. Brava Vivienne!

Sue who?

0:57, the expression on Sue Lawley's face says it all. She is now an establishment figure par excellence. But the last laugh is on VW's critics now, whatever one may think of her designs.

It wasn't the BBC's fault - they were laughing because they were ridiculous - It wasn't rude - she was just shown as she was.... And calling Russell Harty the voice of the 'everyman' just shows how out of touch the commentator is... 612 likes after 15 years says it all...

This interview is utterly disgusting! They're so undermining! The fact you can still buy those shoes, her collection is still on point today! Proves that they're narrow minded, clueless, rude plebs that got a kick out of making someone look stupid!

Later sent up by Alan Partridge on Knowing Me, Knowing You...AHA!

That man died that same year

@MBHD153 were can i find the full show?

Well done Janet!!!

Sue Lawley did this to Christine Keeler, but being the intelligent classy lady she is Christine Keeler came out on top.

Who are the other 3 people?

Rest in Power 🖤🖤🖤🖤

if put on an empty potato sack will you keep telling me how great I look for the sake of fickle art. one days fashion is another's days cleaning rag. wear what you want.

Where was Tor and Neumann?

Wow so direspectful, poor Vivienne

Alan Partridge brought me here lol

i don't think it was dismissive and i also think you need to chill. pretencious

I mean, you only have to look at the set. That sums up this “interview” alone.

I love Janet SP for standing up for viv

what i find really interesting is that people call her crazy, delusional, stupid, stuck up, out of touch, but VW is highly influenced by world history; her designs are super grounded and have a lot of context. you're all yapping on about "tradition", "good taste" and "decorum" and yet she's more aware and educated on it than you ever will be. she can definitely be shy and awkward when talking about what she loves but she knows exactly what she's reworking or tearing apart & she's having (OMG) fun with it. i have more respect for people who critique her for being a collage maker rather than an innovator (even though i disagree) than for anyone who just thinks she's pretentious or daft.

Why is Vivienne Westwood famous? She was the girlfriend of Malcolm Mclaren who manufactured the Sex Pistols, who were famous because they were the fashionable thing. They swore on TV, and released an anti monarchy song whilst Vivienne did the clothes. They made a name out of being rude. So why complain when one of them gets a deserving taste of her own medicine?

icant believe how rude they were. its horrible!

vivienne can knock all of them in to a paper..there was another humiliating interveiw like this on the late late show back then where the models all had on the platforms everyone was in hysterics.. i mean janet street porter sue lawley come on ....

You have to remember this is the BBC who are so behind in anything creative and new. Thank goodness for Channel 4 they turned things on there head.

Is this a winter collection? Yes 😂

You have to remember that this is an audience with free tickets who expect to be entertained, they don't know who the guests are and probably think its all a joke

Some people will say its just British humor I'll say its just rude blank period

Who's that old queen with the beard doing the interview? Westwood saying she's "never met this response before" just goes to show how she was a bit out of touch.

I'd have laughed if I was there as well. Once an audience gets in a "laughy" mood it's hard to get out of it. I feel a bit sorry for Vivienne, but it was a daft idea to trot out her bizarre designs on a normal talkshow.

She proved them all wrong, Comfortable, Safe, middle of the road fools laughing at themselves if only they knew, Vivienne took it all in her stride, if she cared she never showed it ...... Patronising Sue Lawley in her M&S day wear ..... shameful really.

Who’s laughing now?

Terribly patronising but prime tv works in your favour people laugh but that’s their right it’s like art it brings out all sorts of emotions laughter ,disgust amazement, yes small minded people will laugh but what else can you expect on a light entertainment show it didn’t effect Vivian’s career it just enhanced it ..

Why does he refer to the dress as a chip shop ? I can't work it out .

No one made fun of her it was her ridiculous designs, a classic case of the king's new clothes when ordinary people in the audience saw them they laughed

They didn’t deserve her 😢

Its the audience laughing.... do u want to silence the audience?? A bunch of average folk airing their views?!

Fantastic outfits. I guess the guests and audience just weren't quite ready for it.

The clothes and attitude behind the clothes is too 'original' and the British have always had problems with anyone or anything that seems outside the tribe. Most of these clothes you now see people wearing; again Viv was, like most original artists, in front of the times.

This is obviously the scene that inspired the Alan Partridge parody.

Thank you Vivienne Westwood for giving me confidence not to follow Sheep 🐑 R.I.P ♥️

Love u viv

Absolute pretentious tat. I remember laughing my ring up at this first time, and every time since. If you don’t laugh at this the media owns your soul.

I do not understand this visceral, seething hatred that some people have for imagination and design. This is particularly the case in Britain, and PARTICULARLY in the boomer generation. Anything that attempts to stand out in any way... they can't bear it. Glad I don't see the world through their sad grey eyes.

Sue Lawley sat there looking like a post menopausal third rate Princess Di knockoff playing to the peanut gallery. Those clothes have been far more influential than the mediocrity offered by Lawley and Harty.

Vivienne‘s outfits are amazing 😻 I’d like to buy her clothes. 😃

I have been wearing Vivienne's clothing since the 1970's she is one of the most influential designers ever in history...Sue Lawley, Russel Harty are disposable, a million would be media students could do a better job tomorrow...She encouraged them to laugh to gain power over the audience...it's a cheap trick, narrow minded presenting and I have seen photographs of Mizz Lawley wearing Westwood..makes you laugh really..

It's funny how the audience is laughing when Vivienne is way ahead of them, cos it's 2015 and lots of those clothes are in fashion. I saw Kendall wear a tutu!!

Hideous styles of fashion Vivian presented on tv, she could and should have done so much better, clearly a low point in her career and for good reason but luckily, she managed to do well over the years afterwards

Sue Lawley = Miss Iron Knickers.

RIP working class hero

Who’s laughing now.