Caroline Phillips

Journalism

Caroline Phillips
“Caroline Phillips is a tenacious and skilful writer with a flair for high quality interviewing and a knack for making things work.”

Caroline Phillips

Journalism

Letters etc

“I greatly enjoyed your Lorne Thyssen piece - as well as being tickled to read that he propositioned you. Does this mean his therapy for moral degeneracy must be considered a failure?”

John Preston, Journalist and best selling author

“Caroline writes really well. I like the way she gives the impression of herself at the scene without bringing herself in obtrusively. Very clever. Norman Mailer sounds as dreadful as I’d always imagined...”

Monica Dickens, Author and great granddaughter of Charles Dickens, she was best known for Follyfoot (1915 - 1992)

“I must commend you for having the guts to stand up to that arrogant bully Norman Mailer who usually cows interviewers to such an extent that they treat him with kid gloves...”

John Wilcock, Co-founder of The Village Voice with Norman Mailer (1927 - 2018)

“What a tour de force to have jigsawed so brilliantly a whole complicated lifetime into a delightful and very kind article...”

Phyliss Pearsall, Creator of London’s A-Z (1906 - 1996)

“I think you captured me very accurately. The talent you have for this (and it is a real talent) is exceptional. Had I not known otherwise, I’d have guessed you’d done a bit of time yourself!!!...”

Jimmy Boyle, Ex-jailbird imprisoned for gangland murder

“Congratulations on becoming a commissioning editor. There are no limits to how far you will go, because you establish such a rapport with your interviewees that they open up and do not fear betrayal. You have human qualities not always found in your profession. When I find a piece by you in the Standard, I rejoice. You write so well...”

Dr Chad Varah, Founder of The Samaritans (1911 - 2007)

“Jolly good interview - much enjoyed...”

Deborah Moggach, Author of best-selling Tulip Fever and These Foolish Things (made into the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)

“You treated me with courtesy and forbearance in your piece and I think it read very well... as a flattering profile of a geriatric.”

Major Bruce Shand, Father of Camilla Parker-Bowles (1917 - 2006)

“Thank you for your articles. You are a very good journalist and they’re great pieces, but as a potential subject I’d rather cross Niagara Falls naked on a tightrope...”

John Wells, Satirist, who started his career on That Was The Week That Was and author of Private Eye’s ‘Dear Bill’ letters. (1936 - 1998)

“Thanks for sending your article. Although it found its way to the dustbin unread, I was tempted to break my self-imposed rule - but resisted!”

Charles Althorp, Earl Spencer, brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales

“I’m a great fan of your work. Lovely piece you did on Edward Heath especially. I interviewed Richard Harris the day after you and he said you'd been “amazing”, so sharp. Did he play with himself?...”

Lynn Barber, Journalist and author of An Education, later a Nick Hornby scripted film

“Just to say how very good I think your pieces are... I love your gimlet-eyed descriptions...”

Notable Critics

“Caroline Phillips has great contacts, good ideas, is a quick and accurate reporter and a writer with flair.”

Jackie Annesley, Editor, YOU Magazine

“I have long been an admirer of Caroline Phillips’ journalism. She invariably has something worthwhile to say, a clever angle, a sharp turn of phrase. And warmth. A good combination.”

Nicholas Coleridge, then MD Condé Nast Britain and Vice-President Condé Nast International

“Caroline and dullness are mortal enemies. She sees the interest in people and stories and her writing adds interest to the interest - this is the stuff that people will pay for.”

Richard Addis, then Editor, Weekend FT and former Express Editor

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