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Memory isn't black and white: Girl on a Spacehopper

In 1971 Finnish photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen snapped a joyous image of a little girl playing in the street. It became world famous. But who is she?

'The portrait you'd love to have of yourself as a child' – but who is she?

In 1971, Finnish photographer Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen snapped a joyous image of a little girl playing in the streets of a Newcastle suburb scheduled for demolition, called Byker. The photo became world famous. Byker disappeared forever. Forty years later, Sirkka got a phonecall. Who is the girl on the spacehopper?

A version of this interview was first broadcast in August 2023.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Laura Thomas

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Girl on a Spacehopper. Credit: Sirkka-Liisa Konttinen. All Rights Reserved, DACS/Artimage 2023)

Available now

27 minutes

Broadcasts

  • Sat 4 Nov 2023 05:32GMT
  • Sat 4 Nov 2023 11:32GMT
  • Sat 4 Nov 2023 19:32GMT
  • Sun 5 Nov 2023 00:32GMT
  • Sun 5 Nov 2023 09:32GMT
  • Sun 5 Nov 2023 22:32GMT
  • Mon 6 Nov 2023 03:32GMT

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