Where do you live and why?
I live in West Drayton – as west in London as you can get – the last stop on the Oyster system. It is very accessible for central London. The station is at the end of my road and I am at Paddington in just over 20 minutes. Besides the easy commute, I am here for a bit more peace and quiet.
Are you a Westfield lover or hater?
Generally, I am not a fan – too big and claustrophobic. The restaurants are nothing special and I still use the Shepherd’s Bush VUE cinema rather than the Westfield one – same film but cheaper and less busy.
What’s in your west London black book?
Meetings – both business and social – tend to be in Soho. Chinatown is great and my good friend Annie McKale is PR Manager at Mayfair Millennium Hotel in Grosvenor Square so I tend to go there for a warm welcome and filming, drinks and dinners at a reduced rate. Also the BBC in White City. I started out working there and now hold my regular Black Book events there.
Where is the best celebrity spotting area in west London?
The Ivy and Joe Allen’s in Covent Garden are still great, especially post theatre – Corrie star Amanda Barrie introduced me to Joe Allen’s years ago. She dines there daily. And the coffee shops in and around Soho are good because showbiz agent offices are nearby and they take their clients there. I spotted Catherine Tate in Costa on Old Compton Street the other day.
Who would be your ultimate celebrity to book?
Having achieved the Prime Minister, it would have to be one of the Royals – I have come close but I’m holding out for William!
Have you ever had any celebrity booking disasters?
A certain famous footballer who was booked for a chat show said he was driving to the studio but an hour later we couldn’t get hold of him and he just never showed up. I knew TV’s ‘Green Goddess’ Diana Moran would be nearby as she hosted a show in the same studio later in the day and always arrived early. I called her; she did her make-up in the car and took her seat on the sofa ten minutes later as the opening titles rolled.
What is your top tip for a tourist in London?
Greenwich Park is great for an afternoon stroll at any time of year and from the top of the hill you get a spectacular view of the whole of London.
Who would you book to play you in a film of your life?
Someone said to me at The Comedy Store the other night that I look like a young Dan Ackroyd, so probably him.
What’s the most unusual request you’ve had as a celebrity booker?
Someone asked me for Bill Gates, Simon Cowell and Gok Wan for a website promo film shooting the following week and said their budget was nil. They were serious, too.
Where are your favourite places to shop in west London?
I have always enjoyed Oxford Street HMV for DVDs in the sale and Selfridges or Bond Street if I am splashing out on clothes.
What’s the most extravagant luxury item you’ve ever bought?
A very large widescreen TV for my lounge.
If you could eat one last meal in London where would it be?
What makes you proud to be a Londoner?
Despite being here for 13 years, I still enjoy the huge mix of cultures and nationalities plus great theatre followed by good food.
What’s your philosophy on life?
Don’t let them grind you down.
