The 5-minute Interview: Tony Blackburn, Disc jockey
'I'd make a good politician – I've spent a lifetime talking rubbish'
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Your support makes all the difference.Tony Blackburn, 64, began his career on pirate radioin the 1960s before being snapped up by the BBC to present the first show on Radio 1. In 2002, he won the debut series of ITV's reality show 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!', beating Tara Palmer-Tomkinson to the title 'King of the Jungle'. The 'Top Of The Pops Essential Music Quiz' is out on DVD now
If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...
Watching Coronation Street. I watched it when it first started many years ago and have seen every one since. Nowadays I can record it using Sky+ so that's great, but I used to have to get someone to record it for me.
A phrase I use far too often is...
"Right now". I say it a lot – I don't know why.
I wish people would take more notice of...
My good looks. I've always been devastating. It's caused problems with both men and women. As I get older, I find more men are finding me attractive – most people are after me for my body rather than my mind.
The most surprising thing to happen to me was...
Winning I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! I didn't expect to be asked to do it, let alone win. The only time I tried to win was on the last day. I thought, I've got so far I might as well give it a go.
I am not a politician but...
I'd like to be one. I'm really interested in politics, funnily enough. I'd like to go in and tell them what a load of rubbish they speak. To be a politician you have to be full of hot air, and I'm good at that. It's the same as being a radio DJ really – I've spent a lifetime talking rubbish.
I'm good at...
Talking nonsense. I found that out at an early age – I've been doing it since I could talk and enjoy every minute. It's fun to not take things too seriously. There's not enough of us who talk rubbish. I really like David Letterman – he talks highbrow nonsense. I talk lowbrow nonsense.
I'm very bad at...
Tidying up. I always leave things lying around.
The ideal night out is...
Going out with my wife and daughter to a theatre and for a meal. I've been a vegetarian since I was four. We were on holiday at a farm and I realised I was eating what I'd been looking at the day before.
You know me as a DJ, but in truer life I'd have...
Gone into advertising. Again, it's the talking nonsense side I'd be good at.
In weak moments I...
Collapse into a shivering wreck, but I pull myself together.
The best age to be is...
There's a lot to be said for being young but you have to enjoy the age you're at.
In a nutshell, my philosophy is this...
Enjoy every moment. Try and be happy and make everyone around you happy as well.
Toby Green
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