Interview: Diarmuid Gavin

Who did you last text? It was a reply to my wife, who was asking if I'd done anything about the car, which had a puncture, that I left in the airport a week ago.

It's not cool but... I like The Saw Doctors.

What's the best piece of advice you've ever been given? A girl who I once worked with at a landscaping firm told me that I should remember that I'd been brought up to be polite.

What's the worst job you ever had? I worked at a sandwich factory when I was 15 years old. It was a dirty place.

Who is your favourite fictional character?

Eppie in Silas Marner by George Eliot. My wife and I named our daughter after her.

What are you afraid of? Nothing.

Did you have a nickname growing up? Just Gavin.

What situations make you lose your temper? I hate injustice. If someone is being treated badly, I'll step in.

What would your alternate profession be? I'd like to be a showjumper. I was on a BBC show called Only Fools on Horses a few years ago.

What food or drink is always in your fridge? Always strawberries, blueberries and grapes to mix into my morning porridge.

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? I'm quite happy with myself, but I'd like to be a little taller.

If you could travel back in time, where would you go? I'd like to visit Renaissance Italy, to appreciate the creativity of artists of that era.

Saturday night or Sunday morning? Sunday morning. I like to go out with my daughter and our King Charles spaniels for a walk on the hills.

Who or what is the love of your life? My wife Justine and our daughter Eppie.

Diarmuid Gavin: An Autobiography is out now, Conran Octopus, 18.99

This article was originally published in The Scotsman Magazine on Saturday 23 October 2010.