Tony Blackburn Quotes

I'm not a showbiz person. I just enjoy talking nonsense on the radio. I'm not bothered about going to clubs or the paparazzi, I genuinely prefer my neighbours. Spending time with my family and watching Coronation Street are what I love best. People are just people, aren't they?

Not interested. I didn't try very hard. I went to boarding school on a sports' scholarship after I bowled a cricket ball into my old headmaster's leg. He said, 'Christ, that was accurate,' and got it for me. But I walked out at 16.

Robert Redford, ha ha! He's a very attractive man and I'm not. Or Noel Edmonds, as he's a friend of mine and knows me well.

I'm a bit obsessive. I've just bought this Wi-Fi radio, which can pick up 7,500 stations from all over the world. I'm boring my wife to death with it. I've got a thing about technology, so I've got four sat-nav systems and loads of gadgets, including a 100% accurate watch. Any new development and I'm there buying it. My best trait is that I'm happy and optimistic.

All I've ever wanted for my kids is for them to be happy. There's no pressure on Victoria to do anything, but she genuinely loves performing. My son Simon is in advertising. They're both tremendous people. I don't think they've ever been awkward, even Simon as a teenager.

I think if you've won one, quit while you're ahead. I loved doing it, though. If you get an opportunity that great, grab it, as it won't come along again. Until I read in the papers I did it to 'rescue my career'.

Travelling with work. I went to Iceland with GMTV last year and I went to Lapland twice with Classic Gold. I also went to America with Keith Chegwin, which must have been a nightmare for the crew, as we're both hyperactive.

I originally wanted to be a singer, but I was average. I made 18 records, but none were that great. I was in a dance band at Bournemouth Pavilion for three years, and I played guitar too.

I've never liked what's meant to be cool. I was asked to do Glastonbury the year before last actually, but I couldn't make it. I would have liked to, but I'm not really a festival man.

Splashing about in mud in the cold is not my thing. I made an attempt to go to the Isle Of Wight Festival in 1969 when Bob Dylan was playing, but we never made it. We hired a boat from Lymington, but got lost, and by the time we got there the music was over. I wasn't too sad, to be honest.

Since I was four, I can't remember wanting to do anything except entertain. And I got some lucky breaks. My daughter Victoria is the same.

I had the same manager as Frank Sinatra, so I got to meet him and he truly impressed me. He had this magical aura - the whole atmosphere in the room changed when he walked in.

A woman called Rose has written to me every day for the last 15 years. That's dedication. It's not quite fan mail, but a woman in Frome, Somerset, thought she was married to me. She was so convinced, it actually ended up in court, which was a drag. You can only claim that in a court of law once in your life.

I thought I was actually doing quite well - I was on Jazz FM six days a week. I fancied going to Australia and I had a wonderful experience. It's changed me for the better and it was flattering to win.

One time I picked it up and a voice goes, 'Hi, it's Sinatra. Can you play me a record?' I was like, 'Oh yeah, very funny,' and hung up. I thought someone was having a joke, but it was actually Frank. My manager told me there aren't many people who put the phone down on Sinatra.

When I go to see live music I tend to want to really listen to it, so when people get up and dance it's really irritating.

I remember filling my car up in London when an 85-year-old man said to me, 'You've done our age group proud.' That made me laugh. I'm not quite there yet!

Advertising. I'd definitely like to try that. In fact, it was a genuine second choice career-wise. I'd be good at selling stuff - I've got the gift of the gab.

Will Young. He's a great white soul singer. But he was slightly disappointing when I met him - not that friendly. Perhaps he was having a bad day. I love Take That, they're terrific. Gary Barlow is so talented. I've always hated punk rock and I'm not mad about rapping, but then it's not really for my age group.

I'm quite good at water skiing. Dave Clark, from the 1960s band Dave Clark Five, taught me how to water ski in Spain one year. I can do jumps too. I used to go to a club in Heathrow, but I don't do it any more, as it's given me a bad back. I was brought up in Poole, Dorset, so I've always loved watersports.

For me, the highlight was meeting all the Motown acts, as I adore black soul music. I met Stevie Wonder who I love, and Diana Ross And The Supremes. I also met The Carpenters. I was actually there in the studio when they recorded We've Only Just Begun.