Home is…
The suburbs of Epping, Loughton. I live with my wife, 15-year-old daughter, Sunnie, and nine-year-old son, Arty.
Which shops do you rely on?
Usually we have a little mooch around Selfridges, we like to make a day out of it and have a bit of lunch and all that. Me and my missus sit at the seafood bar and have oysters, drink bubbly and feel all posh.
Best meal that you’ve had in London?
It was a long time ago, I don’t know if it’s still there. It was Gordon Ramsay’s Maze, where you don’t pick anything, you just get a tasting menu. Me and my wife, who I think was pregnant with my second child at the time, went and it was incredible.
What’s your first memory of London?
Well, I was brought up in east London, in a place called Custom House. For me, the real London is east London, that little pocket in the East End. I lived quite near the docks, so when I was young we used to go and jump in the water. I wouldn’t advise anyone to do that now. It’s all changed and now we have the Excel centre — it’s all quite posh.
What was your first flat like?
It would have been in east London in 1996, in a place called Star Lane in Canning Town. We had Dani and we were 18 so we had to grow up very quickly in a little flat. We had a second-hand washing machine and someone’s settee for a bit — it was a settee that they were throwing out to be fair. It was hard. You have to grow up quickly to be parents, but life was a lot more simple back then.
Where do you go to let your hair down?
I don’t really now, babe. I’m a grandfather so I am a very responsible adult. I tend to just meet up with a couple of pals and have a bit of booze every now and again. But actually, I quite like being indoors, I love it indoors.
Who is the most iconic Londoner?
Wow, what a question that is. I wanna say Ray Winstone, he’s iconic to me. Also, someone who represents London for me would be Bobby Moore because he was the captain of West Ham. He was a brilliant man and he was an inspiration for me, but I think I’m gonna go with Raymondo.
I don’t really let my hair down now, babe. I’m a grandfather so I am a very responsible adult
Have you ever had a run-in with a London police officer?
I have had a few run-ins but I’m not sure if I am supposed to talk about it.
Where would you recommend for a first date?
I would say somewhere along the Embankment. I think having a little walk south of the river is quite cute. There are some beautiful restaurants and if you go on a summer evening it’s quite a romantic date.
Where would you most like to be buried?
Probably West Ham Cemetery with my grandad and my nana. A proper old-school east London funeral gaff.
If you could buy any building in London, which would it be?
I would buy Tottenham stadium and burn it to the ground. Then I would build a gaff that was claret and blue. Best thing a cabbie has said to you? That’s a f***ing tricky question — I get a lot of bollocks. I always love it when they are big fans of my daughter, Dani, that makes me feel a certain kind of pride.
What’s your biggest extravagance?
Probably my motor, I’ve got a Bentley. Sadiq Khan’s f***ing worst nightmare.
Lastly, what’s your London secret?
Well, I think Manze’s, which is in south London. It’s a beautiful pie and mash shop which has been there a long time. My order? Two pie, two mash, smothered in liquor and laced with chilli vinegar and white pepper, washed down with a Dr Pepper.
