I’ll probably live with my parents forever

Having made his name as a stand-up comedian, Tom has become a hit on panel shows and rates the audience creations on The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice. He’s also just taken over from Rhod Gilbert as host of The Apprentice: You’re Fired. Tom chatt

‘I grew up thinking I wanted to be an actor... turns out I was just gay’ Tom Allen

Yes, and I’ve learned such a lot from working with Jo Brand. She really is the nicest, most generous person you could ever hope to work with. She has taught me so much about presenting. On You’re Fired, I poke fun at the flaws in our dear candidates, but I’ll be doing it, as ever, with a twinkle in my eye. What have you been watching? I’ve been enjoying the series Fosse/Verdon, and also really enjoyed Feud (about the rivalry between Joan Crawford and Bette Davis). Ooh, they were monstrous. I watch channels like Food Network. I like anything with cooking in it. Rick Stein, Nigel Slater... who’s got lovely bi-folding doors in his kitchen. You live with your mum and dad. What do you watch together? Strictly is very important to them. Well, Dad is forced to watch it. And things like Doc Martin seem to be always on. Or one of those programmes on ITV3 where in every ad break

it’s all, ‘Have you planned your funeral?’ Midsomer Murders, Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, and Mum loves Poirot. Any murder mystery. It’s unusual to live with your parents at 36 years old. I moved home about six years ago. I went back to save for a mortgage and I’ve been there ever since. We don’t know what’s going to happen with Brexit, so I’ll probably live there for the rest of my life. That’s not unhealthy psychologically, is it?

You’re known as a comedian and now a presenter, but you started out acting...

I was in the National Youth Theatre. Matt Smith is probably the most famous one from my era. I grew up thinking I wanted to be an actor. Turns out I was just gay! I did a few acting jobs. But with acting, you are always at the beck and call of other people, which is why I like stand-up. I like the autonomy, that you get to talk about the world as you see it.

Any ideas for shows you’d like to make?

I’ve always wanted to do a TV show about gardening. I love gardening. Some people do topiary, some do extraordinary hanging baskets. And some grow turnips. There’s something for everybody. You should see my hostas. I do it in a suit – my gardening suit. l The Apprentice: You’re Fired is on Wednesday, BBC2, 10pm.