On the Road: Sean Rafferty Louise Flind

In Tune presenter Sean Rafferty tells Louise Flind about Martinis, the Troubles’ Blitz spirit and turning Celtic pink on beaches

Is there anything you can’t leave home without? A book, and I admire a colleague who says the only thing he needs is a ready mix of very, very cold, quite stiff Martinis.

Something you really miss? My own bed – I’m incredibly critical when I stay with people. When they say, ‘Did you sleep well?’, I say, ‘No, those pillows were really uncomfortable and the duvet is too hot,’ and they get very cross.

Favourite destination? London and Donegal – I have dreams of the tide coming in and the light changing and that sort of crepuscular moment. Otherwise I could live in Italy – the first time I went to Rome, I thought, ‘I’ve been here before, generations ago.’

Earliest childhood holiday memories? My parents were both fiendish golfers and I was bought up on a golf course in Newcastle, County Down. So you’d think they’d want to go somewhere else but no, we went towards Rosslare onto another golf course for holidays.

Your favourite place in Ulster? I love the Donegal landscape, the Atlantic and Lough Swilly.

Your favourite place in the Republic of Ireland? Wexford – because I’ve been going since my early twenties for operas.

Your favourite place in Belfast when you were reporting during the Troubles? I presented television news and current affairs throughout the Troubles and, like anything, you get used to it and there was an extraordinary Blitz spirit. The place everybody loves is the Crown Liquor Saloon.

Where do you live in London? Is London or Ireland home? I’m between Oval and Vauxhall – I hear the birds in the morning and, when it’s working, Big Ben. I would find it very difficult to do without metropolitan stimulus here and the rootedness of Ireland.

Is In Tune recorded at Broadcasting House? What’s your favourite room at the BBC? It’s all live, but at the minute I’m broadcasting from home. The old Radio Theatre is my favourite because we do our Christmas specials there.

Thoughts on Beethoven’s 250th birthday? It doesn’t matter how many times you hear Beethoven – there’s always something extraordinary underneath that wasn’t there before. He’s an eternal companion, like Bach.

Why did Germany/italy/france produce so many great composers in the 18th and 19th centuries, unlike us? The underlying structure – they built so many more concert halls. The dukes and principalities had their opera houses and orchestras and there was an intensity of competition.

Your favourite Irish composer? Charles Stanford – marvellous choral work and rather beautiful motets.

Your favourite composer of all? Has to be Bach, who raises my spirits every single time.

Do you lie on the beach? I lie on a beach, love the idea and get bored very quickly – I also turn Celtic pink.

Hotel or apartment? Hotel. I like silver service. I never want to see another hotel-buffet breakfast again…

Favourite international food? Light fillet steak with Béarnaise sauce, very fine chips and a good glass of claret.

Your best experience in a restaurant? In the Delaunay in London, having lunch with a friend. I had either lost my card or left it at home. The maître d’ came over and said, ‘Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear, sir. Please don’t worry – just ring us when you get home.’

Have you made friends when you’ve been away? Yes – I’m curious, so I do. I made some great friends in New York: we met in a restaurant, laughed ourselves silly and we’re still in touch.

Do you have a go at the local language? Oh God, very bad. A bit of French, particularly after a bottle of wine. In Italy once, a very grand Italian lady said to me, ‘Your accent is very good – now all you need to do is learn the language.’

Biggest headache? Travelling alone, I think. It’s harder to take the broad view when things go wrong, so I tend to get very, very irritated.

Do you like coming home? Yes, and I do a strange thing. I have a childhood clock and one that belonged to my aunt, and the first thing I’ll do is light the fire and wind up both the clocks.

Top travelling tips? Always take a bottle and, from now on, a full flask of something alcoholic.

Finally, is there anything you’d like to plug? I love presenting In Tune – meeting some of the best musicians in the world is the most enormous privilege and luxury. I couldn’t be more grateful that this is where I am.