MY LIFE PETER URPETH

Peter Urpeth is a musician, poet, multimedia journalist and publishing sector adviser at XpoNorth. Based in Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, Peter has been the editor of four local newspapers in Scotland during his career and recently performed his musical autobiographical tale of love found and lost titled The 4,000 Nights of New York in 1988 as part of An Lanntair’s Hebridean Dark Skies festival.

First record bought?

Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting by Elton John as a 45RPM single.

Book that changed your life? Hunger by Knut Hamsun – first novel I read cover to cover at the age of 16.

Most expensive purchase? Apart from my flat, my grand piano.

First job?

Saturday job working in a record store in Romford.

Favourite time of day?

Early morning for writing.

Last time you cried?

I may have shed a wee tear when Rose and Giovanni won Strictly.

Worst fashion faux pas?

Roving about the East End of London in one of those big cardigans with a belt that Paul Michael Glaser made trendy on Starsky and Hutch in the ’70s.

Favourite holiday destination?

I don’t like holidays other than working holidays, has to be New York.

Idea of holiday hell?

Sitting about on a beach doing nothing other than getting burned.

Biggest phobia?

Wasps and heights, wasps at height even worse.

What are you watching on TV?

I routinely watch rubbishy daytime TV on catch-up, especially antiques programmes.

How do you relax?

I have a dart board permanently set up in my kitchen, and a full-size table tennis table in my lounge.

Best advice you’ve been given?

By my GP – to leave a job that was giving me dangerous levels of anxiety and to take time out recovering to finish my novel.

First thing you did this morning?

As ever, a scan of local, national and international news websites.

Worst mistake?

Leaving school at 15.

Would most like to meet? Spike Lee.

Childhood crush?

Lesley Judd after an earlier infatuation with Kiki, Hector’s French neighbour in Hector’s House.

Weirdest fan gift (or present you’ve received)?

Nothing too odd so far, depends what you define as weird.

What makes you laugh?

My wife, Chrissie, and I have a lot of funny friends. But also I like the works of Stewart Lee and Laurel and Hardy.

Most embarrassing moment?

I’m a performer, I have a tendency to feel embarrassed about everything.

Sean Connery or Daniel Craig?

I’d say neither preferably.

Beauty is?

Manifold if you’re an open person.

Laurel and Hardy make Peter laugh.