A Cup Of Tea With
Pete Waterman
record producer and songwriter Pete waterman OBe, 70, has written and produced many hits, including kylie Minogue’s I Should Be So Lucky. he’s single and has homes in cheshire and london.
How do you take your tea?
Proper builder’s tea, true to my working-class roots. Milk, but no sugar. I prefer Yorkshire Tea.
Who would you most like to have a cup of tea with?
I’m fanatical about history. I read and watch everything I can if there’s a historical element, so I’d love to have a cup of tea with Winston Churchill. He’s the one person who’d know the truth of everything that went on in the war years and beyond.
You turned 70 this year, what’s the best thing about getting older?
It’s not your joints creaking, that’s for certain. The weirdest thing is, in my head I still think I’m 18! The nicest thing is having 65 years of memories. Some things you remember and have a good laugh about, others you cry at. But having that wealth of memory is wonderful.
It’s 30 years since you wrote I Should Be So Lucky. Do you consider yourself a lucky man?
Ooh, without question! Somebody up there loves me. I look back at where I started, I mean, I had a fantastic childhood with great parents, but we didn’t have a penny. My dad worked on the railways earning less than £20 a week. There were times my mum struggled to put a meal on the table. But look at my life! It’s been amazing. I’ve had tragedies, of course – I lost one of my sons and I’ve been divorced three times. Overall though, I’ve been very, very lucky.
Are you planning on retiring soon?
No! To be honest, nobody works harder than me. People say ‘workaholic’ like it’s a disease. But I love it. Mind you, I’m not as driven as my pal Simon Cowell. He doesn’t have what I have, like interests outside of work – he’s totally focused.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever done?
I did all sorts of things before I got into the music business and without a doubt being a gravedigger was the worst. Me and shovels don’t get on! I was
17, in between jobs and thought my mum wouldn’t be happy if I wasn’t working, so I took the job. I lasted about five minutes! My mum said, ‘I don’t know why you took that in the first place.’ So I probably should have spoken to her beforehand.
As a lifelong railway enthusiast, is there any journey in particular you’d love to take?
Yes, I’d love to go on the train from Coventry to Rhyl like I did with my parents when I was one in 1947. I don’t remember that journey, but there must have been something that sparked the all-time passion I’ve had.
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