The house I grew up in... It was a brick built 3 bedroom semi detached council house in Thornhill, Dewsbury. It was a council house, but slap bang on the edge of the Yorkshire countryside and I used to go off walking on my own, building dams in streams and scrumping for apples.
When I was a child I wanted to be... a lawyer, a singer and a war reporter. Oh, and Kylie Minogue’s husband.
The moment that changed me for ever... My 32nd birthday – it was the day that I met my wife.
My greatest inspiration... Professionally, Michael Broadbent
My real-life villain... producers who over inflate their wine prices based on Parker points
My style icon... well people say my style is a bit like Jeremy Clarkson
If I could change one thing about myself... I’d like to lose a few pounds…
At night I dream of... counting potatoes
My favourite wine ever was... 1955 Grahams Port
My favourite wine ever was... 1955 Grahams Port
My favourite item of clothing... my cashmere jacket that I got married in
I wish I'd never worn... a Tweety Bird tie when I was 20 – comedy clothes are only for people without a sense of humour or physics lecturers
It's not fashionable but I like... Seventies British Leyland cars, Cliff Richard’s early music
You wouldn't know it but I'm very good at... stripping down old Minis! I have stripped them down for parts so often that I can pretty much do it blindfold
You may not know it but I'm no good at... making custard. I always burn it, make it lumpy and simply ruin it in every way shape and form.
If I have time to myself... sleep, watch crappy American sitcoms, write my blog
I drive... a silver VW Bora 1.6 that constantly gets splashed by the sea and ends up sticky and smelling like fish. I long for a classic car or a Land Rover Defender
My house is... a lovely little 1 bedroom cottage overlooking the sea. The only downside is that it doesn’t have central heating, but it does have an open fire.
If I could do anything, it would be… I’d love to run an Indianapolis 500 winning racing team and win that race with a British driver in the car.
My most valuable possessions are... the stuffed toys I had as a child
My favourite building... my house, the Seattle Space Needle and Quinta da Macedos.
Movie heaven... I love a war film, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings and fifties & sixties musicals
A book that changed me... the Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13 ¾ as it inspired me to start writing.
My favourite work of art... I quite like Banksy
The last album I bought/downloaded...The Rise and Fall of the Puppini Sisters
My favourite song... Sh-Boom by anyone who does it properly or Apache by The Shadows
My favourite song... Sh-Boom by anyone who does it properly or Apache by The Shadows
The person who really makes me laugh... Billy Connolly, Ronnie Barker, Top Gear, Morecambe & Wise & Neil Patrick Harris in How I met your mother
The shops I can't walk past... wine shops – I always have to go in.
The best invention ever... the toaster. Toast is a forgotten food of the gods, and the machine that prevents you from having to faff around with grills has to be the best invention ever.
In 10 years' time, I hope to be... still alive and running my own wine shop.
My greatest regret... not getting my degree. It would make every career decision I’ve made a lot easier.
My life in three words... Just about perfect
My three guests at my dream dinner party & what would we be drinking… excluding family and friends, Dean Martin, Winston Churchill and Stephen Fry. I’d just sit back and drink wine with Deano and watch the great minds of Churchill and Fry discuss everything under the sun. And as for the drinks, it would be the great vintages of Ducru Beaucaillou, Pol Roger 1928 Grauves, some century old Ports and (because I have to try it one day) 1945 Mouton Rothschild.
A life in brief
Born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, on 9th June 1978, I work for Luvians Bottle Shop and write the blog, The Tasting Note. I worked at Oddbins for four years and was told on my last day that “I was not cut out for retail” and then went on to rejuvenate one of Scotland’s leading wine merchants. I live with my wife in Fife, Scotland. I'm a member of the Circle of Wine Writers.
