A Quick Chat With: Austin Healey

'People think I’m a loud-mouthed gob-shite'

Austin Healey is not a brand of British sports car. He’s actually an ex-English rugby union player from Merseyside, who played for the Leicester Tigers.

His rugby footwork put him in good stead for a successful run in ITV’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2008, and he made it to the quarter-finals.

These days he’s more likely to be found running after his four daughters, all of whom are under ten.

The Independent Online caught up with Healey, nicknamed 'the Leicester Lip,' for a quick chat:

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be... hmm...at 11 am? I’d be doing some kind of work. Either paper work or I'd be in the gym. I don’t really have a standard week, so it’s difficult to say.

A phrase I use far too often... is ‘If you don’t stop doing that you’re going to your room.’ At any one of my four naughty daughters.

I wish people would take more notice of... other people.

A common misperception of me is... I’m a loud-mouthed gob-shite.

The most surprising thing that ever happened to me was... being asked to go on Strictly Come Dancing, to be honest.

The most surprising thing about me is... I’m taller than people expect. Honest.

I'm not a politician but... I could be if I had less common sense.

I'm good at... that’s a hard one to answer isn’t it? You just sound like a bit of a knob whatever you say. I think I’m good at being a dad. Being a young dad.

But I'm very bad at... being a young dad.

My ideal night out is... actually a quiet night in with my wife, having a nice romantic meal.

In moments of weakness I... get a bit down, I think.

My view about Facebook and Twitter is... I’ve just started on Twitter and I don’t really understand it. I think it is designed for lonely, insecure people -which I sometimes am. I don’t have Facebook. I can understand that Facebook’s great for people who want to speak to their friends without actually paying for it, but other than that I don’t see the point of it.

The best age to be is... when you’re a kid. Before the age of ten when the world starts to effect you.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is... treat others how you’d like to be treated. And have as many life experiences as you can, whether you can afford them or not.

Austin Healey is supporting Dolmio’s ‘Taste of Italy Indulgence Campaign’, encouraging couples to spend more quality time together and enjoy a special meal in. For more information visit dolmio.co.uk