My Secret Life: Dermot O'Leary, broadcaster

Dermot O'Leary was born on 24 May, 1973, in Colchester. He was an altar boy and attended Catholic schools. His first job was as a radio DJ for BBC Essex. Currently the presenter of Channel 4's Big Brother's Little Brother, he lives in north London with his girlfriend. A compilation of extracts from his Radio 2 programme, The Saturday Sessions from the Dermot O'Leary Show, is out now on EMI.

The soundtrack to my life: There's a great song on Bruce Springsteen's The Wild, The Innocent and the E Street Shuffle called "Meeting Across the River" which is about a last chance for a small-time hood. I always used to play it when I got dumped – it just always made me feel hopeful.

You may not know it but I'm very good at: American Football. Weird I know, but I played it between the ages of 15 and 24. I loved it; I think I can run quite fast.

A book that changed me: Band of Brothers by Stephen E Ambrose. As an Irishman, I never grew up with the traditional grandfather-in-the-war stories but this made me realise how a whole generation made the ultimate sacrifice. I like to think I've always had a respect for my elders but this book reinforced it.

Movie heaven: Jaws was my first favourite movie. The very first time I saw it, I was so scared that my grandfather hit the telly with his stick to prove he could kill the shark.

Comfort eating: Sausages and mash. I live near the best butchers: F Godfrey in Highbury. They do a sausage called "The Director's", truly something else.

I wish I'd never worn: When I worked as a researcher on Light Lunch I finally started to make money and got a terrible bolero-style denim jacket. My friend Drew, who to this day is my style barometer, ribbed me and I never wore it again.

All my money goes on: My Arsenal season ticket – and eating out, of course.

At night I dream of: I used to dream that I was on a rollercoaster and that my teeth kept falling out. Analyse that!

My favourite building: The Monument, the most underrated of London's tourist attractions. I love the story behind it – and, at the time, what an amazing feat of engineering!

My biggest regret: That I constantly fail to live up to the rule: "Think like a man of action, act like a man of thought".

It's not fashionable, but I like: Mackerel is the greatest fish; beats the shit out of sea bass any day.

If I wasn't me I'd like to be: Bob Harris. I work with him at Radio 2, and he's a true gentleman.

The shop I can't walk past: the Monmouth Coffee House in Covent Garden and the Paul Smith shop round the corner – those shoes!