The 5-minute Interview: Les Dennis, TV presenter

'There's a danger that we are losing the ability to communicate'

Les Dennis, 54, is a television presenter and actor best known for his 15-year stint hosting 'Family Fortunes'. His autobiography 'Must the Show Go On?' is out next month, published by Orion.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Walking along Holkham Beach in Norfolk. It's my favourite part of the British coastline.

I wish people would take more notice of...

I wish people would listen rather than rush around in their own world. There's a danger that we are becoming stuck in a bubble and losing the ability to communicate.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

Discovering last year that I would become a father for the second time. It was a lovely surprise that I didn't see coming at all. We had been trying for a baby and as a present, my girlfriend Claire gave me a Baby-gro with "I love my daddy" written on it. I told her not to tempt fate, without realising she meant she was pregnant.

A common misconception of me is...

That I'm miserable. It's because of all the "Les Miserables" headlines. People still don't realise that I'm much happier than I was back then.

I am not a politician, but...

I love to get on my hobby horse about the obvious issues but I know I wouldn't do better than anyone else. It annoys me how expensive it is to live in London, but I think that annoys everyone.

In another life I'd have been...

I wish I'd gone to university. I had the opportunity to go to Oxford but by then I'd already started as a comedian.

I'm good at...

My job. It's probably because I enjoy what I do so much and it's diverse. I've done acting, comedy, presenting, and people will shortly be able to tell me if I'm any good at writing. I'm also good at taking risks. Extras was a really good risk to take. Celebrity Big Brother was not.

I'm bad at...

Dieting. As I've got a bit older I've put on a bit of weight, especially because I love eating.

In moments of weakness, I...

Go to the cookie jar. That's linked to what I'm bad at.

The ideal night out is...

The theatre, then dinner.

The best age to be is...

The age I am now. It's been a tough journey with lots of ups and downs. I've been good at surviving.

My philosophy is ...

Be true to yourself. Try your best not to let others down, and don't do anything that will lose you sleep at night.

Charlie Radcliffe