The 5-minute Interview: Tony Hadley, Radio DJ

'The music business is cut-throat. You are surrounded by sharks'

Tony Hadley, 47, is the former lead singer of the '80s band Spandau Ballet. He now presents Party Classics with Tony Hadley on Virgin Radio.

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

In the car on my way to a business meeting. It's always business.

A phrase I use far too often is...

"Tickety-boo." I don't know where that comes from; I guess it means everything is OK, cool.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Each other. There is far too much aggression and violence in society and people should be kinder to one another.

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

Surviving in the music business. It's cut-throat and you are surrounded by sharks.

A common misperception of me is...

That I am aloof and stand-offish. I think it comes from the Spandau days. Our look was very serious, angry young men who wanted to take over the world.

I am not a politician but...

If I were, I would be completely honest with the public. I would love to see a politician who really loves his country and is working for the people and not for him or herself.

I'm good at...

Singing, or at least I hope I am, anyway. I'm also good at horse-riding and skiing.

I'm very bad at...

Detail. In business, I can get the big picture, thebig ideas, but not the finer details. I am good at delegating, however, and trusting the people to whom I do delegate.

The ideal night out is...

A meal at a great Italian restaurant with my friends and family.

In moments of weakness I...

Panic. Life is all about making mistakes though and learning from them.

You know me as a singer and a DJ but in another life I'd have been...

A doctor. Before I went into the music business I wanted to be a surgeon.

The best age to be is...

The age you are now.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this:

Be happy and try not to offend anyone.

Emma Joy Carroll