This Cultural Life: Russell T Davies

What was your cultural passion at 14?

It was television, really - still is, I haven't changed. I used to come home from school, switch the telly on, and it would stay on until close-down.

What were your favourite programmes?

Doctor Who, obviously! It's why I'm doing this job: I absolutely love it. Soaps as well. I had marvellous parents who never stopped me watching anything. I loved watching I, Claudius and Pennies From Heaven I was 13, 14, and I remember, the thing about I, Claudius with all its murders and orgies was that everyone from school watched it. It's quite hard to imagine it now: kids were walking around the yard at the comprehensive school talking about what the Roman emperors were up to.

What do you cling on to from childhood?

Doctor Who, I suppose. Coronation Street as well, because my sister watched that and I still watch it every week. I'm not a fan; it's just ingrained. I love it.

What are you reading in bed at the moment?

I've just finished reading The Prisoner of Trebekistan. It's the story of a man who devoted his life to getting on the quiz show, Jeopardy, in America. It's absolutely fascinating: it's about his life, his obsession with the quiz show, and about his falling in love during his time on the show.

Do you ever buy books in a fit of enthusiasm and never get round to reading them?

I do. Everything is Illuminated: I started it but it's hard work! Everyone says it's brilliant but it's hard work. Not that I'm afraid of hard work, but I suspect you've got to start it properly and get into the rhythm of it. I'm only on page two! I never give up on things.

Do you hate to give up on a book?

Yes, absolutely. I can't give up on books ever, even if I've hated them. It's a commitment and I probably wouldn't have bought it in the first place if I thought I was going to give up on it. Oh no, I tell a lie! Have you ever read a Minette Walters book? Fucking terrible. They're the worst written books I've ever read, and I chucked one of those halfway through. I threw it in the bin. Rubbish! It's terribly written. Oh, and The Da Vinci Code. How did he become a multi-millionaire from that? They kept getting trapped in buildings and then they just escape through the back door. They're trapped in the cathedral, they're trapped in the airport but, of course, they escape through the back door. It's terrible.

Do you re-read?

Almost never. I can't. I suppose I did when I was a teenager just because we didn't have so many books in the house and my mother had a lot of Agatha Christies and I suppose I'd re-read them just because they were there. But no, I can't think that I've ever done that.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

The Mika album. Lovely! Very Scissor Sisters, and I think he's the sexiest man. That helps! He's got lovely, curly hair, which does help.

What is the least disposable pop song?

I think Pulp's "Common People". I love that song. I remember hearing that for the first time and thinking, that's an instant classic. And it's still brilliant. It builds to a massive climax. A perfect song.

What would be your ideal alternative job? And the realistic alternative?

A cartoonist, because I used to do graphics and I was very good at art. I used to work at the BBC in the graphics department, doing Jackanory-type stories for them. Everything is on computer now and I wouldn't even know where to begin now I'm in my forties but I would have loved that as a career. I still draw lots at home. Just doodling really. I think the realistic alternative would be graphic design - designing magazines.

Do you have a hole in your cultural life?

Opera: I've been to two operas in my life and in both of them I left in the interval. And I never do that: I've never left a play in the interval, I've never left a film, but I could not stand it. When I saw the last one in Cardiff, a friend had said, "I'm going to make you come along and love this", and I had to stop myself leaving in the middle of the first act. When I said in the interval, "I'm going", I actually ran out of the building. I can't stand it.

Do you have a secret cultural passion?

It's not secret particularly, but I absolutely worship the Peanuts cartoon strip. I still think it's one of the finest cultural artefacts made in the 20th century, and not just all fluffy stuff: it's really quite dark. My aim in life would be to own an original Charles M Schulz drawing. I have his signature on a print but I'd love an original drawing. You find some on eBay but I just don't believe they're real.

Do you consider yourself a cool person?

No! Does anyone say yes? Not remotely, I'm 43 - getting old. I think there was a little glimmering moment when I wrote Queer as Folk, a little tiny moment of being in the cool spotlight, but not for long.

Who should play you in the Hollywood version of your life?

I think - although this is a load of bollocks - I look a little bit like Tim Robbins. He's good, he's marvellous, his politics are sound and he's a good man. That would be fantastic. People say, you look a bit like him and normally you can't see it but I think, oooh, I can see it actually. So hooray!

Who would be your nemesis in the final reel?

Oh, blimey. Time! Hooded cold figure of time.

Your house is on fire. What one item do you save from the flames?

Absolutely nothing. I've thought about it and there is nothing I can think of that I would go back for. No way - not if you were going to die!

You die and go to heaven. Who would you like to meet at the bar and what would you ask them?

I would like to meet James Dean, and I would ask him out on a date. That would be so much like heaven. I think he'd be troubled, tormented - gay as a goose!

The new series of 'Doctor Who' starts on 31 March at 7pm on BBC One