Alastair Campbell goes Back to School: ‘Getting drunk wasn’t as funny as it seems at the time’

As part of the i newspaper's new campaign to encourage state school students to return to school to offer careers advice, we asked Alastair the following questions...

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Alastair Campbell, 56-year-old journalist, political aide and author, City of Leicester college, 1969 to 1975

As a teenager, what did you want to be when you were older?

A professional sportsman.

How did you get into the career you’re in now?

Through training as a journalist and then going into politics.

Is there anything you wish you’d known when you were younger?

That getting drunk wasn't as funny as it seemed at the time.

What advice would you give to young people starting out?

Aim high, ignore the cynics.

What was the best/worst careers advice you received at school?

Best - don't worry about what you're going to do when you're older.

What turned out to be the biggest advantage for you of a state education rather than private?

Mixing with people from varied backgrounds, understanding that class structure is the curse of Britain not its cure.

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