What was your first car?
My first car was the old style of VW Polo, a 1.2, in a beautiful dusky Royal blue - I am not sure that’s what the VW colour chart called it, but it’s certainly how I described it.
How many times did it take to pass your test?
This is embarrassing. I passed my theory test first time, but took five attempts to actually pass the practical one!
Who would be your ideal fantasy passenger and where would you go?
I’d like to say Dame Edna, but I fear I may crash due to laughing too hard and not focusing on the road ahead. Can we be chauffeured or do I have to drive? Ideally we’d drive somewhere fairly far away so I capitalised on her humour and wisdom. Should Dame Edna not be available, I’d go with another Dame – Maggie Smith, below.
What is your dream car?
People laugh at me when I say this but I would really like a VW Passat in British racing green or dark navy. Is that boring? Perhaps. Fast cars don’t really float my boat. I’m more worried about the colour and whether it looks nice in the Waitrose car park.
How would you describe your driving style?
When I’m with others I think I am fairly sedate, but on my own I can sometimes be a little erratic, I feel.
Tell me one driving anecdote from your past?
I would have passed my test first time had I not then my hand off the wheel to thank a lorry driver who let me out at a junction … so I literally failed for being too polite. My driving instructor, Jim Pratt, was very patient with me, despite my repeated failure.
What are you listening to?
It’s all about Radio 2 for me. Ken Bruce, above, has such a gloriously camp and varied playlist, and hands-over to the more serious yet irreverent Jeremy Vine, before 'The Big Show' in the afternoon. I do occasionally listen to my own music selection. I am particularly fond of Earth, Wind and Fire’s back catalogue.
What do you drive now?
I have really pushed the boat out in the nine years I have been driving and am still driving a VW Polo, but the new style. To be honest, I am so often out of the country I rarely drive and I just need something functional to pootle around Manchester, running errands. When I get to visit my family in the south west I am allowed to drive the Range Rover Sport, which is a far different experience to the Polo, although I find the heated seats get far too heated for my liking.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here