Quotes

Marillion ... where are they now? And who cares anyway?

[on working as a DJ on Radio One] There was a time when you could go for hours without playing anything with a guitar in it and it was just wall-to-wall dance. But I think in the six months before I left it was actually becoming more and more enjoyable and there were more and more new guitar bands coming through and I was enjoying it as much as ever.

I always thought as a kid working at Radio 1 would be the most fun and the best place for any presenter to work and I still think that's true.

[on Doctor Who (1963)] David Tennant was my favourite: the past Doctors were fine for their time but, compared with what David did, they all look a bit weak and cheesy.

Paul Weller has a definite aura of stardom about him. This is obviously due to his catalogue of hits over 4 decades, his air of 'cool' and the critical response to his current work. But part of it I think is because he is not an easy interview!

I'm a Paul Simon completist and so therefore, if Paul's done another track, then I need to own it somehow to add to the collection.

[on Peter Gabriel's "Biko"] It is an extraordinarily potent song still. I was at university when this came out and I was sharing a room with a guy from Swaziland. I bought the 12-inch of Biko and put it on and it has all the chanting at the beginning, and as soon as I put it on, Temba, who took no notice of my musical taste normally, he thought it was rubbish, and I put on Biko and the chanting started, and he looked up and said "They're singing in my language."

[on Peter Gabriel] No Self Control still, undoubtedly a wonderful track, I just think that's a fantastic track, but Biko is such a standout track.

[on "Boys of Summer" by Don Henley] Fantastic track.

Shocked to hear of Mike Smith's death today. Condolences to Sarah and all his family. When we joined Radio 1 in 86, he was the guy who had it all. His breakfast show was a shiny, sparkly thing, a must-listen.

[on Interstellar (2014)] The first soundtrack I've downloaded since Mary Poppins (1964).