My London: Lionel Blair

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Living Coombe - between Richmond and Kingston.

Eating I quite like buzzy places. I do love the Ivy. And Rules, on Maiden Lane, WC2.

Drinking I'm a bit of a social drinker, I drink when there's a party. Two V&Ts and I'm anybody's.

Dancing I always have to say to the ladies that I only dance with my wife - if I say yes to one they all want to dance with me. I go to the Variety Club Ball or the Water Rats Ball - big dos like that.

Exercising I'm a lax gym-goer in Richmond. Being in a pantomime is good exercise as we do two performances a day.

Working I'm currently in pantomime in Wimbledon. I'm never happy unless I'm working - I've been doing P&O cruises and I do love cruising.

Learning Every job I do when I work with new people. I learned how to dance from Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Every play I do, I do with luvvies and they all think, 'What's this light-entertainment person doing in a play?' But I learn from them.

Dressing I'm a shopaholic and I love a bargain. I love the Harrods sale and T.K. Max. And I'm very fortunate as Alexandre's tailors of Savile Row make all my suits and have done for years.

Walking I like window-shopping while I walk. And I walk my dogs every day in Richmond Park, watching the deer and watching my dogs.

Rummaging When you go to T.K. Max you have to rummage and sometimes you find something lovely that fits you and are thrilled. Lots Road is fabulous for antiques.

Romance Husbands always take their wives to dinner so I take mine to lunch. It's like she's the secretary and I'm the boss and it's very romantic. Then I book a motel.

Escaping I stay at home a lot and watch every soap there is. American soaps are so wonderfully dreadful.

Collecting I'm a hoarder. I've got about 100 shirts and I like wearing my own things when I'm working.

Inspiring I love London - when you go away and come back to the London skyline. And people that go for it. What Kenneth Branagh did from just being a luvvie to having his own production company - I really admire that.

Dreaming I daydream a lot. I'd love to do more movies. I dream that Steven Spielberg rings me up and says, 'Lionel, can you come and do a film?' And I dream of being Dr Who as I think I'd make a good one.

Avoiding Certain people that I've worked with. I've reached the age now where I think 'no, I don't want to be with them'. I've learned how to say 'no, I don't want to do that'.

 

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