Des O'Connor's London

Yes, he likes the Ivy and the Palladium. But the Stepney-born entertainer and TV host is also a sports nut who once took Buddy Holly shopping in Denmark Street.

The singer has released his thirty sixth album, 'Inspired' and recently received a CBE for a lifetime of services to showbiz.

What's your favourite neighbourhood?

I was born in the East End, worked a lot in the West End, lived south of the river and then moved north of the river. So you could say I'm a Londoner one way or another. I must admit, though, I do love London at night-time, there's a real buzz about it.

Your favourite building?

I had a nice day there last year with a certain lady who pinned something to my chest... Des meets the Queen and explains his fondness for Buckingham Palace

Maybe Buckingham Palace. I had a nice day there last year with a certain lady who pinned something to my chest. It was the Queen, and she did actually say to me, "Thank you for the many hours of enjoyable entertainment". Imagine, that was the Queen... and me!

Most hated building?

Most of them only enhance the skyline of London, don't they? There's a big office block gone up in front of St Paul's Cathedral, and I know we have to have them for the sake of commerce, but I wouldn't have thought that was an ideal situation.

Best view in London?

"There's a romance there", says Des about Waterloo Bridge

There's no doubt about that in my mind, none whatsoever. It's Waterloo Bridge at night on a warm evening. Have a look on both sides of the river at all the twinkling lights. There's a romance there. "London by night is a wonderful sight", I wish I'd written that.

Favourite open space?

A park obviously. I live near Regent's Park and I used to take my daughter there to the sandpit. Now I take my young son to the zoo, to the same sandpit and same playground.

Most interesting shop?

I don't shop much, my wife does. But I did once take Buddy Holly to Denmark Street to buy a guitar. It was a music shop called Maurice Plaquet. It's no longer there and I wish it was because Buddy gave me back that guitar after the tour we did together, and I'd like to have the sale authenticated. If anyone's listening from Maurice Plaquet, can you get in touch please?

Favourite pub, bar or restaurant?

I know you're going to go, oh no, but I love the Ivy. The reason is, apart from being able to get a table, I like fish and chips and mushy peas, and they know what I love to eat. It's always consistently good food in there.

Most memorable night out?

It's to do with my career, if you don't mind. I'd been asked to do An Audience With... in front of the usual celebrity crowd, and I didn't fancy it. Then I said, hang on Des, you've been rehearsing for this for 40 years.

So I went on and I did it and did 97 minutes non-stop and the bar ran out of booze. And they said, no-one's done this before, gone on so long that the bar's run out of drink. All my family were there, and going on and getting a standing ovation was really nice. It was wonderful.

How would you spend your ideal day off in London?

Sports fans are "spoiled in London" with venues like Lord's

We're spoiled in London, aren't we? If you're a tennis fan, you've got Wimbledon. For football, there's Wembley or top grounds like Arsenal and Chelsea. And if you're a cricket fan, there's Lord's and the Oval. I'm a big sports fan and I'd probably go to a sporting event and have a sporting day out... followed by dinner at the Ivy with the family.

They call me 'Heineken' on the golf course by the way, because I can reach parts of the course other people can't.

Where would you take a visitor to London?

You'd go to the usual places wouldn't you, like St Paul's, the Tower and Buckingham Palace. I'd like to go somewhere unusual for a change, like Stepney, though, to show them where I was born. Mind you, I haven't been back for 10 years and there were still some holes in the road where the houses used to be before the war.

The worst journey you've had to make in London?

I had to get to a TV show once and I should have gone to the boys room before I got into the car, but I was running late. Then I look at the petrol gauge and thought, oh no, I'm going to run out of petrol. Now I'm late for the show and I can definitely do with a wee, and I'm stuck in a traffic jam.

As it happened, whatever was holding us up cleared up ahead and we got through. It was a pretty hairy experience, though, and not one to repeat. Definitely not.

Your personal London landmark?

Wherever you go, they're there. But it would have to be the Palladium. You stand there and you're standing on the spot where Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Bob Hope, Danny Kaye, they were all there, all on the same spot. It does have wonderful memories for me.

Your favourite fictional Londoner?

Favourite fictional Londoner Del Boy reminds Des of his father

It would have to be Del Boy. My father was a dustman and when he couldn't get any work, he and a couple of mates would go to Hackney Wick dogs, and they'd wait for a losing punter to come out and throw his programme away.

Dad and his mates would iron it, put it into a pile with three or four others and flog it on to other people coming in. If he made enough money, he'd climb over the wall and put a bet on. If he won, you had dinner for the family that night. It's just like Del Boy.

Favourite London film, book or documentary?

You've got to go and see Oliver!, the musical. It's just fantastic and I can see it running forever, much like Dickens himself.

Which time period in London, past or future, would you like to go to?

I'd like to go back to the Sixties. I really enjoyed that period of my life. Some of the best pop music like the Beatles, Abba and the Bee Gees was getting going back then. I'm corny enough to enjoy all that. Staying Alive, that's just fantastic, isn't it?