The Actor's Revealing Playlist: From Early Loves to Peculiar Dislikes

The initial track I fell in love with
My first memory is stepping into a space at nursery school where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was captivated by the audio textures, and John Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the chorus, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first record I bought
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to choose a new vinyl to play at the small dance we had on Fridays. My teacher took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first single I bought with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Lancashire. It was topping the charts at the time, and I chose it when my dad mentioned that it was by one of the Beatles.

The song I sing at karaoke
I frankly actively avoid public singing and avoid it at all costs. But if forced, I’d choose Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The piece I oddly remember each line to
I just became aware that I know pretty much every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and the entire album on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The best tune to put on at a gathering
It relies on which phase of the evening you are at. Early doors it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d move on to Prince, the Stones and David Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by Leftfield, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an undeniable hit.

The number I can not hear
I inexplicably cannot stand Mr Brightside by the Killers.

The ideal song to have sex to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The album that transformed me
When I was 12 and starting to study the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock and roll, and was fixated on Elvis, Chuck Berry, the killer, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and the rockabilly star. Then my childminder introduced me to Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was electrifying rock ’n’roll. As soon as he dropped the vinyl on the record player, I was a fan for life.

The track that gets me up in the AM
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by The Genius.

The song that makes me cry
All music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Elvis and the Fab Four all stir my emotions because of the melody and sheer brilliance of the singing. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord every time.

The music I’d like to be played at my memorial service
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.