FIRST IMPRESSIONS: WARWICK DAVIS
What are you working on at the moment?
It’s tricky: sometimes, as an actor, because I can’t tell a lot of people what I’m doing, I feel a bit like I’m in MI5. It’s a really weird business to be in. So I am working on things at the moment but I can’t talk about them.
When are you at your happiest?
When I’m sitting at home with the family watching Columbo on the TV – like a really sad individual. Or when I’m in the Lake District.
What is your greatest fear?
What a cruel question. There’s so many things you could say. I think it’s getting some sort of illness.
What is your earliest memory?
I think it is when I swallowed a pin and it got stuck in my tonsils, then being taken to hospital on my mum’s knee in the front seat of a car.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I don’t like the way I procrastinate. I put things off. I always take the path with the least resistance.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My parents when I was younger, but over the years, it would be my wife.
What is your most treasured possession?
Our campervan. It’s a VW T5, which is the newest one. I always say it is the best thing we ever bought. Even when we’re not using it I always keep it clean in the driveway. If I had to get rid of everything, that’s the one thing I’d hang on to.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
People who just can’t be bothered. Everything I do I give 100 per cent to and I can’t understand why some people don’t.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The fact that I’m losing my hair now is a little bit worrying – and my face is getting larger.
What is your all-time favourite book?
The Guinness Book Of World Records. That’s the book I loved as a child. I used to get one every year – it’s a pick-up and put-down kind of book.
What is your favourite film?
Planes, Trains And Automobiles – I could watch it so many times, I love John Candy.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
It’s quite obscure, but The Low Places by Jon Hopkins. He’s one of my favourite artists.
And your favourite meal?
Chicken and mushroom pie with shortcrust pastry, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, in a white sauce.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Karl Pilkington and Suzanne [his wife]. I’d like Will Ferrell, Joey Chase and Eric Idle. I’d also get Steve Coogan to come over. I’ve gone for comedy people – I bet most people pick politicians.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
I don’t often take it in. I’m really lucky – I don’t think I’m in denial, either. Do you believe in aliens? Yes.
What is your secret vice?
It’s not that secret, but it’s chocolate digestives. I keep trying to mention them everywhere so I can get some free ones – McVitie’s Dark Chocolate Digestives.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Yes, or emails. Which phrase do you most overuse? ‘Cheers’.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
If they un-invented email.
Tell us something that we don’t know about you.
I can’t swim. Even though you see a lot of films where I’m near water, and I do stuff with boats and everything, I literally could sink. I have this weird buoyancy thing – I sink like a stone.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘Actor, who just happened to be short’.
Warwick Davis hosts the new series of Celebrity Squares from 10 September at 8pm on ITV.
It’s tricky: sometimes, as an actor, because I can’t tell a lot of people what I’m doing, I feel a bit like I’m in MI5. It’s a really weird business to be in. So I am working on things at the moment but I can’t talk about them.
When are you at your happiest?
When I’m sitting at home with the family watching Columbo on the TV – like a really sad individual. Or when I’m in the Lake District.
What is your greatest fear?
What a cruel question. There’s so many things you could say. I think it’s getting some sort of illness.
What is your earliest memory?
I think it is when I swallowed a pin and it got stuck in my tonsils, then being taken to hospital on my mum’s knee in the front seat of a car.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I don’t like the way I procrastinate. I put things off. I always take the path with the least resistance.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My parents when I was younger, but over the years, it would be my wife.
What is your most treasured possession?
Our campervan. It’s a VW T5, which is the newest one. I always say it is the best thing we ever bought. Even when we’re not using it I always keep it clean in the driveway. If I had to get rid of everything, that’s the one thing I’d hang on to.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
People who just can’t be bothered. Everything I do I give 100 per cent to and I can’t understand why some people don’t.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
The fact that I’m losing my hair now is a little bit worrying – and my face is getting larger.
What is your all-time favourite book?
The Guinness Book Of World Records. That’s the book I loved as a child. I used to get one every year – it’s a pick-up and put-down kind of book.
What is your favourite film?
Planes, Trains And Automobiles – I could watch it so many times, I love John Candy.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
It’s quite obscure, but The Low Places by Jon Hopkins. He’s one of my favourite artists.
And your favourite meal?
Chicken and mushroom pie with shortcrust pastry, mashed potatoes, peas and carrots, in a white sauce.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Karl Pilkington and Suzanne [his wife]. I’d like Will Ferrell, Joey Chase and Eric Idle. I’d also get Steve Coogan to come over. I’ve gone for comedy people – I bet most people pick politicians.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
I don’t often take it in. I’m really lucky – I don’t think I’m in denial, either. Do you believe in aliens? Yes.
What is your secret vice?
It’s not that secret, but it’s chocolate digestives. I keep trying to mention them everywhere so I can get some free ones – McVitie’s Dark Chocolate Digestives.
Do you write thank-you notes?
Yes, or emails. Which phrase do you most overuse? ‘Cheers’.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
If they un-invented email.
Tell us something that we don’t know about you.
I can’t swim. Even though you see a lot of films where I’m near water, and I do stuff with boats and everything, I literally could sink. I have this weird buoyancy thing – I sink like a stone.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘Actor, who just happened to be short’.
Warwick Davis hosts the new series of Celebrity Squares from 10 September at 8pm on ITV.