The Actor's Honest Playlist: Starting with Childhood Loves to Unexplained Aversions

The earliest song I was captivated by
My first memory is stepping into a room at nursery school where they were spinning Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon shouting: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the hook, I distinctly thought: “This must be music!”

The very first 45 I purchased
When I was eight years old, I was victorious in a competition at school to pick a new record to play at the small dance we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I picked out Come Back My Love by Darts. The first single I purchased with my own pocket money was Mull of Kintyre by Paul McCartney's Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was number one at the time, and I selected it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The tune I perform at sing-along
I honestly cannot stand public singing and steer clear at all costs. But if forced, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I oddly know every lyric to
I recently realised that I know almost every word to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and every song on Graceland by the legendary songwriter.

The ideal song to blast at a gathering
It hinges on the point of the event you are at. At the start it would probably be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by the soul legend. As the party deepens, I’d transition into Prince, the Rolling Stones and Bowie, and when it really kicks off, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by Gorillaz, which is an absolute banger.

The song I can not hear
I for some reason detest Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The ultimate piece to get intimate to
Come Together by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

The LP that altered my perspective
When I was 12 and just learning to learn the guitar, I’d only listen to 1950s rock and roll, and was consumed by Elvis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran. Then my childminder played Let There Be Rock by the Australian rockers. It was still rock’n’roll, but it was high voltage rock music. The moment he put the vinyl on the turntable, I was captivated.

The track that gets me up in the morning
What’d I Say parts 1 & 2 by Ray Charles.

The track that gets me emotional
Virtually any music leaves me touched. The Queen of Soul, The Chairman of the Board, Presley and the Fab Four all bring a tear to my eye because of the harmony and sheer beauty of the singing. But The Ocean by Richard Hawley hits me hard consistently.

The track I’d like performed at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m buried, I’ll have Way Down.