The Actor's Honest Playlist: From Early Loves to Unexplained Aversions

The first tune I was captivated by
My most primal memory is entering a space at preschool where they were playing Yellow Submarine by the Beatles. I was enthralled by the sonic landscape, and Lennon bellowing: “Full speed ahead!” When it got to the refrain, I remember thinking: “This must be music!”

The first single I purchased
When I was eight, I won a contest at school to pick a new vinyl to play at the weekly dance party we had on Friday afternoons. My instructor took me to a local store, and I chose Come Back My Love by the group Darts. The first record I bought with my own allowance was Mull of Kintyre by Wings from a record shop in Colne. It was No 1 at the time, and I chose it when my dad pointed out that it was by a former member of the Beatles.

The track I sing at karaoke
I frankly cannot stand public singing and avoid it at all costs. But under duress, I’d go with Summer Wind by Ol' Blue Eyes.

The song I oddly know every lyric to
I recently discovered that I can recall almost all the lyrics to The Boy in the Bubble, You Can Call Me Al, and each track on Graceland by Paul Simon.

The perfect tune to play at a soirée
It relies on what stage of the event you are at. At the start it would most likely be I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye. As the evening progresses, I’d transition into Prince, the Stones and Bowie, and when it hits its peak, Phat Planet by the electronic act, Born Slippy .NUXX by Underworld, and Ascension by the virtual band, which is an massive track.

The track I can not listen to
I for some reason loathe Mr Brightside by the Las Vegas band.

The best piece to make love to
Come Together by the Beatles.

The record that transformed me
When I was 12 and just learning to play the guitar, I’d only listen to classic rock ’n’roll, and was fixated on The King, the rock pioneer, Jerry Lee Lewis, the New Orleans legend, the glasses-wearing icon and Eddie Cochran. Then my babysitter played Let There Be Rock by AC/DC. It was still guitar music, but it was powerful rock ’n’roll. Instantly after he dropped the record on the record player, I was hooked.

The song that wakes me in the morning
What’d I Say in its full glory by The Genius.

The song that brings me to tears
Virtually any music makes me moved. The Queen of Soul, Frank Sinatra, Elvis and the Beatles all make me cry because of the harmony and pure beauty of the vocals. But The Ocean by the Sheffield crooner strikes a chord consistently.

The music I’d like played at my final send-off
The King. If I’m given a cremation, I’ll have Burning Love. If I’m laid to rest in the ground, I’ll have Way Down.