Where did you go to school?I went to primary school at Mrs Newman's in Park Avenue, Dublin 4. For secondary it was St Andrews College and High School.

Were you cool or were you one of the nerdy kids?

I was a cool nerdy kid.

Give us an extract of a school report. . .

Can be brilliant when . . . interested!

Who was your favourite teacher in primary school? Why?

My favourite teacher in primary school was Mrs Newman. This is because in addition to being a delightful wise old bean with a wry twinkle in her eye she was the only teacher.

How about secondary school? Anyone who you liked/inspired you?

At secondary school I was greatly influenced by my English teacher, the late Jack Cornish, who communicated his love of literature to a class without ever raising his voice or losing his temper.

I am also grateful to Ken Milne, who gave up evenings to lead an amateur theatre lovers' group where we acted out little plays and listened to spoken arts records. It was thanks to him that I first heard Dylon Thomas's wonderful Under Milk Wood with an oration by the late Richard Burton.

Did you have a nickname?

I did not have a nickname and if I did I would lie about it rather than tell the likes of you so that it could not be inflicted on me all over again.

What was the first music album you bought?

First music album was the Complete Chopin Waltzes played by Artur Rubinstein.

What's on your iPod now?

What's an iPod and can you have it removed?

What posters did you have on your bedroom wall?

Cliff Richard in Summer Holiday.

Who was your first crush?

Cliff Richard

Who would play you in a movie of your younger days?

Colin Farrell of course.

What did you study in college?

English literature and language with philosophy as a subsidary.

Regrets? Have you had a few?

Non, je ne regrette rien.