Media Habits

The BBC's internal newspaper asked me some questions about my media habits for a weekly slot they have. It was published today but they cut it down a lot. Here's what I said in full...

What are you watching/listening to?

'The West Wing' is building to its final climax the ending seems a bit of a fore gone conclusion but its still the best drama on TV [More4]. And when its done there will be a new series of the brilliant 'Huff' on FX. Drop Dead Gorgeous [BBC3] and the new series of Sugar Rush [Channel 4/E4] also seem promising.

Other than drama 'This Week' on Thursday night BBC 1 is the only thing I'll never miss.

The only radio I listen to is Phil Jupitus on BBC6 MUSIC when I wake up.

What are you reading?

'Playback' by Raymond Chandler; Chandler wrote the greatest prose of the 20th century if not ever. Reading Chandler is like wrapping your self in a warm comfort blanket of wise cracks, whiskey and fast women. Not his finest book but that's a bit like saying Macbeth isn't Shakespeare's finest play; its all relative. Next on the reading list are: Testament by David Morrell and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. But its all just killing time until Toby Litt publishes another masterpiece.

Must-have tracks for your mp3 player

Strangers When We Meet - David Bowie
Come Undone - Duran Duran
Remedy - The Black Crows
Do You Remember The First Time- Pulp
Hey Bulldog - The Beatles

Get Off - Prince

Cars and Girls - Prefab Sprout

What would you put in your Room 101?

ITV1 - nough said!

Favourite websites

www.rememberthisdayforever.com Amusing daily anecdotes, pictures, music and video

www.empireonline.co.uk all the movie gossip, news and reviews you can handle

www.davidbowie.com The Greatest Song Writer Ever

oh and www.tridenttheatre.co.uk obviously the world's finest theatre company... ahem.

Best blog

After rememberthisdayforever.com [which really is more than a blog] it has to be: jaspermilvain.blogspot.com/ 'Some Men Are Brothers' is high brow brilliance of the finest literary order.

Favourite gadget

Waiting for Sony Ericsson to release the new P990 mobile phone. This should truly be called a personal computer. Forget desktop, palmtop, ipod, mobile phone this is the most comprehensive gadget yet...

What was the last DVD you rented/the last film you saw at the cinema/the last play you watched in the theatre/or the last gig you went to? (it can be just one or any combination of these)

Last film I saw at the pictures was 'Hard Candy'. Marvellously dark, tense and stunning performances. But what surprised me the most was that looking round the audience it appeared to be a date movie... I mean seriously who goes on a date to see a movie about child molesting and torture?!

Before that was 'United 93'. A superb film brilliantly capturing that terrible day with extraordinary realism. Bit of a downbeat ending though, especially when you consider they saved the White House.

Last gig I went to was Marlowe [www.marlowe.org.uk] he's one man, a guitar and moody guttural vocal stylings; sublime.

Also recently saw 'Malone' they are a 7 piece of rocky, bluesy, funky brilliance you can check them out at www.maloneband.com .

And Dave Matthews and Jesse James [Separately I hasten to add, if it had been together that would have made for a very interesting gig indeed!] not that long ago at the Birmingham Academy.

These are new additions/alternates:

What's the last thing you bought online?

Prince - Lovesexy on CD and DVDs: An American Werewolf in London Two-disc Special Edition, Dune Two-disc Special Edition, Tadpole, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, for myself. And for my Dad for Father's Day: A Chorus Line on DVD and the book 'Right as Rain' by George P. Pelecanos.

Where were you the last time you felt like walking out of something and what was it?

I walked out of Failure To Launch at the pictures about 3 months ago its was truly truly awful. I don't really know why I walked in in the first place. I blame Jonathan Ross!