10 questions: Andy Day

Boat-dweller Andy Day is becoming a familiar face around Bristol – and a downright celebrity to anyone under the age of 10. Six foot four with a constant grin, the CBeebies star is the definition of good fun, with his latest wacky projects including a show about dinosaurs currently filming at Hengrove’s Bottle Yard Studios, an album aimed at kids and a stint in this year’s Bristol Hippodrome panto Snow White alongside Warwick Davis. He will be performing and signing his new album at Room 212 on Gloucester Road on November 21.

What was your earliest ambition?
“I wanted to either start a business or travel when I was a kid. Me and my mate used to go to a wholesaler at a very young age and buy key rings and sell them at school. I remember we wanted to start a business called ‘Hats Hats Hats’, so we bought loads of wholesale hats and sold them all and made the money back. There was always that entrepreneurial spirit there.”

How physically fit are you?
“Fairly fit – I’ve just done a Tough Mudder which was brilliant fun. Some of the courses are quite difficult, like plunging into freezing water and being electrocuted, but it was a lot of fun. I’d say I was of medium fitness.” 

If you were the mayor of Bristol for the day what would you do?
“I’d create a Bristol festival for the day, and it would involve lots of dancing, lots of creative fun and I’d give all the kids free Andy and the Odd Socks Who Invited This Lot? CDs.”

Where is your favourite holiday destination?
“Sri Lanka is my favourite place to go – not that I always holiday there but it’s a place I’d definitely go back to.” 

What is your biggest extravagance?
“I don’t really spend a lot of money on clothes so probably food. I put money into food because I’m quite into my health and nutrition and things like that. Also travelling.”

In what place in Bristol are you happiest?
“I love Ashton Court. I love going mountain biking there and the forest is so beautiful. You’re up so high and you can see the whole of Bristol.” 

What ambitions do you still have?
“I think I would still like my own business at some point. I’d like to do more albums. I’d like to be in a film – something superhero-based that I’d have to do martial arts training for.”

What is the greatest achievement of your life so far?
“There are a few things I’m proud of. One of them is making this album – it took a couple of years and we put a lot of time and effort into it so we’re really proud of it. My friend and I also produced our own theatre shows that did well so that’s another one. Doing the marathon as well.”

Can you sum up Bristol in a sentence?
“Bristol is a green, spacious, well connected place where you can breathe good, clean air and there’s always something going on.”

What’s your favourite secret spot in Bristol?
“There’s a park gym on the Downs that’s sort of hidden – I go there often.”

For more information, visit www.andyday.tv.

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