Born in London, James, 33, won best male presenter at the Student Radio Awards in 2005. Two years later he was presenting Radio 1’s Early Breakfast show. In 2018, he took over the prestigious Radio 1 Breakfast Show from Nick Grimshaw. James also writes children’s books with fellow presenter Chris Smith. The third in the series, Kid Normal And The Shadow Machine, has just been published. James lives in London with his wife, writer Bella Mackie.

Which living person do you most admire, and why?

Michael Palin. He’s managed to master several disciplines. He’s also proved that being nice doesn’t mean boring.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

I get very grumpy when tired. I might have been a bit stupid to have taken the breakfast show.

What was your most embarrassing moment?

I recently shat myself on a train on the way to speak at the Oxford Union.

What is your wallpaper?

Ainsley Harriott. I am a bit obsessed with Ainsley.

What makes you unhappy?

The current climate where people seem to be increasingly intolerant, and that seems to be celebrated.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

My head is two sizes too small for my body. My sister used to call me Pea Head.

If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?

Cilla Black.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Tilda Swinton.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

I do a lot of my life admin on the toilet.

What do you owe your parents?

Everything – they are the best people on earth – but they actually owe me £20,000.

To whom would you most like to say sorry, and why?

The person who had to empty the bin on that train to Oxford.

What does love feel like?

An impenetrable team.

What is the worst job you’ve done?

When I was at school, I had a summer job where I had to buff blocks of plastic for a display unit. The factory only remembered to give us masks on day three.

What has been your biggest disappointment?

Alton Towers.

If you could edit your past, what would you change?

If I had known what a stylist was when I joined Radio 1, I would have enlisted the help of one.

When did you last cry, and why?

Last week. I had quite a bad anxiety attack.

How do you relax?

I eat cheese in the bath.

What has been your closest brush with the law?

I once visited the studio where they used to film The Bill.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?

Don’t take it all too seriously and try to enjoy it – even the shit bits.