The A-List: 2008

Job

Advertising practitioner

Company

Beattie McGuinness Bungay

Work Telephone

+44 (0)20 7632 0405.

Address

16 Shorts Gardens, London, WC2H 9AU

Fantasy business partner

William Shakespeare.

How do you off-set your carbon footprint?

I have never driven a car in my life. This frees me up to destroy an area of rainforest the size

Greatest influence

Muhammad Ali. And thoughts of tomorrow.

Clubs

The Labour Party.

Favourite gadget

Aeroplanes.

Desert island objects

Suntan lotion. A bag of Hula Hoops. And a Learjet.

Most-admired politician

William Wilberforce. For writing to a newspaper "in condemnation of the odious traffic in human flesh", while still at school. Then seeing his Abolition of Slavery Bill passed into law half-a-century later and three days before his death.

Favourite media

The Independent, The Sunday Times, boxing news, Radio Five Live, The Daily Show, www.teamturnip.me.uk.

Biggest risk taken

Flying to (and, hopefully, from) space. A risk I can't wait to take.

Perfect day

Sunshine. The Oval. The Ashes. Pimms. Chums. Glory.

Who should play you in the film of your life?

Johnny Depp (the younger me); Alan Partridge (the elder me).

Career highlights

ABM, Ayer, BMP, TBWA, BMB.

Fictional hero

God.

Hidden talent

I'm a gardener.

Best job outside advertising

I've only ever worked

Lowdown

Beattie was no doubt regretting making a pledge two years ago that he'd take the entire agency to Las Vegas for its second birthday not even an eternal optimist of his

Most expensive purchase

$200,000 for a return ticket to space with Virgin Galactic. Worth every cent.

Why are you good at what you do?

I work very, very hard.