<\/p>
The show was Kirstie Allsopp\u2019s \u2018Kirstie\u2019s Handmade Christmas\u2019. I made a Christmas tree out of driftwood for her, which she had collected from the seaside with her children. It just showed how simple it is to create a Christmas tree out of things you\u2019ve found.<\/p>\n
You might also like<\/strong> what to watch on TV if you love antiques and interiors<\/a><\/p>\n I was a community worker. Youth work, mainly working in the area of conflict resolution \u2013 so, working with young people who are fighting, and all that kind of stuff, stopping them from committing anti-social behaviour and getting them to do something positive in their community. So it was like youth work \/ social work.<\/p>\n I ran a charity called Out of the Dark through which I taught young people how to re-work old pieces of furniture, giving them skills that would enable them to go out and get jobs, or make their own money. I was based in High Wycombe, but employed all over \u2013 By Thames Valley and the Metropolitan police services.<\/p>\n Working with a young girl who hadn\u2019t smiled for a few years, and after working with her and showing her how to do craft and what have you, she started smiling \u2013 her mum was over the moon.<\/p>\n That would be when I found myself speaking to over 500 people at an event promoting best practice among charities, which was held by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister. But I was so skint at the time, I only had 70p in my pocket, but I did have a train ticket to get me back home! John Prescott was the Deputy Prime Minister at the time.<\/p>\n It was quite a surreal thing because, as a small charity, you live hand to mouth \u2013 you don\u2019t always have the dough! So, I went to this conference about best practice, with people saying \u2018these are the guys!\u2019. But they had no idea that this guy only had 70p in his pocket, and didn\u2019t know where the next bit of funding was coming from in order to continue working with young people.<\/p>\n Music. Music, music, music. I love classical when I\u2019m in the car, jazz when I\u2019m at home, reggae and soul. I love instruments \u2013 anyone who plays the piano, the harp \u2013 you name it, I\u2019m into it. The only genres I\u2019m not really into are pop and heavy metal.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Too many! Ah, I might have to pick two. No, I can\u2019t! I can do one per genre. Reggae \u2013 John Holt; Jazz vocals \u2013 Gregory Porter<\/a>; Jazz instrumental \u2013 Abdullah Ibrahim; Soul \u2013 Luther Vandross. And classical is everything, it relaxes me.<\/p>\n My home is 50 shades of beige. The house looks like a show home, very neutral<\/a>, and that allows me to come out and really enjoy colour. If I lived with colour, the problem would be that I wouldn\u2019t see it as a child sees it. And that\u2019s how I want to see all my creations. As if for the first time.<\/p>\n You might also like<\/strong> a neutral Scandi home filled with vintage finds<\/a><\/p>\n I eat the same food all of the time. I wear the same clothes all of the time, too. If I like something, I\u2019ll buy a few of them. The most excessive example is when I bought ten of the same trousers in the same size. But the food is definitely the weirdest one. When I\u2019m out and about filming it\u2019s almost always chicken caesar salad, when I\u2019m at home it\u2019s either trout or salmon.<\/p>\n Either chicken caesar salad or shepherd\u2019s pie from The Ivy.<\/p>\n I\u2019m an extreme introvert \u2013 yeah, I\u2019ve had the test done. It\u2019s mad. They said I shouldn\u2019t be working with young people because I\u2019m that introverted. But I\u2019m also an optimist. You have got to look on the positive side. Always.<\/p>\n Both. I don\u2019t get any sleep \u2013 I\u2019m up at 5 o\u2019clock and don\u2019t go to bed until like 12 or 1 o\u2019clock.<\/p>\n More from Jay:<\/strong><\/p>\n Why we should make do and mend as much as possible<\/a><\/p>\n How I first got into furniture restoration<\/a><\/p>\n My favourite small-scale artists<\/a><\/p>\nWhat did you do before that?<\/h2>\n
What has been the most rewarding day of your career?<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s the most unusual situation you\u2019ve found yourself in because of work?<\/h2>\n
Do you have any passions or hobbies outside of the antiques and furniture world?<\/h2>\n
So, who\u2019s your favourite artist?<\/h2>\n
Your designs are very colourful, what is your home like?<\/h2>\n
What would people be surprised to know about you?<\/h2>\n
If you were ever to find yourself on death row what would your last meal be?<\/h2>\n
Introvert or extrovert?<\/h2>\n
Morning person or night owl?<\/h2>\n