Letter To My Younger Self
P.P. Arnold: ‘I was in a relationship with a white boy that just happened to be Mick Jagger’

P.P. Arnold: ‘I was in a relationship with a white boy that just happened to be Mick Jagger’
The soul singer used her musical talent to escape an abusive marriage, became an Ikette then moved to London. But life had yet more challenges to throw at her
Gary Numan: ‘Fame is like jumping onto a speeding train. At some point you lose your grip’

Gary Numan: ‘Fame is like jumping onto a speeding train. At some point you lose your grip’
The electro icon struggled with success and lost his spark, but thankfully the love of his life reignited it for him.
Anita Rani: ‘Asian women aren’t allowed to fail. We have to excel at everything’

Anita Rani: ‘Asian women aren’t allowed to fail. We have to excel at everything’
Growing up in Bradford, the presenter and author rebelled against taking the path that was expected for Asian women.
Simon Pegg: ‘Sometimes I catch myself, oh my god, I’m on the bridge of the Enterprise. How did I get here?’
Simon Pegg: ‘Sometimes I catch myself, oh my god, I’m on the bridge of the Enterprise. How did I get here?’
Denise Mina: ‘Writing is a compulsion. It’s not really something you choose to do’
Denise Mina: ‘Writing is a compulsion. It’s not really something you choose to do’
Glenda Jackson: ‘What made me give up acting and go into politics was Margaret Thatcher’

Glenda Jackson: ‘What made me give up acting and go into politics was Margaret Thatcher’
Dame Margaret Beckett: ‘I hope I’ve helped the women who have come after me’

Dame Margaret Beckett: ‘I hope I’ve helped the women who have come after me’
Steve Lamacq: ‘I’m still doing what I was doing when I was 16’

Steve Lamacq: ‘I’m still doing what I was doing when I was 16’
Alison Hammond: ‘I knew very little about my own Black history in Britain’

Alison Hammond: ‘I knew very little about my own Black history in Britain’
Bruce Hornsby: ‘Having a laugh or 20 is an enjoyable and healthy way to live’

Bruce Hornsby: ‘Having a laugh or 20 is an enjoyable and healthy way to live’
Joe Wicks: ‘My own childhood made me think about the kind of parent I wanted to be’

Joe Wicks: ‘My own childhood made me think about the kind of parent I wanted to be’
‘Mistakes are not a failure, they are part of the gig,’ says TV presenter Angela Scanlon

‘Mistakes are not a failure, they are part of the gig,’ says TV presenter Angela Scanlon
Subscribe to The Big Issue
From just £3 per week
Take a print or digital subscription to The Big Issue and provide a critical lifeline to our work.
Parminder Nagra on Bend It Like Beckham’s legacy and celebrating birthdays with George Clooney

Parminder Nagra on Bend It Like Beckham’s legacy and celebrating birthdays with George Clooney
Ben Okri: ‘War taught me as a kid that there is no certainty in this world’

Ben Okri: ‘War taught me as a kid that there is no certainty in this world’
Jimmy Webb: ‘I came pretty close to the edge of the abyss on a number of occasions’

Jimmy Webb: ‘I came pretty close to the edge of the abyss on a number of occasions’
JJ Chalmers: ‘In some ways, it’s like I was born again after Afghanistan’

JJ Chalmers: ‘In some ways, it’s like I was born again after Afghanistan’
Paddy Considine: ‘I feel like my life is a series of beautiful interventions’

Paddy Considine: ‘I feel like my life is a series of beautiful interventions’
‘What you really love to do will keep you going’: Remembering June Brown, EastEnders’ iconic Dot Cotton

‘What you really love to do will keep you going’: Remembering June Brown, EastEnders’ iconic Dot Cotton
Will Young: ‘I worked out that nothing really matters, then found simplistic joy in everything’

Will Young: ‘I worked out that nothing really matters, then found simplistic joy in everything’
Alex Winter: ‘Keanu and I never thought Bill & Ted was going to be a big movie’

Alex Winter: ‘Keanu and I never thought Bill & Ted was going to be a big movie’
Clive Myrie: ‘You see the very best and very worst of human nature in a conflict situation’

Clive Myrie: ‘You see the very best and very worst of human nature in a conflict situation’
Dr Hilary Jones: ‘I always try to be kind and compassionate, and grateful for what I have’

Dr Hilary Jones: ‘I always try to be kind and compassionate, and grateful for what I have’
Louis Theroux on childhood worries: ‘I wondered if I would ever get any proper tackle’

Louis Theroux on childhood worries: ‘I wondered if I would ever get any proper tackle’
Clive Myrie: ‘I’ve been in some dangerous situations, but I don’t think I ever thought about the danger’

Clive Myrie: ‘I’ve been in some dangerous situations, but I don’t think I ever thought about the danger’
Louis Theroux: ‘If I could see Jimmy Savile again I’d take one of his victims to confront him’

Louis Theroux: ‘If I could see Jimmy Savile again I’d take one of his victims to confront him’
Tyne Daly: ‘I saw an opportunity in Cagney & Lacey to play interesting parts for women’

Tyne Daly: ‘I saw an opportunity in Cagney & Lacey to play interesting parts for women’
Monica Ali: ‘You have to have a core of self-belief to be a writer’

Monica Ali: ‘You have to have a core of self-belief to be a writer’
Russell Watson: ‘I never had any ambition to be a singer at all’

Russell Watson: ‘I never had any ambition to be a singer at all’
Sally Dynevor: ‘It’s about time people got to know who I am’

Sally Dynevor: ‘It’s about time people got to know who I am’
Sir Kenneth Branagh: ‘I relived many painful and beautiful days making Belfast’

Sir Kenneth Branagh: ‘I relived many painful and beautiful days making Belfast’
Peter Dinklage: ‘Who says beautiful white people own the rights to romantic stories?’
