Letter To My Younger Self
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’
The TV personality and lockdown fitness hero had to deal with the huge struggles of his parents growing up, but says it drove him to become a success
‘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
The broadcaster spoke about being a “lost” teenager, Irish dancing and why having a family felt so out of reach for her.
Screenwriter Abi Morgan on the dramas in her own life that rival anything she’s written

Screenwriter Abi Morgan on the dramas in her own life that rival anything she’s written
The screenwriter responsible for The Iron Lady, The Split and many others has incredible tales to tell from her own life
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’
Lloyd Cole: ‘My younger self would probably be appalled I’m still performing with grey hair’

Lloyd Cole: ‘My younger self would probably be appalled I’m still performing with grey hair’
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’

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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’
Peter Dinklage: ‘Who says beautiful white people own the rights to romantic stories?’

Peter Dinklage: ‘Who says beautiful white people own the rights to romantic stories?’
The best of The Big Issue’s Letter To My Younger Self from 2021

The best of The Big Issue’s Letter To My Younger Self from 2021
Michael Sheen: ‘I’ve essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor’

Michael Sheen: ‘I’ve essentially turned myself into a social enterprise, a not-for-profit actor’
Simon Le Bon: ‘I’m very lucky. Solo artists have nobody to tell them they’re being an arsehole’

Simon Le Bon: ‘I’m very lucky. Solo artists have nobody to tell them they’re being an arsehole’
Engelbert Humperdinck: ‘I’ve lost fortunes, my dear. Fortunes’

Engelbert Humperdinck: ‘I’ve lost fortunes, my dear. Fortunes’
Naga Munchetty: ‘Immigrant families have to be that bit better’

Naga Munchetty: ‘Immigrant families have to be that bit better’
Mark Strong: ‘I started a fanzine named after a Damned song and sold copies for 5p’

Mark Strong: ‘I started a fanzine named after a Damned song and sold copies for 5p’
Shappi Khorsandi: ‘I’d tell my 16-year-old self, you have ADHD. That’s why you failed your GCSEs’

Shappi Khorsandi: ‘I’d tell my 16-year-old self, you have ADHD. That’s why you failed your GCSEs’
Dolly Parton, Dave Grohl and Billie Piper feature in Letter To My Younger Self paperback

Dolly Parton, Dave Grohl and Billie Piper feature in Letter To My Younger Self paperback
Billy Bragg: ‘There’s nothing worse than giving in to your own cynicism’
