Richard Arnold admits he’s got a soft spot for singer Michael Buble…

This week TV Magazine gets to know Richard Arnold...

If I could, I’d apologise to my dad for not responding to the last text he ever sent me before he died last summer.

I always reply to texts, but I was getting on a plane at the time and a day later, I found out he’d passed away at the age of 81. I’d say sorry over a pint and I know he’d say: “Don’t be silly.” Because I’ve always been frank and transparent, I’m lucky enough not to have many regrets.

My most treasured possession is a chain bracelet my mum gave my dad. It’s inscribed: ‘To Dave, love Dot’. I also have a signed Stetson from Dallas’ JR Ewing that was given to me by Larry Hagman a few months before he died.

My earliest memory is of being on a narrow boat with my cousin Fiona, wearing a Mickey Mouse life jacket. I’ve got lots of fond memories of family holidays in Bournemouth, Weymouth, the Isle of Wight and the Norfolk Broads. The sweltering summer of 1976, when I was six, was the summer everyone remembers. The smell of camomile lotion was in the air – that’s all that counted as sun protection back then.

I’ve got a crush on Michael Bublé. Back in 2013, I performed on stage with him at Jacksonville [Florida] – I played the cowbell during Me And Mrs Jones – and we shared a couple of drinks afterwards. He’s an absolute charmer. He’s the kind of guy you want to be.

It’s a cliché, but the person I most admire is the Queen. I love royal history. My family has always whipped out the bunting for every Jubilee. That constant thread running through the national psyche is unique.

I recently celebrated my 20th anniversary of being on the ITV breakfast TV sofa. One of my defining moments was interviewing Barbra Streisand. Halfway through the interview she stopped. I thought: ‘Oh no.’ My palms were clammy and I had a river in my valley! I had sweat on my top lip, so she leant forward with a tissue and said: “We’ve got to take care of each other, right?” as she mopped my lip – I felt like I’d been anointed.

My typical Saturday starts with being licked awake by my cockapoo, Clemmie, then it’s a quick dart downstairs so she can have a comfort break on the AstroTurf. Then she drags me to the local deli for coffee and a bagel. Afterwards, we throw a ball round the park and, by now, it’s still only about 9am and I’ve got three hours to kill before I get a pint and some grub at the pub. I’ll then have a disco nap, followed by dinner with friends.

I don’t feel guilty about taking pleasure, I’ll say yes to anything within the realms of decency and the law – but I can’t be near dairy! Years ago I worked at a supermarket, in charge of the dairy section, and I used to ‘accidentally’ put my finger through a pint of double cream. It would go to ‘damaged goods’ and I’d end up drinking it! “

I’m best friends with Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw in <Corrie>. We often go on holiday together and share a bed! We call it ‘elegant economy’. We’ve been to Crete and Dubai together and our plan is to go Istanbul this year.

Good Morning Britain Weekdays, 6am, ITV

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