You say in the book that all good ideas start on a napkin, so is this how your idea for your autobiography began?
'Mostly my show ideas start on a napkin where we will just go to the pub and have some food and write it down and then go 'what was that?'. With this the publishers came to me about a year and a half ago and they said to me 'do you want to do one?' and I said 'no, as I have nothing to say'. Then literally they came back to me three of four months later and said have you had any more thoughts and I thought I probably have a good amount of stories from over the years and wrote them all down. I did the whole board at home with the post it notes and I didn't know where to start as obviously I had never written a book before. So I got someone to help me shape it and tell me what should go where but I did have quite a few stories for a book and I started writing it about a year ago. It is one of the hardest things I have ever done. If you had told me two years ago that I would have a book out I would not have believed it. I am really glad I have done it and really proud of it but I am glad I have done it because it was a lot of hard work.'
Love You Bye
For those who have not read this book, can you tell us a little bit about it?
'I have tried to be as honest as I can be, there is stuff in there that you would probably not know about me if you didn't listen to my show there is some stuff that you will say 'I never knew that'. There is some stuff about celebrity encounters in there and some quite dark stuff, that has happened to me. I thought that it was quite important to put in stuff I would probably not put on the radio as I am an entertainer. Me and the team go in there and laugh for about 3 hours a day, it has been good as it has given me a really good outlet in a place that I wouldn't normally use and I thought I might as well put it out there, even though when I first saw it in print I freaked out!'
How can people who are not listeners of the show appreciate 'Love you, Bye'?
'I think that even if you don't listen, you will hopefully like it as it a story of someone really normal with no media background and no way into that world and following my dreams that I have been following since I was eight years old. Somehow, god knows how, it happened. If you told me when I was eight that I would be on Radio 1 I would not have believed you and I thought it would have been the biggest dream ever. It's a story of how I have, with quite a lack of confidence, managed to go from my bedroom in Hampshire to where I am now.'
The book has a very unusual layout, so what made you set it out in sections of 'frequently asked questions' and 'things I have learned?'
'I have never done this before and I didn't want it to be 'I grew up Southampton and then I went to school and then I worked in radio'. The frequently asked questions are questions I get asked genuinely and I thought it was just a good device to zip through loads of stuff really quickly and it's all over the place. I do quite like that and as a reader if you get a bit bored about a story in their life it doesn't last very long and you can go to the next questions which you might find a bit more interesting, so that's why I did that.'
You are very honest about the people you have come into contact with in your life, was there any point while writing it you worried about people's reactions to your words?
'Yes. To be honest, there were quite few times when I was worried about what my friends and family would think but I think that is fairly normal, especially if you are going to put it all out there. I just thought that there was no point in doing a bland autobiography, so I was worried about some of the stuff I was going to say but its stuff that I thought was important to put in there. There is a lot of stuff that I left out as well and a lot of stuff that I was not allowed to say, but I am pleased with it and I don't think there is anything really nasty in there. I think there have been times where people I have encountered haven't been very nice to me.'
Like the time with Oasis?
'Yeah well that wasn't great but it all happened and it's stuff that I can remember really vividly and there is always stuff that has happened to you in your life that you won't put in there, but I picked out the things that really stick out in my mind.'
Throughout your time on the show you have introduced many interactive audience pieces such as Flirt Divert, which of these has brought you the most laughs?
'Flirt divert was hilarious, people keep saying 'bring it back' but I think things have changed so much since then with social media, etc. people would rumble us in two days. The number would spread around and people would be like 'oh that's the flirt divert number', whereas back in the day there was something quite innocent about someone ringing a number that someone had given to you. I think times have moved on a lot since flirt divert, I think it was of its time. I think that the new thing that everyone is latching onto is 'innuendo bingo', but people tell me to bring flirt divert back every day.'
You began Dj-ing in your own home at eight to your mum as the audience, so when exactly did your passion for music begin?
'My mum can remember me being into music from 3 years old. She can remember me asking to put on music, but obviously I can't remember that. My earliest memory was playing music to my mum but it is something I have always wanted to do and I have never wanted to do anything else, I can't imagine what else I would do.'
Given that you are working in your dream career, how does it compare to how you imagined it when you were only eight years old?
'I have learned so much about the industry, when you're eight it's just a dream and you think that it will never happen. Even when I was working on my first radio stations when I was 18, 19,20, I never imagined that I would be on Radio 1. I was quite happy working on the stations I did. It wasn't a constant goal to get one Radio 1. Later, however, it really was as it was the station to be on, but I was very happy to be on radio and very lucky to be doing that for my working life. It's been incredible and more than I could ever have imagined, so much has happened and if you had told me back then I wouldn't have believed you.'
You used to be the voiceover on Blockbuster TV, so how did this come about?
'They asked me to do it one day and I told them that I had not watched many films and they were like 'that doesn't matter'. I just used to go into a box once every month in South London and read about films. I used to go into the shops and listen to myself and thought I sounded quite convincing.'
You have appeared on many television shows, such as hosting Top of the Pops and the National Lottery, which of these television experiences has been your favourite?
'I loved doing Top of the Pops, I was physically sick on the first episode of it, it was an iconic show. It was just incredible to be on and I remember watching it back the following day and saying 'I can't believe I have actually done that'. That was a massive highlight for me, yeah that was the best one.'
Of all the famous people you have interviewed, who has been the best and why?
'Robbie Williams, because he was honest and I got on really well with him. It was supposed to be half an hour and it ended up being two hours. We were just chatting and it was the first interview where I felt incredibly comfortable to the point where you could just chat for 2 hours and that doesn't happen with many people. I think in terms of me getting to know him and getting some great answers and him being completely relaxed and me the same.'
You mentioned about being honest, do you think a lot of people you interview are not being totally honest with you?
'I think that people do put on a show. I think that people are very overworked and tired and it's a bit of an act. Think of how many interviews those people do it has to be a bit of an act sometimes. Sometimes you don't feel like you're getting through that screen, whereas with him I did and a lot of people recently I do feel have been quite honest.'
You have had an amazing response to your book so far, such as someone on twitter saying that they never read but they could not put your book down, so how do comments like this this make you feel as a DJ and a writer?
'I find it quite scary that a lot of people have tweeted that it is the first book they have ever read or 'I hate books but I enjoyed this', well that's good as it's got some young people reading. I feel like saying 'don't make this the first book you ever read'. The thing about it is it's not too long, I hate books where it has taken me like five years to read, I quite like it that you can just kind of bosh it and enjoy it. I think it's odd that you have just called me an author as I can't quite get my head around that but it's lovely that the twitter response has been amazing and I went to my first book signing last week which was really weird but people were so nice.'
You say in the book that you lacked confidence when you were younger so did winning the Sony Gold Music Radio Personality of the Year Award finally boost your self-esteem?
'No! it's kind of like I don't believe it, when I look back over this, one day, I will be like 'oh my god' it actually happened', but it's still like a dream. I am pleased to be doing this and I am aware that I am on Radio 1, so I must be doing something right' but it never really sinks in for someone like me that I am actually doing this. To be called Radio Personality of the Year; it is bonkers!'
You have had a lot of difficult experiences, such as your issue with alcohol, so if you could turn back the clock would you change things or is this integral to shaping who you are today?
'I don't think I would change it, as it has made me stronger person and made me who I am. I don't think I would change any of it actually because everyone makes mistakes; mine have been weird sometimes but I am still here.'
You have over 6 million listeners, so what do you think it is about you that is so appealing as a DJ?
'Just that I sound like I am a normal person, which I am and I am not lost in showbiz or part of that circle. If I am interviewing Rihanna I sound just as excited as someone who is listening. I am not like 'hi I am one of them', I do it from a normal person's perspective which I am and I think that's what people like.'
Given your and Chris Moyles' rocky start, which you address in the book, how do you feel about him leaving?
'I love Chris and I have known him for so many years, so it's really weird that he is leaving. I am on the show this week which is even weirder. He has been on the breakfast show for eight years, that's incredible. It's been a strange week without him and I am sad it was a really emotional thing on Friday.'
You are in constant contact with your fans on twitter, so what is the nicest thing a fan has ever said to you?
'People are always nice to me they complement me every day it's like the best job in the world for that, it's great!'
Are you looking forward to be going back to your slot this week?
'I am! I really am!'
Scott Mill's autobiography Love You Bye is on sale now
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