My London: Agent Provocateur

Where do you live now and why? JC: We live in Marylebone because it's central but not too busy. Our business had grown to the point where we needed more space and, at the time (a couple of years ago), Marylebone was still quite cheap, considering it's in W1.

If money were no object, where would you live and why? JC and SR: Number 1 London because it's a great address.

What's your idea of the perfect Friday night? JC: A few drinks in the Duke of York, then a fine kebab from Effe's, the local kebab shop just off Great Titchfield Street.
SR: In the summer it would have to be sitting in the park with a bottle of wine and good friends.

Do you have a favourite local restaurant? JC: Apart from Effe's, it's probably Maroush, a Lebanese restaurant in Seymour Street.
SR: Fairuz, a great Lebanese restaurant in Blandford Street.

What do you think is the most beautiful landmark in London? JC: The Albert Bridge at night.
SR: Boudicca on Hyde Park Corner.

What's the ugliest landmark in London? JC: Ikea - they are all totally hideous.
SR: Any renovated council flat.

What's your favourite view? JC and SR: Over Blackfriars Bridge at night.

What's the most intimidating place in London? JC: I don't really get intimidated here, although I was beaten up in New Cross when I was a teenage punk rocker.
SR: The American Embassy is pretty intimidating.

What was the last book/CD you bought? JC: A biography of Groucho Marx - really funny. And the Happy Mondays Greatest Hits, after seeing 24 Hour Party People.
SR: I bought The Wizard of Oz for my daughter.

What's the last play you saw in London? JC: We went to see that Madonna play. Let's put it this way: it wasn't my kind of thing.
SR: The way the audience behaved was really inappropriate - they were acting like it was Madonna in concert.

When did you last get drunk? JC: Last week on champagne, wine and cocktails - we had a party at home.

Where do you exercise? JC: The girls in the company persuaded me to join the Third Space gym. I went three times in the first month. The only exercise I really like is walking. Every now and then I get on a train, go to the country and go for a long walk.
SR: We are pretty unhealthy - we don't really exercise, although I've just started yoga, and it's very difficult.

Which would you choose: Hyde Park or Hampstead Heath? JC: Hampstead Heath because it's a bit more wild, although we go to Hyde Park more often.

Selfridges or Harvey Nichols? SR: Selfridges - it's got so much better recently.

What don't you leave London without? SR: Credit card, shoes and my perfume, Agent Provocateur.

Admit to one thing you've done in London that you've never told anyone.
JC: I've been arrested more times than I can remember. The last time was when I was celebrating after my daughter was born. I was outside the Met bar and got on the wrong side of one of the bouncers. I also once knocked a policewoman's hat into a puddle.
SR: I just can't tell you - it's too big a secret.

What's the first piece of advice you'd give a London tourist? SR: Get a bus pass.

If you were Mayor for the day, what would you do? JC: Make the Tube free for everyone, at least until it's up to scratch. London Underground hasn't got the right to charge anyone at the moment - it's such a bad service.

What's your favourite bus route? JC: The 137. It goes down Nightingale Lane, Clapham, near where I used to live. It's nostalgic.
SR: The 19. I used to live in King's Road and it went everywhere I ever needed to go: Sloane Square, the West End, Islington and Clapham.

What's the most overrated thing in London? JC: Posh restaurants. They are too expensive, the service is bad and the food isn't very good. I'd rather go to my local kebab shop than I would any Conran restaurant.

Have you ever been a victim of crime in London?
JC: A few weeks ago, our entire press collection was stolen from our head office. It's impossible to put a price on it.
SR: It's frustrating because it happened at 4.30pm on a Saturday afternoon while we were working upstairs.

What shop can't you live without? JC: The local off-licence, Nicolas, on Marylebone High Street. I'm going to sound like a right old alky, aren't I?
SR: John Lewis - I love the basement.

What's the most expensive meal you've eaten in London and who was it with? SR: It was a dinner for the Agent Provocateur team. We went to a mad Chinese karaoke restaurant in Mayfair called Jade Garden and we blew a couple of grand. I was left to pay the bill.

When did you last cry?
JC: When my daughter was born five years ago - every emotion came out.
SR: I hardly ever cry but it would have been over Joe's stubbornness.

Who would you put on the Trafalgar Square plinth? JC: Tony Blair - naked. And I'd provide the squashed tomatoes.

What's your philosophy on life?
JC: You've got to live life - don't do tomorrow what you can do today.
SR: Wear sexy underwear at all times.

Where would you have your ashes scattered?
JC: Over people eating an expensive meal at The Ivy.
SR: Off Chelsea Bridge.

If your house were on fire, which three things would you save?
JC and SR: Each other, our daughter Cora, and Roman, our white-haired fox terrier.

The new Agent Provocateur shop at 5 The Royal Exchange, EC3 (020 7623 0229) opens on 29 July