My London: Donal MacIntyre

Where do you live and why? Richmond, because it has a country feel that's not too dissimilar to Dublin, and I love the river for canoeing. I feel as much a Londoner as an Irishman; I love London's celebration of multiculturalism.

How long have you lived there? On and off for ten years. Even when I was working undercover as a bouncer in Nottingham, I used to come back to my Richmond retreat.

Where were the last three places you went on holiday? Bordeaux in France with my girlfriend, Kildare in Ireland, my home town - but I can't tell you precisely where for security reasons, given the characters and situations I've encountered as an undercover reporter - and Malaysia. The most interesting place I've been to recently was the Amazon, while investigating the murder of New Zealand yachtsman Sir Peter Blake for a new documentary. It was a remarkable experience.

What have been your most memorable London meals? There's a great South African fish restaurant in Chiswick called Fish Hoek. I went there recently for a friend's birthday and had great sea bass. I also like Christopher's, just off the Strand.

What is your earliest London memory? Staying in a B&B here during a university trip when I was 18. I remember finding London big and frightening - and far too frantic.

What do you miss most when you're out of London? The diversity. There's a tolerance in London that you don't find in the rest of the country.

What are your extravagances? Sports equipment. I have a large collection of ice-picks for climbing and canoeing.

What would you do if you were mayor for the day? Have one free day for all things cultural: museums, theatres, cinemas and the like.

What is your life philosophy? Appreciate your strengths and don't fear failure. I'm pretty comfortable with failure - you can only ever do your best.

How do you get around town? For security reasons I used to only get taxis or a car. Nowadays, I venture out on buses and the Tube, but I do have to be careful.

Do you have a favourite pub? The White Horse in Richmond - it's got a great view of the river.

What is your favourite work of art in London? Tate Modern: it's a great work of art in itself. I really think London has better architecture than Paris.

What is your favourite view? The top of Richmond Hill, which is protected by an Act of Parliament from any building development. It's quite rare for a view itself to be protected.

What are your favourite shops? I don't really do shops. But I love coffee shops - Coffee Republic more than Starbucks. It's more comfortable.

What are your favourite home comforts? Simpsons videos and a big sofa where I can watch TV. I'm not one of these television people who says, 'I work on TV but never watch it.' That's a bit like saying, 'I'm an author but I don't read books.'

What was the last play you saw in London and did you enjoy it?
Stones in His Pockets at the Duke of York's. It was great - a real tour de force.

What advice would you give to a tourist? Follow the river from Westminster to Windsor. I once did the famous Devizes-to-Westminster race. The views were amazing.

Harvey Nicks or Selfridges? Neither. I prefer Whiteleys in Bayswater, but I only buy clothes once every 15 months.

What was the last book you bought? Dorian by Will Self. It's a fantastic book for Londoners; the way he takes these literary characters and reinvents them in a London setting is amazing.

What was the last CD you bought? By the Way by Red Hot Chili Peppers. I bought it en passant when going by an HMV. I've only listened to it once but already I'm hooked.

Donal MacIntyre's recent assignment, Wild Weather, is available now on VHS and DVD (BBC Worldwide)