My London: Fay Ripley

Where do you live and why? Hoxton. I've lived everywhere else in London and fancied coming east. I could never go west or south again.

If you could change one thing about your street, what would it be? The rubbish.

Are you a member of any club? I used to be, but I grew out of them.

What was the last CD you bought? It's sad, I know, but it was Will Young's debut single. I am a genuine fan.

Do you have a local? The Shoreditch Electricity Showrooms on Hoxton Street. No one bothers me - people are far too cool to even admit to watching telly. They're too busy making mad metal sculptures.

Where would you most like to spend a 'lost weekend' in London? In the places that look like 'Ye Olde London' - such as Columbia Road Market and Spitalfields.

What keeps you awake at night? My bladder. I go to the loo about 15 times a night.

What's your earliest memory of London? Park Lane from my parents' car. It looked so glamorous. I felt like I was in a Bond movie.

When did you last lose something valuable and what was it? When I first moved to London I stupidly brought the only expensive jewellery I owned. It was stolen from my flat in Streatham the day after I moved in.

What is the most beautiful London landmark? Tate Modern.

And the ugliest? All the terribly maintained housing estates.

What's the last film you saw in London? Did you enjoy it? Gosford Park - it was excellent.

When and where did you last get drunk? In Hong Kong, two months ago. I don't remember it.

Where is the most intimidating place in London? The casualty unit at Hackney Hospital. I recently went there with a minor bread-knife injury. Of course, I was behaving like I'd lost a limb and was going to die. They just said, 'This man is having a heart attack. Shut up and wait over there for nine hours.'

What don't you leave London without? My straightening irons.

When did you last lose your temper? Last time my husband drove me anywhere, poor man. I am a very bad back-seat driver.

Where did you last blow £2,000 and what on? In Sydney. I went overboard on clothes shopping.

What's the first piece of advice you'd give a London tourist? Don't take it personally. Visitors to this city are treated so badly.

When was the last time you broke the law? Parking. Parking round Hoxton is a nightmare. Recently, I was sitting in my car on a meter and an 11-year-old boy started sawing the top of the meter off. He just winked at me!

If you were invisible for a day, where would you go in London and what would you do? I'd visit all my friends to see what they say about me.

Give us your best tip for overcoming depression. Watch the news.

What's the most overrated thing in London? A night out in the West End.

Which shop could you not live without? Ten years ago I could probably name quite a few, but it's difficult to find original shops now.

Have you ever been refused entry anywhere? Recently I got very, very drunk and tried to get into a cool local club called Mother with some friends. It's very unlike me, but because I was so plastered I tried the 'Do you know who I am?' line. I was so embarrassed the next day ? I haven't walked past there since. They didn't let me in, of course.

Have you ever been a victim of violence in London? I witnessed a vicious road-rage attack outside my old house in West London when a man punched a woman in the face. I went to help her and he threatened to kill me. The police had to watch my house for a while. The woman made the mistake of rising to his aggression. You should walk away from situations like that.

What is the most expensive meal you've had in London and who did you eat with? At Nobu with my husband.

What's your favourite meal to cook at home? Picnic food.

What's your most memorable night out? My husband proposed near Marbella, a year ago.

What is your favourite view? Obviously, I can't say my husband bending over, so I'll say from the restaurant in Tate Modern.

What and where is your favourite painting or work of art? Rodin's sculptures in the museum in his old house in Paris.

Where in London would you have your ashes scattered? You choose - I'll be dead and burnt to a cinder.

If your house were on fire, which three things would you rescue? The deeds to my flat, my wedding pictures and a spare pair of knickers.

I Saw You, a new drama series starring Fay Ripley, starts on ITV1 on 16 April

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