10 minutes with Lauren Laverne

What was the first album you bought?

Leisure by Blur. I watched them when they headlined at Glastonbury a few years ago and wanted to high-five my 12-year-old self.

What’s your shower song?

I have kids, so it’s what my granddad called ‘poor man’s music’: the crying of children.

Do you enjoy TV talent contests?

The emphasis of The X Factor is on the televisual aspect; on that level you can’t fault it. The music is incidental and I don’t have a problem with it — but obviously I’m not going to go home and listen to One Direction.

Have you made a big mistake live on air?

Constantly, but that’s why you do it. Charlie Brooker was really anxious about 10 O’Clock Live. I said, ‘You've got to embrace [the live element], think of the schadenfreude as a gift to the audience.’ If I hear someone on a radio show mess up, I genuinely enjoy it.

One commentator said you were on ‘Northern totty duty’. Is TV still sexist?

There’s sexism everywhere and it’s bad and it’s s**t when it happens to you. There’s not a lot to say about it except that sexism anywhere is depressing and wrong.

Do you call yourself a feminist?

Everybody who’s not thick is a feminist.

Would you like to be involved in politics?

Everybody’s involved in politics; it is part of everyday life. If it isn’t, something is wrong.

What do you think about the coalition?

I’m no fan of it but it’s been interesting meeting so many politicians on 10 O’Clock Live. You realise that everybody is fallible. There are a lot of people trying their best, they’re just not being incredibly successful.

Would Boris make a good Prime Minister?

We’re moving towards this American presidential system where there’s so much personality involved, and he has that in spades, so I reckon he’s going to do it.

Amex Entertainment Insider Lauren Laverne will peek behind the scenes of the American Express Preferred Seating 2012 programme. Go to Facebook.com/AmericanExpressUK