Russell Tovey's My London

The Essex boy actor breakfasts in his local caff and parties on Old Compton Street

Home is
Billericay in Essex. It's always in my heart.

Where do you live?
I moved to Tufnell Park two years ago. I love it because I don't have to spend £70 on a taxi home every Friday night any more.

What was the last play you saw?
Matilda just before Christmas. I've since downloaded some of the songs to sing along to.

What advice would you give a tourist coming to London?
Get on a river boat, you see a completely new side of London.

What's the first thing you do when you arrive back home?
Text my mum to say I've landed safely and I love her. I'm a bit of a mummy's boy.

Which shops do you rely on?
I love Liberty for home stuff, clothes, toiletries and bits of art. Dover Street Market is cool, especially the Comme des Garçons bit. Fopp in Covent Garden is the dream; it has DVDs for about £2. I get my books from Koenig on Charing Cross Road and I go to Uniqlo for basics.

What's the best meal you've had?
My local caff does the best meals, but I won't give you the name because it's my secret. I've been known to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner there on the same day. The food tastes like my nan's and she was an awesome cook.

If you could live in any building which would it be?
Dennis Severs' house in Spitalfields, which is one of the original Georgian houses that has been preserved exactly as it would have been. The only problem is that once you'd arrived with your iPad, it'd all be ruined.

What's your earliest London memory?
Going to the Tower of London when I was about six and thinking, 'Wow, people had their heads cut off here.'

What's the most romantic thing someone's ever done for you?
My ex scattered rose petals on my doorstep after a fight. He thought it was a romantic gesture but I found it annoying because I had to sweep them up.

How would you like the opening line of your obituary to read?
'His ears may have never stopped growing, but neither did his talent.'

Which is your favourite street for shopping?
I like the streets off Covent Garden, such as Seven Dials and Neal Street.