What are you driving?
A 1967 two litre Herald Vitesse Mark II convertible. It's bright red with a black roof. I've had it about 9 months. Nobody whistles at me any more, they now whistle at the car. It makes me feel a lot better. I've had about twenty cars in my life, and this is a bit of a toy for me. My other car is a Volvo; my last car was a 2CV.
What state is it in, inside and out?
It has wire wheels, which I'm thinking of getting rid of because they're a nightmare to clean. It's been so well restored. I don't wash it enough, and I do feel guilty about that. I have let it go already. Unfortunately with a car like this you do get the nerds coming up to you. 'Oh, I just happened to notice that you don't have the original bootlock.' I just reply: 'Well, it looks alright to me.'
What does it say about you?
It's got mid-life crisis written all over it. It's not about recapturing my youth - it's about the need to feel a little bit different. Also, I've never had a red car before, and it's not really me at all. Maybe it says I have the desire to put the roof down and go - even if it's only to Sainsbury's. In my fantasy, I'm driving down to the South of France, in a headscarf with big sunglasses.
Who'd be sat next to you?
No-one from the Bill, as nice as they are. Sean Connery might be quite nice. Veteran would be the operative word there. I must try and think of someone younger to fancy.
Do you get recognised?
More in the Volvo. They really don't look at me. They always look at the Herald.
What kind of music do you listen to in it?
Blondie: Parallel Lines. I play that very loud. Dusty Springfield too.
How do the police treat you?
I was hooted lots yesterday by a police car behind me. They were just expressing their love of the car, not me or the Bill. They never talk to me.
Have you ever had sex in a car?
Hundreds of times. My bubble car was the best. No, that's a lie. You couldn't in one of them. When I was a student I had a Zephyr Zodiac with a bench front seat. I had pretty grotty digs, so... well, yeah.
Nick Paton Walsh Trudie Goodwin plays Sergeant Ackland in The Bill (ITV)
