Johnny Vaughan roots for Totteridge

10:41am Wednesday 25th June 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

He is the loveable loudmouth of London's airways each weekday morning.

And from his humble roots as a Barnet boy, Johnny Vaughan has fashioned a career as one of the country's leading broadcast personalities.

Despite now living in Fulham, the borough still holds fond memories for the charismatic compere of Capital FM's Breakfast Show.

"It's a lovely place to grow up in and it's an area that hasn't been beset by a lot of the problems that have happened in other areas across London," he said.

"There are roads with communities, where people actually know the people next to them, rather than people who just end up fighting with each other."

As a child, Mr Vaughan lived in a new-build house, in Oaklands Road, Totteridge, and remembers spending much of his school years playing football on the playing fields at St Andrews School, in The Green, Totteridge.

"I have lots of great memories. I remember having to keep asking for the ball back from the people who would be sitting in the Orange Tree pub when we were having a kick about," he recalled.

"I have a nice affiliation with the area, but I don't get up there as much as I would like to.

"The only time I really get up there is when we do shows or I meet up for family dos."

Initially entering the media world as a journalist, Mr Vaughan admits he loved his role as a reporter on the provincial papers and the pressures of having to meet deadlines.

But he had not envisaged himself presenting when starting out as a cub reporter.

"I never intended to get into TV or radio," said the married father-of-two.

"There are two ways of making it: through really wanting it and working hard with perseverance or, the other way, which is with a bit of that and some luck.

"That's the way I went and it was a case of finding myself in the right place."

His first television break came on Channel Four's Moviewatch in 1993 and from then on, he has combined a quick sense of humour with a punchy delivery on a variety of radio and television shows.

He now presents the morning radio show with Denise van Outen, his former co-host for the Big Breakfast on Channel 4 in the Nineties.

Clearly passionate about his job, Mr Vaughan is keen to see young people focus on their careers with enthusiasm.

"The things we are best at aren't the things we value," he said.

"The things we want to do most, and what people think they can do, are usually the things we aren't very good at, like people who just want to be famous."

He added: "It's horses for courses. Things can be a real struggle, but it is a case of thinking where do my talents lie?', and then being honest with yourself about your choices."