Has being on the programme changed your outlook on life?
I actually grew up poor on the kind of estates I visited, so living on one for the programme was nothing I hadn't experienced before. But it did remind me how much the problems associated with poverty still exist. Because my own life has changed so much as I grew out of those estates, a part of me assumed that everyone else had moved on from those estates too; like the world had got richer with me. It was almost a shock to discover that things are almost exactly the same - all that has changed is the names of the drugs. By the end of the week I'd got past the initial shock and was feeling more at home. I'd managed to get my place clean (it really was deeply filthy) and I'd started to rediscover the wonderful sense of community that is so often overshadowed by the violence you see on the streets. I was actually very sad in the end to leave.
Who or what was the biggest inspiration you met during the making of the show?
There were two people in particular; a young man called Thomas and his mother Molly. Thomas was undergoing cancer treatment at the time of filming, as was Molly. As if that wasn't enough, cancer had already claimed the life of Thomas's brother, Jeff, five years previously. They live in one of the roughest neighbourhoods in Edinburgh - yet they were held together by this extraordinary bond. What was truly remarkable was that they live by a strict code which says quite simply, whatever happens, nothing will be allowed to get them down and take away their happiness.
Do you feel that businesses have a role to play in helping charities?
I'm a Tory - of course I think businesses should be involved in charities. For my own part, I've always been interested in businesses that have a social value and can make a difference to society.
Have you been in touch with any of the charities since filming the show?
I've kept in regular contact with Molly and Thomas and introduced them to other members of my family who also speak to them a lot. I have met up with CCLASP (Children with Cancer and Leukaemia Advice and Support for Parents) to brainstorm future fundraising and warehousing. In October (2011) I am going to Edinburgh to give a presentation to the companies that have supported them in the past in the hope we can raise more for them in the future.
What are your favourite memories of making the programme?
There was no single moment - it was the entire experience. I got involved with the charities and felt immense relief that I could help them financially. The only downside was when my real identity was revealed. Suddenly, the normal lines of communication disappeared and I was treated like a 'celebrity'. Sadly, this set me apart, when in fact there's no reason why I should have been treated any differently. My personality hadn't changed.
