Thomas Black - Record producer and You're a Star judge

Where did you go to school?

CBS Derry.

What was your best subject?

English language. It was one of the few subjects that didn't require a lot of studying, something I wasn't keen on.

Who was your favourite teacher and why?

Oddly enough none of them left a lasting impression, but Brother Egan was one who sticks in my mind as he encouraged me to work on the things I was interested in such as sport and music. Guess he realised I wasn't going to be an A student.

Who was your childhood idol?

George Best without a doubt. Genius footballer and with a rock star image that was unreal at the time in the world of sport.

Who was your best friend and why?

My next-door neighbour Don Cooper with whom I shared a keen interest in football and music. I talked him into forming a band. He was a brilliant singer and his family were truly musical with instruments all over the house.

What is he doing now?

I would love to know, as we lost touch when I moved to Dublin 17 years ago. Don, if you're out there give me a call.

What TV show/film most reminds you of your schooldays?

TV show would have to be Top of the Pops, which I watched religiously every Thursday night to get a fix of the pop and rock stars of the day. Movie would have to be Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, which I watched on TV when I was about 10 and I had nightmares for days. I still find it disconcerting.

What song most reminds you of your schooldays?

Maggie May by Rod Stewart and the Faces.

What food most reminds you of your schooldays?

My mother's packaged cabbage to which she would add water. Strangely I now love cooking despite my mother's culinary disasters.

Who did you take to your debs?

We didn't do Debs in Derry. It's something I found quite posh when I realised it was a rite of passage for Dublin students.

Would you send your children to the same school you went to?

No way. I think education these days has progressed by leaps and bounds. My schooldays were about survival, with the brightest struggling to be heard.

What was the best thing about your education?

It taught me you didn't need a certificate to get on in life and it was all about your interest and commitment to the things that motivate you.

What was the worst thing about your education?

The assumption that you should be glad to get whatever job that was offered, and that fruit bowl you made in woodwork class would be worth a fortune.