Robert Llewellyn on his obsession with vacuum cleaners and other gadgets.
I've got an obsession with vacuum cleaners
Tell us about your gadget life, do you lust after the latest must-have innovations?
Yes, we've got a very eclectic collection of gadgets from quite cool and cutting edge to truly naff. I've got an obsession with vacuum cleaners.
Do you spend hours surfing gadget websites, looking at catalogues and/or Sunday supplement magazines?
I can't not look through the Sunday supplements. And I try and look through them with ultimate cynicism, but I still look whilst making sure nobody's watching and go through the whole thing. And usually there will be one thing that I really, really want. I really want a remote control helicopter with a camera in it.
Are there any gadgets or gizmos that you couldn't live without that we should know about?
Twitter on iPhone.
If you could invent a gadget to make you into an overnight entrepreneur, what would it be?
The fantasy gadget I wish I could have would be a genuinely useful electric vehicle that goes quite fast, looks quite sexy and can carry stuff… and now they're beginning to become real.
Have you ever had a case of 'gadget envy', where perhaps a friend, neighbour or family friend has something you want?
There was a camera technician that I worked with for a long time who had a huge model helicopter with an engine, with a big swivelly camera on it. I love helicopters, I like flying in them even though they're terrifying. And this looks like a real helicopter. I was envious of this.
Do you take anything specific gizmo-wise when you go on tour?
In the past, when I've been working away from home, a laptop has been the most essential thing. And then a little plug-in hard drive. Then a little internet connector, then the charger, and the spare battery and the back-up software DVD. So in the end this super-slim, ultra-lightweight laptop is backed up with an enormous amount of junk. This is ridiculous. So I've filtered that down to no gadgets at all, except a phone. I always take that.
Do you know how all your gadgets work? Do you bother reading the instructions?
No, I don't know how they all work. I do sometimes read the instructions.
How do you view the use of in-car Sat Navs?
I drive a car with built-in Sat Nav and built-in Bluetooth - those two things are very cool gadgets.
Do you think there is a boy/girl divide on gadgets?
Yes. My wife's not the slightest bit interested in computers. She does have a laptop that is totally maintained by me, as in: my laptop just won't work. So I open it and switch it on and I don't know what she did but it's there and it's working.
