20 questions with property market expert Henry Pryor
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
“Cheering the underdog”.
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
“There are only two types of ‘expert’ when it comes to predicting house prices – those who don’t know and those who don’t know they don’t know”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
Piers Morgan and French kissing in public.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
I miss school. I wish I’d made more of the opportunities that it provided and learned more. Why wasn’t I forced to learn Italian, coding or have been made to be the first class batsman I know I could have been?
What might you swap all your wealth for?
My two daughters.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
The banks shouldn’t have been bailed out. Like those in the insurance world, they have an over-inflated opinion of their value.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“So” when used to start an answer on the Today programme.
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I begrudge the current policy of ring-fencing overseas aid. We have more than enough need here at home. There are too many ‘charities’. Most are just good ‘causes’ and equally, how can a public school be a charity? I am a huge fan of Help for Heroes.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
I champion the checkout girl in the supermarket who demanded that the customer hang up before she served them.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
A selection of Victoria’s Secret girls.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
Something Jay Rayner doesn’t like cooked up by Marco Pierre White. I’d invite them both to join me and would laugh while each explained why the other was an idiot.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
5pm, wherever it is.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
A martini made by the team at Dukes Hotel in St James’s.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
I hate parties. They are noisy places full of people with little to say and those whom I have no desire to see or to talk to. Give me a dinner party with good food, decent drink and a few friends. There aren’t many.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Other than myself, I’d say the BBC Breakfast presenter Bill Turnbull. He’s positive he’s right despite all the evidence to the contrary.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
My first cup of coffee, freshly ground, brewed and drunk at around 5.45am each morning. I sometimes look forward to it before I even drop off to sleep. I also keep Gloucester Old Spot pigs and our own smoked bacon is a real treat.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
A small pound sign on my left buttock. Money has been a pain in the arse for years.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
A 2CV as they are cranky, dependable, flexible, fun and discontinued.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
Despite being a dyslexic fool, I’m writing two books. Spellcheck and modern computers mean that I might fool a few people into thinking I’m a writer.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
Two silhouettes done of myself and my wife by Mike Herbert whilst at a party for a dear friend. Clever to do and clever to have booked.
Henry Pryor is a property market analyst and commentator. He is the “BBC’s favourite property expert” and also advises high net worth individuals on their property transactions.
Follow him on Twitter @HenryPryor
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