Nick Celino – What’s on your mantelpiece?

A 20-question interview with “super voice” and ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ contestant Nick Celino

The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?

My guiding force has to be my friends and family. I surround myself with similar, creative minds and we just get each other.

“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?

I was asked a similar question by Janice Long on BBC Radio 2. It has to be: “If you believe in your dreams, anything is possible”.

Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2016?

It’s 2016. Everything is classed as acceptable these days.

Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?

Weighing less… But I just love food.

What might you swap all your wealth for?

Immortality. Not just for myself but for the people I surround myself with… Oh, and a lifetime supply of In-N-Out burgers.

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 state of the financial system?

The financial system is f*ck’d, money is the root of all evil.

What phrase or word do you most loathe?

“Diet”.

In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?

I support a few charities. Over the past year I’ve worked closely with a learning disability charity named the Twisting Ducks Theatre Company. They make entertaining, accessible and informative drama and music about issues that are important to us and people with learning disabilities. I also support Smile For Life, a charity dedicated to enhancing and enriching the lives of disadvantaged and disabled children and The Salvation Army. My family have spent the last few Christmas’ serving food to the homeless on Christmas Day.

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 feel like we live in a world were we’re almost too dependent on our mobiles. I seem to live on my iPhone, although I did recently give it up for around four months. It got to the point where if I didn’t have my iPhone I felt lost and that’s just not healthy. I’ve recently been reunited with it, mainly because it’s just not practical when I’m on the move. I have to admit, it was pretty liberating not having a mobile phone.

If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?

People would expect me to list a bunch of celebrities but I’d be pretty content with myself, my dog, my mother, my brother and my friends.

If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?

I would want a Henry VIII style banquet so I could attempt to eat myself to death before they got a chance to execute me.

What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?

My logic is that it’s always 7 o’clock somewhere in the world.

A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?

I love a good mojito but if that’s not on the cards, I’ll drink anything that has alcohol in it.

Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?

If the company and music is good and the drinks are flowing, I’m there. I’m a Geordie – we’re not that picky when it comes to a good old party.

Who is the most positive person you know?

Sounds clichéd but it has to be my mother. I really wouldn’t be the guy I am if it wasn’t for her guidance.

What’s your most guilty pleasure?

I don’t watch much TV but when I’m stuck on a plane for eleven hours, I do love a bit of reality television.

If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?

A squiggle because I’m a mess… No, I’m joking. I really have no idea; I’m scared of needles.

If you were a car, what marque would you be?

I’d like to think I would be a Bentley or something equally flashy but in reality I’d probably end up being a Peugeot 306.

Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.

I only discovered I could sing when I was thirteen. My voice totally came out of nowhere.

What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?

I don’t have a mantelpiece as my fire is set into the wall of my living room.

British musician Nick Celino is followed by over 171,000 people on Facebook. He has been described by Jools Holland OBE as a “super voice” and is currently working on his debut album. His voice has been heard on BBC Radio 1, 1XTRA, BBC Radio 2, Capital FM, RTE 1 and Asia Pop 40.

Follow him on Instagram at @nickcelinomusic, on Facebook at @nick.celino.1, on Twitter at @nickcelinomusic and watch his music videos on YouTube by clicking here.