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'What I've learnt from three decades of meeting Listed Londoners'

BBC Robert Elms wearing a grey shirt over a white T-shirt, standing next to Ian Wright who is wearing a grey T-shirt an black jacketBBC
Ian Wright has been one of the many people Robert Elms has interviewed for Listed Londoners

Since he began presenting on BBC Radio London more than 30 years ago, Robert Elms has run his weekly Listed Londoner feature, where a notable Londoner answers 15 questions that cover everything from favourite city haunts to pet hates.

As it is launched on BBC Sounds, Elms reflects on what he has learned from three decades of interviews.

For over 30 years, making somebody a Listed Londoner has been the highest honour that the Robert Elms show can bestow.

It is a weekly feature taking up 45 minutes of live radio, where chosen subjects are gently probed about their lives and careers before being subjected to the same set of 15 questions about London.

The title comes from the list of questions, which was written down by me before the first-ever show and has remained unchanged to this day - a survey of all that is positive and a little of the negative, the highs and lows of life, work and culture in the capital.

Robert Elms photographed several years ago holding a glass of champagne with headphone on his head while travelling on the London Eye
Elms presented one of his shows from the London Eye in the 2000s

Those selected to join the esteemed ranks of Listed Londoners must have made some kind of positive contribution to the city we share.

Sometimes they are famous; actors, artists, writers, sportspeople… but other times not, and it could be a firefighter or a nurse, a police officer, an architect or a designer.

Nevertheless, they all share a love of London and almost always their answers provide an insight into the minutiae of everyday life in the metropolis as well as a glimpse into their individual soul.

Listen to Listed Londoner episodes on BBC Sounds:

They do not have to have been born here and many have come from far and wide to make this city their home - I've always said being a Londoner is a choice you make; being made a Listed Londoner is an honour you receive regardless of your roots.

Some of the most passionate Listed Londoners are those who have settled here later on in life, precisely because they fell in love with this place and love telling us what they adore about their adopted city.

Robert Elms wearing a grey jumper over a white T-shirt with his arm around Lily Allen who is wearing a black top
Lily Allen is one of the first interviewees to feature in the new BBC Sounds series

Given that I have been presenting the show for over three decades and there has been a Listed Londoner almost every week, something like 1,500 people have faced the famous 15, but no two interviewees have ever come up with the same set of answers.

We all have our own personal London.

Certain tropes do though crop up regularly: the view from Waterloo Bridge as best view (I now make them be specific, time of day, time of year, which side, which direction); Sherlock Holmes as favourite fictional Londoner; and the Walkie Talkie as least favourite building have all appeared multiple times.

But then each week there are surprises and novelties; it is especially insightful when small, quirky, independent local places appear.

Getty Images One of the Barbican towers surrounded by other parts of the estate seen through green vegetationGetty Images
Opinions of the Barbican have changed over the years with most no longer considering it their most hated development
Getty Images Vehicles travelling across Waterloo Bridge with the towers of the City of London seen behind it and the vessels on the River Thames beneath itGetty Images
Waterloo Bridge is often cited as being the place with the best view

Over the years the response to the Listed Londoner questions has also been a great barometer of changing tastes and opinions.

The Barbican, where I live, used to frequently appear as a most-hated building [development], now it's more likely to be a favourite one.

The South Bank has also switched from negative to positive as we reappraise brutalism.

South London has undoubtedly increased dramatically in popularity, and those who live over the water are particularly passionate about their manor.

But many fewer people now cite a car journey as their worst ever, because using cars to get around is increasingly uncommon.

Certain things never change though; Hampstead Heath is perennially popular, Soho has lasting appeal and getting stuck on the Tube is not much fun.

Robert Elms wearing a black polo shirt standing next to Ray Winston who is wearing a leather jacket
Ray Winstone also features in the BBC Sounds series

The weekly Listed Londoner spot has lasted so long and been so popular because it highlights both the things we all share - the communality of big city life - but also that which is unique and personal.

The overriding message from the huge variety of characters who have been Listed Londoners over the years, is that this is, despite its challenges, problems and frustrations, a fantastic and enriching place to call home.

London can exhaust you, but you can never exhaust London - and there is always a fascinating new Listed Londoner to listen to.

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