Quotes from Gok Wan

If I'm writing a book or doing something where I've got a lot of time at home, then cooking is always a really good distraction for me from what I've got to do.

Well, I've always been quite experimental with how I look.

My ethos is that every woman deserves to look and feel truly fabulous regardless of her budget, size and shape.

If you are going to splurge out and have a month of bad eating and drinking, that's absolutely fine as far as I'm concerned but what you need to do is get some balance to make sure that you are looking after yourself and you are getting your five-a-day, making sure you're getting your minerals, protein.

I am terrified of being old and single.

There's a lot of psychology involved in my work, a lot of mind play going on when you try and convince someone to feel good about their bodies and have the confidence to walk down a catwalk naked when, initially at least, it's probably the last thing they'd plan to do.

I'm the best flirt in the world.

I joke that I came out of my mother with chopsticks in my hands. But one of my earliest memories is of my dad forcing me to learn to eat with chopsticks.

I don't think it's right for anyone to turn around and say 'stop drinking so much, don't eat fried food.'

I was brought up in a restaurant, I've worked in catering my whole life up until I was 20 full-time almost, I was a chef for my dad for many years.

I've enjoyed so many fantastic holidays over the years, but some of my best have been in Thailand.

The attractions of Thailand for me are the shops and the colorful street markets. There are loads of bargains and it's a dream destination for shopaholics like myself.

When I was first in the fashion industry, I would get hired for a day and be thankful that they wanted me back the following day. There was no long-term security.

I absolutely love the Mena House Oberoi hotel in Cairo, which overlooks the Great Pyramids of Giza.

I'm thick, actually. But it doesn't bother me. I think I'm really clever.

I've always had an amazing connection with women - a real love of them.

My first role in catering was front-of-house, at five or six, at my parents' restaurant in Leicester. Me and my brother were dressed in tuxedos and we'd greet guests and be paraded around like show ponies.

We all flirt. When I go into a meeting with new clients I flirt with them; when I want 20p off a hamburger I'll flirt with them. It's not about being sexual - it's about getting someone's attention and getting your own way in a seductive way.

My dad taught us all a very strong work ethic so I'm constantly thinking, 'When is this going to end? When am I going to lose my appeal and have to do something else?'

I don't regret having been fat at all.

I haven't really had any bad experiences coming out. No one's ever rejected me. There was me, running around in a sarong at the age of 16 - they probably knew.

You know what, I'm just grateful to be offered relatively long-term contracts for as long as a year at a time.

I love designers like Lanvin, Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld, but I also like the preppy look championed by Tommy Hilfiger.

I had a huge crush on Tony Blair, in a totally sexual way.