Top of the Pops Interview (September 2004)

In Oz he's used to sun, sea, and surf, so what would be a good holiday for Darren Hayes?

TOTP: What would your ideal holiday be?
Darren: You know, it's probably going home to Australia for Christmas, because I don't get home enough. Usually my family and I, we rent a big beach house somewhere and spend a week. The first three days, we have fun, and then the next few days, we kill each other! And then the last couple of days, we make up, and say, "Let's do it again next year!".


TOTP: Who would you take with you on your perfect holiday?
Darren: Sadly, my ideal holiday would probably involve the rellies right now, cos I'm [sings] "Lookin' for love in all the wrong places!" But if I was hooked up with some lovin', it would just be a duo.


TOTP: What would you do to avoid being recognised on holiday? Or is that not something that bothers you?
Darren: I wish I was the kind of celebrity that actually got holiday-snapped by the snapperazzi! But I'm not, sadly. I think the other day somebody took a picture of me getting a Starbucks, finally, after eight years in the public light, and it was just a tourist. But no, no disguises here. Just low-key family holidays.

TOTP: Would you like to be photographed when you're sunbathing?
Darren: I would HATE to be photographed when I'm sunbathing. I do feel for the people in the tabloids who get photographed with their gut hanging out, but I say, "Hey! Stop eating the tucker, the nachos, and the Mexican beer!"


TOTP: What kind of hotel would you go for? Are you a five-star luxury hotel man, or more of a quiet B B guy?
Darren: I like a mix of accommodations on my vacations. I like to sometimes stay at a five star resort with lots of pools, and lots of...cocktails (that I don't drink, because I don't drink alcohol) or sometimes I like to stay in a little B B - it's very cheap and you have to make your way.


TOTP: If you had to make a mix-tape to listen to on the plane, what would you put on it?
Darren: Umm...y'know, it's usually the records that I grew up with. I love iTunes for that reason, because you can put all the music you love on one database, and then just mix it up. So I usually just plug into my iTunes and press random, and see what memories pop up.


TOTP: Are you good at travelling light?
Darren: I am a terrible traveller, because I usually have much, much excess baggage. Yeah, I'm terrible. And then you get there, and you don't wear any of it. But you've gotta be prepared.


TOTP: Say you ended up at a holiday camp, would you join in the karaoke?
Darren: I definitely would not join in the karaoke! Once I was in a Brazilian resort, and everybody in the pool started to do the Macarena, and I almost died! I got told to lighten up.


TOTP: What about if it was one of your own songs?
Darren: Possibly, if I was really intoxicated, I might do one of my own songs. Or Whitney Houston.

TOTP: Do you try out the local delicacies on holiday, or do you stick with what you know?
Darren: I'm one of those tourists that if I'm in Paris, I go to Planet Hollywood. I do like good food and good restaurants, but it depends. I like creature comforts and sometimes I just wanna find the local Starbucks - that's a really sad thing to admit, isn't it?!


TOTP: You've seen what the British weather has been like. What would you do if it rained for the whole two weeks?
Darren: Well, coming to England for the summer, I've got very accustomed to thinking what to do if it rains, because it’s rained all the time since I've lived in London! See lots of movies, go to lots of art galleries, eat lots of food. I'm not really an outdoors-y sort of person anyway, so it doesn't really bother me.


TOTP: Just to finish off, some either/or questions. Shorts or speedos?
Darren: [instantly] Shorts!


TOTP: Barefoot or flip flops?
Darren: Flip-flops.


TOTP: Sunbathing or sightseeing?
Darren: Sightseeing.


TOTP: Out all day or out all night.
Darren: [thinks about this] All day.


TOTP: Swimming in the sea or swimming in the pool?
Darren: Swimming in the sea.

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