We [Lycos] had a chance to catch up with The Times columnist Hugo Rifkind. ‘Overexposure’ is his first book focusing on glamorous celebrity culture in London.
SM:So why did you decide to write Overxposure?
HR: Partly because I was a freelance journalist, and, on the days on which work was slow, I had to do something. Mainly, though, because I noticed that, when I read celebrity magazines, I got angry, although in a way that I sort of enjoyed. I thought I could use that to write a cracking book. I hope I have.
SM: Is it based on your experiences as a journalist?
HR: Only a little bit. Actually, journalism is a lot less glamorous than I hope I’ve made it sound in the novel. Or at least, it is for me.
SM: Who is the most difficult celebrity you have encountered/interviewed?
HR: Actuall, most of them are lovely, just a bit nuts. Hollywood types are always either very nice, or very good at pretending they are. Probably the only even slightly famous person who has ever been properly rude to me was Vernon Kaye. I was a bit staggered. I was sort of thinking, hold on. You’re only Vernon Kaye.
SM:Do you think certain celebrities like Jordan, Colleen (Rooney), Lindsay Lohan are over-rated?
HR: Well, that depends what you mean. Over-rated at what? Jordan is a model, and I reckon works pretty hard at her brand, so she deserves some respect for that. Lindsay Lohan is an actress, and not a bad one at all, considering her age. Colleen, at least thus far, is just a girlfriend. It’s not really fair to lump her with the other two. I’ve always thought it must drive people like Keira Knightley nuts that they are the same thing, when they obviously aren’t.
SM: Do you watch any reality tv shows like Love Island or Big Bro?
HR: I used to love Big Brother, but it’s got very dull lately. Celebrity Big Brother is always good for a laugh, I suppose. I watched about a minute of the first Love Island, and then gave up. Very boring. Who are these people? I mean, it’s not like they’ve got George Clooney and Gwyneth Paltrow on there, is it?
SM: Do you read any celebrity gossip magazines like Heat or FHM? If so which is your favourite mag?
HR: A little. Not very often. Heat is still the best thing out there at what it does.
SM: Do you ever want to be famous?
HR: Well, see above. I’d like to be so good at what I do that people might notice it, I suppose. I think it must be awful being reality show famous. So empty.