- I first went into prison when I was 18 years old. It was summer break from university, and my old youth worker was running drama workshops there, so he asked me to help out. I was terrified, and spent the night before fretting over the least-sexy outfit I could find. I ended up wearing dungarees. But at the end of the day I knew what I wanted to do for a career.
- I'm from Hull, and once had a Northern accent. But because I loved drama, and thought I wanted to be an actress, I ended up going for elocution lessons to flatten out my voice. Now, very few people could identify where I'm from. And that makes me sad.
- I was on `Four in a Bed.` My parents have a hotel, and when Channel 4 got in touch to ask them to appear on the show my dad said `no way!` so I went in his place. It was the first time my mum had spent a night away from him in forty years of marriage, and we had a blast!
- I once had a pet lobster. Technically he was a blue crayfish, but he was quite big. Once, he escaped from his tank and I found him the following day hiding inside my shoe.
- I am allergic to champagne, but it is also my favourite drink. I get round this problem by slugging piriton before I have a glass. If anything, it enhances the pleasure.
- I live in Luxembourg. When my husband got transferred here I was really worried, and thought I'd hate living away from home, but I love it. Luxembourg is a strange place, in the heart of Europe and bordering three other countries. In the shops people switch from Luxembourgish to French to German within one conversation.
- I gave up eating meat when I was 12 years old, and I've never missed it.
- I can't cook. My cooking ability is so bad it's almost a badge of honour. Right now, my 10 year old son is taking cooking lessons and he's brilliant. It also means that on at least one day a week dinner is edible.
- I'm a feminist. I think men and women are equal in all things, be they good or bad. Most of my career (in the probation service) I've worked mainly with men, but I don't believe they are more criminally minded. I think society struggles so much with the idea that women can be bad that it ignores and minimises the active role women take in crime.
- I'm a real redhead! I feel pain more acutely and I burn when I'm in the sun for just a few seconds. And I have a fierce temper.
Humber Boy B by Ruth Dugdall is out now!
Ruth Dugdall