November 7, 2004 - Eligible

NOVEMBER 7, 2004

MEN
PORTRAIT DEBRA HURFORD BROWN
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
10 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

Eligibles
Here is everything you wanted to know about Scotland’s
most wanted men and women, except perhaps their
phone numbers. We’ve brought you the most fascinating,
funny, intelligent and sexy individuals who are, somewhat
bizarrely, still looking for that someone special
WORDS SALLY RAIKES and ERIN REEVES
1
Gerard Butler Actor, 35
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
NEW
Lives London and New York.
Who is he? This is possibly your last chance
to get your hands on the very gorgeous
Gerard Butler before his latest movie,
Phantom of the Opera, propels him into the
stratosphere. With the Joel Schumacherdirected
musical creating rumours of a
potential Oscar nomination for the
Glasgow-born law graduate, Butler is set
to become a household name.
Currently knee-deep in snow and ice
filming the epic fable Beowulf and Grendel
in Iceland, he has worked with an
impressive list of leading ladies such as
Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider II, Charlotte
Rampling, Anna Friel, Rachel Weisz and
Judy Dench, as well as Minnie Driver and
Miranda Richardson in Phantom. But
Emily Mortimer, his co-star in the
Edinburgh Film Festival hit Dear Frankie,
is his favourite so far. “She is cool, down
to earth, wonderfully warm, a sweet
human being – I loved her.”
Such thespian success is particularly
sweet for Butler. Having survived an offthe-rails
hard-drinking stint in his youth,
he despaired of making it as an actor until
director Steven Berkoff spotted him in a
café and offered him a role in his
production of Coriolanus. Theatre work
poured in, and playing Billy Connolly’s
little brother in Mrs Brown proved to be
his big-screen debut. Americans adore him
(Butler has played Dracula and Attila the
Hun in big-budget television productions)
and he appeared in Reign of Fire with
Matthew McConaughey, and Timeline,
again alongside Connolly.
Serious about his craft, Butler makes
movies back to back, but finally took time
to chill this year with a dizzying spin
around Antigua, Cuba, Argentina, Spain,
France, the US, Germany and Poland. With
LA and fame beckoning, he might be a hard
one to catch, but it’s surely worth the effort.
Pluses Now that he has taken singing
lessons for the role of the Phantom (he
admits even his mates were dubious about
his ability to carry a tune), he could
serenade you after an argument – and just
think of the red-carpet opportunities.
Minuses His peripatetic nature: “It is no
surprise that I’m a bachelor – I’m never in
one place long enough.”
Worst date “I once went on a date with a
girl and we had a drink in a bar, getting a
little drunk. I was thinking it was fantastic
and that we had clicked. She went to the
toilet, and then I decided to go as well,
picking up my jacket and cigarettes on the
way. I must have been a while, because
she thought I’d just legged it and so went
off herself. I never heard from her again.”
Best chat-up line “Back in Scotland my
new chat-up line will be stapling the
Eligibles list to my forehead.”
Favourite book Fear and Loathing in
Las Vegas.
Nothing is sexier than... “An unexpected,
inviting glance.”
2
25
3
Atta Yaqub
Actor, model and youth
worker, 25
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? Plucked
from obscurity last
year to play the lead in
Ken Loach’s Ae Fond
Kiss, Atta’s profile is rising fast, and since
the film’s success he hasn’t been short of
job offers – as well as an appearance on
Channel 4’s Meet the Magoons in the New
Year, he’s to be the focus of a BBC2
documentary on emerging British-Pakistani
Muslims in the spring, and has a role in the
short film The Camping Trip. He is also a
part-time model, doing catwalk work for
Armani and Cruise. Even with so much
going on, Atta is still committed to his day
job at the youth counselling agency YCSA,
a role which, he says, “keeps me grounded
and appreciative of what life has given me”.
A keen footballer, he also coaches children
for the charity organisation Glasgow Ansar.
Pluses Charming, attentive, good-looking
– and extremely modest with it.
Minuses With Hollywood about to come
calling, you’ll need to move fast to catch him.
Best date Dinner and dancing with Yasmin
Le Bon at an Armani VIP dinner.
Worst date Realising that the photos his
blind date had e-mailed were definitely
not of the woman standing before him.
Most romantic gesture He once wrote a
poem for a girl while still at school, which
ended up being published.
Nothing is sexier than… “Gorgeous eyes
and a breathtaking smile.”
NO CHANGE
Darius Danesh
Singer and musician, 24
Lives London.
Who is he? Since a
mutual, though
“painful”, break-up
with his model girlfriend
Jacqui Ainsley
earlier this year, the gossip columns have
been keen to link Darius with Species
actress Natasha Henstridge, who stars in
the video for his new single ‘Kinda Love’,
but Darius is determinedly single, saying,
“I just don’t have time for a relationship at
the moment.” After 11 months of writer’s
block, his new album, Live Twice, was
released to cracking reviews a fortnight
ago. Apart from the usual round of
signings and interviews, Darius is doing
up a new flat in Chelsea, and favours the
Witchery restaurant when in Edinburgh.
Pluses An old-fashioned romantic. You’re
guaranteed to be treated like a lady.
Minuses You’ll have to fight your way
through the hordes of fans that stop traffic
whenever he makes a public appearance.
Best date A cordon-bleu candlelit dinner
in the grounds of Edinburgh castle.
Worst date Turning up to a late-night
dinner at an Italian restaurant to find his
girlfriend in a “compromising position”
with the waiter.
Best chat-up line “‘I may not be Fred
Flintstone, but I can make your bed rock.’
Actually, no, I don’t use chat-up lines.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A woman who has
just had a long bath, wrapped in a white
towel, drying her hair.”
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 11

MEN
4 NEW
Colin
Montgomerie
Golfer, 41
Hamish Clark
Actor, 35
Lives London.
Who is he? After five
years in the series,
Hamish has finally
quit his role as
5 NEW
Alan Cumming
Lives London.
Who is he? Colin’s had
a tumultuous year,
both in his private life
and his career. Having
spent the past decade ranked among the
world’s top-ten golfers – seven times the
European number one – his recent decline
in performance, which saw him drop out
of the top 50, was linked to marital
problems. This culminated in his very
public divorce from Eimear, his wife of 14
years. Now, though, it seems that his life is
back on track – he scored the winning
point at the Ryder Cup and performed
well at the Open championships. Rumours
to the effect that he is dating the Spanish
supermodel Ines Sastre, whom he met at
the Dunhill Links tournament in St
Andrews last month, also indicate that he
may be on the road to recovery. He’s back
in shape physically, too – shedding two
stone since July. Originally from Troon,
Colin has three children from his
marriage, Olivia, Venetia and Cameron.
Pluses Intelligent, articulate and
charismatic, there’s not much to dislike
about Monty. He has long been a popular
public figure, and is a staunch supporter
of various charities.
Minuses His golf has always come first.
Nothing is sexier than... The sweet smell
of success.
Actor, 39
Lives New York.
Who is he? Fondly
remembered as one
half of Victor and
Barry, the camp duo
in the airline sitcom
The High Life, Alan has, over the course of
his career, accrued a large gay following.
Yet his sexuality has been blurred – he’s
had a wife and a long-term relationship
with the actress Saffron Burrows, as well
as six years with his ex, Nick Philippou.
Unsurprisingly, he caused ripples with
the publication this year of his semiautobiographical
novel, Tommy’s Tale,
to which the film rights have been sold.
Next, he’s due to star in his own variety
show on the world’s first mainstream
gay TV channel, which starts in February
and will be broadcast across the US. He’ll
have no problem attracting celebrity
guests – he counts most of Hollywood
as his friends.
The RSAMD-trained actor’s roles have
been many and varied, from a blue-faced
goblin in X-Men 2 to a stint in Cabaret on
Broadway and parts in Circle of Friends,
Eyes Wide Shut, Goldeneye, Emma and Sex
and the City. He’s currently the voice of
Bruno the bear in the BBC’s children’s
drama Shoebox Zoo, and is due to appear
alongside Neve Campbell in the television
musical Reefer Madness. In all, it’s not bad
for a Carnoustie-raised boy who used to
star in photo stories in Jackie magazine.
Pluses Charming, equable and playful –
who can resist that seductive smirk?
Minuses You’ll face serious competition
from A-listers and a growing fan club – he
gets mobbed walking down Fifth Avenue.
Nothing is sexier than... Hollywood parties.
6 NEW
Andrew Murray
Duncan, Monarch of
the Glen’s kilted handyman. His departure
was as emotional for him as it was for his
fans, but now all kinds of castings have
come knocking, including a part as an “evil
bastard” in a Hollywood blockbuster. He
has decided on a one-off romantic comedy
for television next – but if the patter sounds
familiar, rest assured that he plays a brandnew
character who, unlike Duncan, is “cool
and brilliant at what he does”. Hamish is
also taking the opportunity to do up his
London flat, which he bought two years
ago. Born in Dundee, he hasn’t always
been a successful actor, taking on odd jobs
– a lollipop man and a sales assistant at
Oddbins – after graduating from
Edinburgh University. He later became the
face of Vodafone and starred in the
comedy series My Wonderful Life, before
heading off to Glenbogle. Even now, he’s
bewildered by his status as heart-throb.
Pluses A loveable rogue. Grannies want to
cuddle him, blokes want to buy him a
pint, and as for the women…
Minuses He’s still very attached to kilts –
can you get him into trousers?
Favourite films Amadeus and The Graduate
Nothing is sexier than... A young Liz Taylor.
7 NEW
8 7
Sam Heughan
Tennis player, 17
Lives Stirling and
Barcelona.
Who is he? Hailed as
the next Tim Henman,
Andrew is Britain’s
number-one under-
18s junior. The son of the Scottish
national tennis coach and former pro Judy
Murray, Andrew has been playing since he
was three. Although his mother says he
“wasn’t very good” to start off, Andrew
now has a slew of junior titles to his name,
made his Wimbledon debut when he was
just 15, and this year won the US Open
Our eligible sports heroes
include (clockwise from
above): Colin Montgomerie
(no.4), Campbell Walsh
(no.20), Andrew Murray
(no.7) and Chris Hoy (no.11)
Juniors (previous holders of which
include Pat Cash and Stefan Edberg). The
teenager, who turned down the chance to
train with Rangers to focus on his tennis,
was picked to represent Great Britain at
the Davis Cup in Austria in September. He
is determined to win the French Open by
the time he’s 20. Andrew, who’s currently
based in Barcelona, likes nothing more
than some quality Mexican cooking.
Pluses Energetic, good-looking and
determined – a star in the making.
Minuses His rigorous training schedule
doesn’t leave much time for romance.
Actor, 24
Lives London and LA.
Who is he? After
announcing his desire
to do a “sword-andsandals
epic” in our
last year’s list, Sam
soon saw his ambition realised when he
bagged the lead role in the film Alexander
the Great. Much of the past 12 months has
been taken up with filming in Greece and
Egypt. During the summer, ITV broadcast
the mini-series Island at War, which
marked Sam’s TV debut. He’s now based in
LA, where he has been signed to top agents
ICM and is enjoying the Santa Monica
beach life, where it seems he has developed
a taste for lychee martinis.
Pluses He has a tanned, toned body and
sun-kissed hair.
Minuses He’s on the other side of the world.
Best date “It’s yet to come!”
Worst date He once waited three hours for
his dream girl outside Burger King, at the
east end of Edinburgh’s Princes Street. He
later found out that she had been searching
for him at the one at the west end.
Best chat-up line “I don’t use them – far too
risky, remembering all those words!”
Favourite film The Hours.
Nothing is sexier than… “Talent.”
9 NEW
Ewen Bremner
Actor, 33
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? The man
who will forever be
known as Spud, Ewen
began acting as a
youngster with
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
12 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

PORTRAITS JAMIE SQUIRE/GETTY IMAGES; ARIS MESSINIS/GETTY IMAGES; STEPHEN MANSFIELD; JOHN GRESS/REUTERS
Theatre Workshop. Since his rise to fame
in Trainspotting, he has managed to maintain
a balance between the independent
and Hollywood film worlds, working on
productions from the likes of Julien
Donkey Boy and Sixteen Years of Alcohol to
Black Hawk Down and Around the World in
80 Days. Having recently returned to live
in Edinburgh, Ewen is about to start a new
movie with Joseph Fiennes, and is taking
the guise of Robert Louis Stevenson for an
upcoming BBC docu-drama.
Pluses A down-to-earth Hollywood star.
Minuses He’s always wading through
dozens of scripts or researching characters.
Favourite film A Woman Under the
Influence, by John Cassavetes.
Nothing is sexier than… “A strong and
clever woman.”
10
6
Martin
Compston
Actor, 20
Lives Greenock
Who is he? Two years
ago Martin became
an overnight movie
star when he was cast
in Ken Loach’s gritty film Sweet Sixteen.
He made sure to lay his success firmly at
the door of his director and screenwriter.
“Everything I have, I owe to Ken, Paul
Laverty and their team,” he says, and is
therefore overjoyed to be working with
them again this year, on the comedy
Ticket. Also in the can is Niceland, a film
which was, appropriately enough, filmed
in Iceland and co-stars Kerry Fox and
Peter Capaldi, and he’s off to South Africa
soon for another project. Of course, you
can still catch him in Monarch of the Glen,
where he’s going strong as Ewan Brodie,
or fundraising as the face of Childline.
Pluses He’s young, he’s free, he’s talented
and he’s on the up.
Minuses He’s young, he’s free… and he’s
very much enjoying himself.
Best date “My best experience on a date
is a bit X-rated.”
Worst date Out with a mechanic’s
daughter, Martin’s car battery died.
Completely clueless as to how to fix it,
he received a mouthful from his date
before she took over.
Worst chat-up line “Someone must have
stolen the sparkle from the stars and put
it in your eyes.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Angelina Jolie
wearing a Celtic top and nothing else.”
11 NEW
12 8
Chris Hoy
Lorne Balf
Cyclist, 28
Lives Manchester.
Who is he? The first
Briton to be awarded
gold in Athens this
year, Edinburgh-born
Chris claimed the
one-kilometre time trial title, breaking the
world record. Last month he was named
Scottish Sportsperson of the Year for the
second time running. And if all goes to
plan, he’ll be in Beijing for 2008. To think
it all started on a BMX, aged seven…
Pluses As international athletes go, Chris
is a down-to-earth, modest, all-round
nice guy. And he has recently come out
of a six-year relationship.
Minuses Not surprisingly, he likes to rest
when he’s not cycling. Training twice a
day for four years makes his legs hurt.
Worst date “Being stood up at the cinema
when I was 13. I waited for an hour trying
to convince myself she was just late.”
Favourite films Run Lola Run and Donnie
Darko.
Nothing is sexier than… “Confidence. But
misplaced confidence is a real turn-off.”
Composer, 28
Lives LA and Inverness.
Who is he? He is the
successful composer
who gave us the
theme tune to River
City, and whose
music production company, Metrophonics,
has a client base that encompasses
television, multimedia, corporate video,
radio and film. Lorne has worked on
several major Hollywood productions,
including King Arthur and Wimbledon; he
also produced the music for the BBC’s
Shoebox Zoo, and has completed several
short films through his own company,
Fragmented Films. Recently signed to
agents PFD in London, he likes to sup at
the Circus Café whenever he’s passing
through Edinburgh.
Pluses Lorne refuses to let the Hollywood
glamour sweep his feet off the ground.
Minuses His secretary will probably see
more of him than you will.
Best date “Yet to happen.”
Worst date “I was set up on a blind date,
and my boss’s ex-wife showed up.”
➤
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 13

MEN
➤ Worst chat-up line “I feel sick. Take
me home.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A few A-levels,
the ability to speak more than two
languages and her own teeth.”
13 NEW
Mylo (Myles
MacInnes)
Music producer & DJ, 26
Lives London.
Who is he? The speedy
success that musician
Mylo has enjoyed
Beware, Blair Young (no.17)
would be enough to
make anyone jealous – until you realise it
couldn’t have happened to a nicer bloke.
A native of Skye, he’s no stranger to hard
work, though, having studied psychology
and philosophy at Oxford, and then
heading to LA to do a PhD before deciding
to give music a proper go. With an overwhelmingly
positive response to his first
single, ‘Destroy Rock & Roll’, in May 2003
– released on his own label, Breastfed –
Mylo has since been hailed as the saviour
of dance music. He has just finished a sellout
UK tour and released another single,
‘Drop the Pressure’, from his debut album
– pausing only briefly before working on a
mix for Kylie. A man who loves the
countryside, he tries to get home as often
as possible, and hangs out in Ashton Lane
when in Glasgow.
Pluses He’s hip without even trying.
Minuses About to go stratospheric. Get
him while you can.
Best date “Far too lewd to talk about here.”
Best chat-up line “A girl told me my record
made her have an orgy.”
Worst chat-up line “I can’t do chat-up lines.
I recall burning with shame as a teenager
when all I could think of was, ‘You have
nice hair.’”
Nothing is sexier than… “Uninhibitedness.”
14 NEW
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
Richard Smith
Screenwriter, 26
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? Richard
wrote Trauma, a
thriller starring Colin
Firth and Mena
Suvari that premièred
this year at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
This is his second notable success – while
on a post-graduate script-writing course in
Manchester, he penned Leonard, a short
film that won a Scottish Bafta and is now
being made into a feature film. He aims to
spend a few months in Egypt next year,
researching and writing his next script.
Pluses Hollywood’s just round the corner –
but Richard’s in no hurry to get there. He
plays guitar and keyboards, is a huge
snowboarder and loves travelling.
Minuses He’s a Celtic season ticket-holder,
so you can write off Saturday afternoons.
PORTRAIT ROBERT PERRY
has an uncanny knack of
finding Miss Wrong
14 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

Best date A day-trip to Lapland, acting like
big kids and meeting Santa Claus.
Most romantic gesture “My ex said she’d
love to wake up next to a happy face and
breakfast in bed. So I took two half
grapefruits, a strawberry and a banana,
arranged them into a smiling face and left
it beside her as she slept.”
Favourite film Memento.
Favourite book The dictionary.
15 NEW
Phil MacHugh
Television presenter, 21
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? Born into a
Gaelic-speaking family
with a penchant for
the performing arts
(his uncle is in Simple
Minds, his cousin starred in Rab C Nesbitt),
it was no surprise when Phil became a
Gaelic TV presenter at just 14. He hasn’t
looked back since, working on several
programmes for the BBC. While studying
journalism at Napier he began his career as
a socialite, writing a social events column
for Business AM. He now promotes Gaelic
for VisitScotland and acts as a Glasgow
City Council international representative
for culture and arts, and has recently been
signed to the Model Team agency. He has
had no serious relationships, although this
could have something to do with the fact
that he’s often approached by other men,
including, most memorably, Will Young.
Pluses Charismatic, connected and
convivial; he knows all the hottest parties.
Minuses Do you really want to compete
with the bevy of beautiful girls he meets
every night?
Best date “Driving to Skye on a summer’s
day with a champagne picnic.”
Worst date “Going to the cinema. I cannot
think of anything more boring!”
Most romantic gesture “That will remain
between the bed sheets…”
Nothing is sexier than… “Scandinavian
women. Why do they all look like models?”
16 9
Stephen
Anderson
Director, 28
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? Stephen’s
production company,
Kelpie Films, and
editing service, the
Post Facility, have gone from strength to
strength this year, with new contracts for
a 12-part Discovery Channel series and a
commission from Scottish Screen. He was
editor on the short film And So Goodbye,
which won Best Documentary at this
year’s Edinburgh Film Festival, and is codirecting
a US feature drama on wrongful
imprisonment. Stephen is looking for
someone to settle down with and can
most often be found chatting in the pubs
on Glasgow’s Byres Road.
Pluses Quiet, thoughtful and charming,
he’d rather devote attention to you than
spend all night partying.
Minuses A man who is friends with more
women than men – it will be easy to
become jealous.
Worst date “I once went on a date with a
girl who had a small cyst on her cheek. On
the rollercoaster in Blackpool the pressure
burst it – all over my mate.”
Best chat-up line “‘I don’t want to know
your name, I just want to go home with
you.’ Incredibly, she agreed!”
Favourite film Jean de Florette.
Nothing is sexier than… “Flirtatious eyes.”
18 12
17 NEW
Michael A
Blair Young
Visual artist, 28
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? From the
moment he began
taping Top of the Pops
every week as a child,
to the Super 8 camera
he was given for his 16th birthday and
his days working for free at the Glasgow
Media Access Centre, there was never any
question in Blair’s mind about where his
future lay. He created the Forest of Black
– providing video content for music
promotion, documentaries and DVDs –
two years ago, and has since worked with
bands such as Astrid, Sons and Daughters
and Camera Obscura. Blair’s biggest
success to date has been Belle and
Sebastian’s Fans Only, which has become a
blueprint for how to produce a successful
band DVD. Then there’s also the massive
digital prints that he creates for his friends,
his plans to build a condo based on drawings
he found in “a 1970s Bloomingdale’s
home-decorating book”, and youth work
with children’s charity Fairbridge.
Pluses He’s a self-confessed hopeless
romantic with a sharp sense of humour.
Minuses Apparently he is cursed with a
“knack of finding the one person who isn’t
interested in me”.
Worst date “A mistimed day at the beach,
with someone who had already moved on.”
Most romantic gesture “An ex took me to
New York. It changed my life.”
Worst chat-up line Said by an American: “I
think I’m ready for a Scottish invasion.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Kissing just for the
sake of kissing.”
Jackson
Entrepreneur and
author, 34
Lives Nairn.
Who is he? Owner
of Wild Day, a multimillion-pound
outdoor equipment centre with the
biggest website of its kind in Europe,
Michael is busy expanding his company
even further. He has bought five acres in
the Highlands to create an e-commerce
centre – a hub that will accommodate all
sorts of new ventures. The author of Life
Lessons from History’s Heroes – about
figures such as Alexander the Great –
Michael has also been busy promoting the
book in the US. He is also on the board of
Young Enterprise Scotland.
Pluses He has recently bought a romantic
seaside cottage in Nairn.
Minuses He spends very little time there.
He’s constantly away climbing mountains,
scuba-diving and on business.
Best date “Too much of a gentleman to say.”
Favourite film The Lord of the Rings: The
Return of the King.
for the World Cup, and Slovenia for the
European championships. Although based
in Nottingham so he can be close to the
National Watersports Centre, home for
Campbell is in Bridge of Allan, where
sporting excellence runs in the family –
his sister is also on the World Cup team.
Pluses Brains to match his brawn – he has
a first in mathematical physics from
Nottingham University.
Minuses Racing in the sunshine and in
front of a crowd of thousands is the fun bit
– but you’ll also have to support his wetweather
training and tolerate a wardrobe
full of Neoprene (“thicker and warmer
than Lycra, but not as sexy”).
Best chat-up line “Do you want to look at
my medal?” It worked a treat in Greece.
Favourite film Snatch.
Nothing is sexier than… “Marissa from
The OC.”
19
29
21 5
Aamer Anwar
Lawyer, 35
Prince William
Lives Glasgow.
Student and heir to
Who is he? One of
throne, 22
Scotland’s most
Lives St Andrews
prominent humanrights
lawyers, Aamer
Who is he? Now in
and London.
his final year as a
geography student
at St Andrews University, William has
been busy both in a social and an official
capacity. Ever the modest gent (he favours
a baseball cap in public, and often tries to
pass himself off as a lookalike), he
celebrated his 22nd birthday this year
with a few friends watching football down
the pub. Water-polo tournaments, rugby
matches and academic trips to Norway
have kept him occupied, although his
summer was marked by the death of
his grandmother, Frances Shand Kydd.
Away from his studies, William spent
time on his father’s farm in Gloucestershire
and took part in the BBC’s Sport
Relief charity run in London. The
feasibility factor (getting past the
bodyguards and the Palace) accounts for
his drop down this list.
Pluses He’s officially Britain’s sexiest male,
beating even Jude Law to the title in ITV’s
Celebrity Awards in September.
Minuses If the rumours are to be believed,
Wills may already be attached to his
flatmate, one Kate Middleton.
Worst chat-up line Wills has been known to
mockingly use the phrase: “I’m the future
20 NEW
king. Wanna pull?”
is about to be made
partner at Beltrami, the country’s biggest
criminal defence firm. This year he has
represented Al Qaeda terrorists, asylumseekers
at Dungavel and the controversial
Archbishop Gilbert Deya, who claimed to
help couples conceive ‘miracle babies’. He
was also voted criminal lawyer of the year
by the industry magazine The Firm.
Pluses Following his first holiday in years,
to Zanzibar and Tanzania, Aamer has
resolved to go on another – and take some
time off over Christmas and New Year.
Minuses He’s a controversial figure, which
“can work for and against” him.
Worst date “Years ago, with a girl who
drank so much that she vomited in the
restaurant and later fell asleep in the club.
The bouncers had to ask me to take her
home. It was our first and only date.”
Best (and worst) chat-up line Depending on
the circumstances, “Trust me, I’m a lawyer.”
Favourite film The Godfather.
Favourite book The Lion, the Witch and
the Wardrobe.
Nothing is sexier than... “An intelligent,
beautiful woman in boots.”
Campbell
Walsh
Canoeist, 26
Lives Nottingham.
Who is he? Winning
silver in the men’s
kayak event in Athens
has been Campbell’s
career highlight to date. He has competed
since the age of 11, and now the sport
takes him all over – to Australia next year
22
30
Philip Howard
Artistic director, 41
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? Artistic
director of the
Traverse Theatre for
eight years, Philip has
helped turn it into ➤
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 15

MEN
➤ one of the big hits of Scottish culture.
The past year has included a lot of travel,
with visits to Japan, Germany and France
to investigate the translation of various
pieces into English, and an “extraordinary”
trip to Palestine. Rough Magic Theatre
Company also asked Philip to direct one of
their productions in Dublin, while his
programme during this year’s festival won
a host of Fringe Firsts and Herald Angels.
Best date “Seafood and candlelight in
Mallaig. There’s something about the
west coast.”
Worst date “Any blind date set up by
well-meaning friends.”
Favourite film The Truman Show.
Favourite book The Folding Star, by Alan
Hollinghurst.
Nothing is sexier than… “Bright eyes
and talent.”
Scottish arts scene. A man who lives and
breathes music, as MD of Scot FM he
achieved the station’s highest audience
23 1
Cameron Stout
Television presenter, 33
Lives Orkney.
Who is he? The 2003
Big Brother winner 25
hasn’t been resting on NEW
his laurels. Cameron’s
John Leslie
Entertainer, 39
24 NEW
biggest project this
year has been the BBC TV series The Teen
Commandments, which started this week.
He stood in for Robbie Shepherd on BBC
Radio Scotland, presented at the
Aberdeen International Youth Festival and
will appear in panto, as Prince Charming,
in Aberdeen. His role in the musical Blood
Red was described as “flawless”, and he’s
off to Zambia with his friend Cherise
Makubale, winner of Big Brother Africa.
He’s dropped from the top slot because
that is the fickle nature of Big Brother...
Pluses A true gentleman, with a lilting
accent and a down-to-earth sense of
humour.
Minuses He already has a true love: fast cars.
Worst date “I cannot divulge, as I still
know the girl!”
Most romantic gesture “When Christmas
shopping in the snow, I gave my girlfriend
my coat. I think simple things like that are
much more romantic than big splurges.”
Best chat-up line “Of course you can drive
my Porsche, Cameron.”
Worst chat-up line “Worse than any line is
when a girl gives you that ridiculous
‘come-on’ look, where her eyes go squint.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A girl who knows
how to use silence to its best advantage.”
Mike Bawden
Managing director, 35
Currently at 24
Lives Paisley and Hull.
Who is he? Mike may
hail from Liverpool,
but he is heavily
involved in the
and revenue figures, overseeing a
successful sale and name-change to Real
Radio. He works out at the gym, is
training for the London marathon and
will be raising money for charity next
month, when he takes part in the
Scarborough 10k run; but you can just as
easily find him down Ashton Lane in
Glasgow or at the Canny Man in Morningside,
“one of the best pubs in the world”.
Pluses He’s a smart lad, with tickets to the
best gigs on both sides of the border.
Minuses In order to keep Mike’s interest,
you must have a passion for music.
Most romantic gesture “I like taking
girlfriends away for the weekend and
being a big softy.”
Best chat-up line “I’m shy! I’d sooner make
a girl laugh than use chat-up lines.”
Favourite film The Fisher King.
Favourite book The Lord of the Rings.
Nothing is sexier than… “Strawberries and
champagne in bed.”
Lives London.
Who is he? There’s no
getting away from the
fact that John Leslie
has had a difficult
time recently, but the
former TV presenter has been making a
comeback on stage, touring the country
with Pride and Prejudice. His career has
kept him too busy for serious relationships,
with the famous exception of
Catherine Zeta Jones, whom he dated for
two years, and Abi Titmuss, with whom
he had a five-year, on/off relationship.
Now he’d be happy to settle down, if it
was with the right girl. “I’d get married
tomorrow if I wanted to. But I’m very
fussy and I don’t want to make a mistake.”
Pluses At 6ft 4in, John cuts an athletic
figure – he likes to play tennis, football
and squash.
Minuses A few skeletons in the closet –
and he’s still hounded by the paparazzi.
Worst date “Second dates that just don’t
live up to the first one.”
Worst chat-up line “‘What do I have to do
to get a Blue Peter badge?’ I get it all the
time and it makes me want to run a mile.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Women with class.”
Mark Findlay
Radio executive, 38
Lives London.
Who is he? Head of
music for the Capital
FM radio network,
Mark’s job at its most
basic is to listen to
If you have gorgeous eyes and
a breathtaking smile, perhaps
handsome actor Atta Yaqub
(no.2) will give you ae fond kiss
music – a lot of it. Covering several radio
stations with different identities, he comes
up with playlists, books acts for various
events and finds new artists, all of which
means that he is so busy attending gigs or
album launches during the week that he
considers Saturday night a chance to rest.
Mark began as a presenter in his home
town of Aberdeen, before being headhunted
by Forth Radio, and then making
the move to London just over a year ago;
he compered the Oasis gig at Loch Lomond
and took part in the celebrity Scotland v
England football game, the last match
before Wembley stadium was pulled down.
A frequent visitor to Scotland, he always
takes the chance to visit the Basement bar
in Edinburgh’s Broughton Street.
Pluses “Honest, loyal, a good listener and
good for free gig tickets.”
Minuses “Too work-obsessed.”
Worst date While still at school Mark took
a girl to see ET, but had no idea what to
do when she started crying at the end.
Nothing is sexier than… “A drunken girl in
an Aberdeen football strip.”
O’Connor
Internet entrepreneur, 35
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? Richard is
the founder of We
Entrepreneurs, a
unique networking
community that has produced a £1 million
turnover within its first year. His company
opened in Glasgow and is now preparing
to launch in London and New York. When
he’s not working towards his pilot licence,
26 NEW
Richard
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
27
48
Richard can be found waterskiing.
Best date On an old wooden boat off the
west coast of Scotland, with dinner served
on deck while moored off a small island.
Worst date A night picnic on Loch Tay,
which ended in engine failure, a threehour
paddle back to shore and a 30-mile
walk to the hotel.
Best (and worst) chat-up line “Fancy a trip
in the boat?”
16 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

Most romantic gesture “I once sent a
plane ticket to a girl for a weekend trip
from Australia to Paris.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A woman who
can salsa.”
28
42
Alain Baxter
Professional alpine
skier, 30
Lives Aviemore.
Who is he? Nicknamed
the Highlander,
Britain’s top alpine
skier has been busy
building up his skill and his profile in
preparation for the Winter Olympics in
2006, in what will be his 12th year on the
team. With a summer spent training, Alain
has been busy both on and off the slopes,
winning the French Slalom Championship
title in March and securing sponsorship
from soft-drinks manufacturer T&T. Never
media-shy, he took part in a celebrity
30 NEW
James
Longworth
DJ and club promoter, 27
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? James
has been the brains
behind entertainment
policies for venues
such as the Three Sisters, Espionage and
Frankenstein’s in Edinburgh. He’s now
doing his own DJ thing, with weekly club
nights Blaze and Vibe at Ego. When he’s
not spinning tunes, you’ll find him centrestage
in Ego or the Cellar Bar, doing a spot
of cabaret singing à la Rat Pack – and he
dresses to look the part.
Pluses Flies light aircraft and is a member
of the Classic Car Company, so a Sunday
spin in a Ferrari is part of the package.
Minuses You’ll have to compete with his
toys for attention.
Best date Rolling naked down a hill in
Queen Street Gardens at the end of a
champagne-fuelled evening.
Worst date Finding the wrong girl waiting
for him at the restaurant – a friend had
accidentally passed on the wrong number.
Most romantic gesture Flying to Australia
to woo someone he’d met ten days earlier
in a club.
Nothing is sexier than… “Four strawberries,
one shot of tequila, 300ml double cream
and a pair of handcuffs.”
31 NEW
Patrick Harvie
29 NEW
fashion show for Motor Neurone disease,
and has been invited back by the BBC for
the second series of Superstars, after being
runner-up first time around.
Pluses Underneath all that warm padding
there’s a six-pack – and several tattoos –
to die for.
Minuses Nothing and no one is going to
distract him from the dream of winning
gold at the next Olympics.
Most romantic gesture “Taking my
girlfriend to the Maldives.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A great arse in
nice jeans!”
Alex Van
Klaveren
Entrepreneur, 25
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? Probably
the most beloved
bus conductor in
Edinburgh, Alex is a
self-confessed “serial partier” who turned
a money-making scheme during his
student days into a fully fledged business.
On A Roll Entertainment provides
corporate events in many guises, but his
main concern is the Club Class Bus, a fleet
of bespoke party buses covering six cities,
each with an onboard DJ, a Mile High
Club Room and passes to the best venues
in the city. A “frustrated DJ”, he also
enjoys boogie-boarding and kite-surfing,
and prefers “quirky girls” to ambitious
career woman.
Pluses A striking blond of Dutch descent,
he can guarantee you a good night out in
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle…
Minuses He often works anti-social hours.
Worst date After arranging a date while
slightly the worse for wear, Alex greeted
the wrong woman upon arrival at the
restaurant.
Most romantic gesture “I once took a
girlfriend on a surprise trip to a croft in
the middle of nowhere for three days.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A woman who
can drink you under the table.”
PORTRAIT ROBERT PERRY
MSP, 31
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? Nominated
for Newcomer of the
Year at last year’s
Politician of the Year
Awards, Green MSP
Patrick has always been “a bit of a political
junkie”. He previously worked in the
voluntary sector for a sexual-health
agency, before becoming so outraged over
the issue of Section 28 that he stood up to
be counted, taking office in May 2003.
Unsurprisingly, Patrick’s political interests
include equality and sustainable
development, and his Civil Partnership Bill
caused a storm by demanding an apology
from Cardinal O’Brien. On the board of
Glasgay, he enjoys his culture, tinkering
with his computer and the “ever-increasing
range of Scottish real ales”.
Pluses An unashamed fan of the causes he
believes in.
Minuses He’s also an unashamed fan of
“some quite tragically dated sci-fi”.
Worst date “There was one which ended
up with rather a lot of exposed flesh on
a Welsh beach. Welsh beaches aren’t
exactly tropical…”
Favourite film Insignificance.
Nothing is sexier than… “Mutual
giggling fits.”
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 17

don't touch my breil
MEN
33
10
Colin Kennedy
Film producer, 30
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? Like all
good rebels without a
cause, Colin has spent
much time doing the
opposite of whatever
he was told. When warned that he could
never succeed as an artist, he worked his
way into Chelsea School of Art. He ended
up being recruited by his father – a film
producer – to become staff director, and
set up on his own two years ago. Colin has
made films for Guinness, Orange and the
Royal Navy, but he has aspirations to be a
feature film director and already has
several shorts to his name. Find him at the
offices of Sigma films, or at Stravaigin in
Glasgow, where he claims all the real deals
of the Scottish film industry are made.
Pluses He’s a cheeky chappy who’ll take
you to all the hippest parties.
Minuses There’s no such thing as clockingoff
time in this eligible’s work day.
Best date “A date that ends with a nice
breakfast is always good.”
Most romantic gesture “I once sent roses to
New York for someone who had gone
there for a long weekend. They brought
me something back from Tiffany’s.”
Favourite film Anything by Wes Anderson.
Nothing is sexier than… “A bad, dirty smile.”
Simon Danielli
Scotland rugby player, 25
Lives Galashiels.
Who is he? A bad
hamstring injury put
the Scotland wing out
of action for most of
the summer, but he’s
back on the pitch and hoping to stay in the
game for the Six Nations next year.
Recently transferred from Bath to the
Borders, Edinburgh-born Simon spends
most of his spare time in the city. After a
two-year relationship when he was a
student, he has been single for “quite a
long time”, and once the rugby season is
over, he plans to travel down the
Californian coast with friends.
Pluses Brains to match his brawn – he has
a degree from Oxford.
Minuses He’s not short of admirers.
Most romantic gesture given “Taking an ex
on a surprise trip to New York.”
Most romantic gesture received “Being
woken up to a nice surprise by the same
ex in New York.”
Best chat-up line “‘Hello’ with a smile is
about my limit.”
Favourite film Bad Boys.
Favourite book The Da Vinci Code, by Dan
Brown, or anything by Wilbur Smith.
Nothing is sexier than… “A girl who is
confident in her favourite lingerie, or less.”
34
40
Roger A Blake
Psychiatrist, 33
Lives Finavon
Castle, Angus.
Who is he? A graduate
of Edinburgh medical
school and a member
of the Royal College
of Psychiatrists, Roger is not your typical
doc. Obsessed with speed, he spends most
of his spare time at race tracks around
Europe. He also hosts themed castle
parties and generally enjoys singledom.
He has just been elected as the deputy
chair of the BMA’s Scottish Junior
Doctor Committee.
Pluses A genial and dapper host who likes
to live life in the fast lane.
Minuses His home comes complete with
resident ghosts, of whom he’s quite fond.
Best date “Fireworks going off at the exact
time I first did you know what.”
Most romantic gesture Once booked a suite
at Kinfauns Castle for Valentine’s Day,
complete with pink champagne.
Worst chat-up line “What? Eh? Can’t
hear… music!”
Favourite film Woodstock.
Favourite book Zen and the Art of
Motorcycle Maintenance, by Robert Pirsig.
Nothing is sexier than… “Feeling myself
fall in love in the arms of someone who
finds me the sexiest person alive.”
35 NEW
Ian Turner
Radio reporter, 44
Lives Kippen.
Who is he? A roving
reporter on Radio
Scotland’s Gary
Robertson show, Ian
has no ordinary job –
it has seen him impersonate Elvis and
even participate in a week-long quest to
find him a girlfriend. He also covers sports
for BBC Radio 5 Live, though he claims to
be a genuinely independent reporter,
disliking Rangers and Celtic “equally”.
Pluses As a self-confessed romantic, Ian’s
a gentleman to the core.
Minuses If you like your steaks, you’ll be
disappointed. He’s a vegetarian.
Best date “A perfect picnic on top of a
deserted Ben An in the Trossachs with an
unbelievably fantastic woman on the most
glorious day of the year.”
Most romantic gesture He wrote and
recited a poem on national radio for an
undisclosed love of his.
Best chat-up line “I don’t use chat-up lines.
They’re clichéd and I don’t think they
impress women at all.”
Worst chat-up line received “Is that a
thimble in your pocket or are you not
pleased to see me?”
Nothing is sexier than... “I’m afraid I can’t
tell you her name.”
32 NEW
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
18 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

36 NEW
38 NEW
Anders Drew
Raman
Caterer, 35
Bhardwaj
Lives Edinburgh.
Sports presenter, 31
Who is he? From a
Lives Glasgow.
four-day birthday
Who is he? Tune into
extravaganza on
STV at six o’clock and
Lewis to a barbecue in
you’ll catch Raman
presenting the sports
news. His job is a mixture of live
broadcasts and studio work, which takes
him all over Europe. His career in TV
began with a job as a current-affairs
researcher, before he became a political
reporter a year later. A stint freelancing
for Sky in London followed, but now the
Glasgow University graduate is back on
home ground. Find him drinking on Byres
Road, at any international involving
Scotland, or supporting Partick Thistle FC.
Pluses Charismatic, charming and fun.
Minuses Obsessed with cricket.
Favourite film Donnie Brasco.
Worst date “Having dinner with a girl who
had a bit of a gas problem.”
Nothing is sexier than... “A cheeky smile
worn by Nigella Lawson.”
39 NEW
Robin Sieger
37 NEW
Adam Blyde
Sutherland, Anders
caters for all kinds of corporate and private
functions, including the wedding of the
Queen’s godson. His company, Drew
Norloch, has a catering contract with
Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Gardens, and
other clients include the Scottish
Executive. He can also be found chasing
his next adrenalin rush – he kite-surfs and
loves skydiving and microlighting.
Pluses A self-taught chef, Anders has no
qualms about cooking in your kitchen.
Minuses Are his irregular working hours
compatible with your own?
Worst date “I was invited to a lingerie
fashion show by a very cute woman, but
put the wrong week in my diary. When she
called to find out why I hadn’t picked her
up, one of my mates answered my phone
in the pub. It was the last I heard of her.”
Best chat-up line “Sorry, I can’t come home
with you, I haven’t had my bikini-line
done” (said to a girl – this reverse
psychology works a treat, apparently).
Nothing is sexier than… “Waking up with
a girl asleep on your chest.”
Ballet dancer, 22
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? Adam took
up dancing at 11 and
studied at the Royal
Ballet School. He has
been with Scottish
Ballet for a year and a half. Currently in
rehearsal for The Nutcracker, he’s finding
time for drinks after work before six
evening performances a week put an end
to socialising. Haunts include the Liquid
Ship and Bar Brel. Since coming out at 19,
he’s had only one serious relationship.
Pluses He’s as at home on a club
dancefloor as he is on the stage.
Minuses His job also has drawbacks.
Adam is desperate to go ice-skating at
Christmas, but “just can’t risk it”.
Worst date On his first trip to a gay club,
Adam’s date told him that he had a
girlfriend, but she was “okay with it”.
Needless to say, Adam swiftly legged it.
Most romantic gesture When he sprained
his ankle and was off work for two and a
half months, his then partner (also a
member of the ballet) sent him a postcard
from every town they visited on tour.
Worst chat-up line “I’d never dream of
using one.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A good sense of
humour.”
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
Motivational speaker, 48
Lives London.
Who is he? Author of
the international
bestseller Natural
Born Winners,
Glasgow-raised Robin
is one of the most successful motivational
speakers in the UK. His clients include
Microsoft, Bank of Scotland and IBM, and
he’s presenting a six-part documentary
based on his book. After losing his father
and dropping out of college, Robin was
diagnosed with cancer. He had a moment
of epiphany in hospital, and vowed to
beat the disease and help other cancer
sufferers. He also recently took part in the
filming of Ewan MacGregor and Charlie
Boorman’s motorbike trip around the
world, which was televised last month.
Pluses A good time is guaranteed. Robin
loves kindness, sushi, laughing, cooking,
golf and remote places.
Minuses He has no patience for “bad
service, negative attitudes, greed and
fish on the turn”.
Best date Those that are instantly fun
and familiar.
Worst date Those that feel like job
interviews.
Most romantic gesture Robin once invited
a girl to go camping in the Highlands.
When she arrived he drove her to a
remote campsite, and then took her
straight on to Skibo Castle.
Best chat-up line “Hello.”
Favourite film Leon.
Nothing is sexier than... “Brains, beauty, an
adventurous spirit and an open mind.”
DISTRIBUTED BY SEIKO UK LIMITED 01628 770988
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 19

MEN
40
18
Nick Walter
Polo player, 32
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? A member
of the landed gentry,
Nick is a project
manager for internet
company UniTech
by day, and a polo player pretty much the
rest of the time. He was a key player in
Scotland’s Festival Cup-winning squad this
year – not bad when you consider that just
12 months ago a riding accident left him
lucky to be alive. “You can still feel the
metal screws under my skin where they
rebuilt my shoulder,” he says. It hasn’t
slowed him down socially – catch him at
the Dundee and Perth Polo Club or at the
Coral Reef Club in Barbados.
Pluses A down-to-earth guy with a sixpack
and a few manly scars to boot.
Minuses Could you combine country life
with a glamorous nightlife?
Favourite film Withnail and I.
Worst chat-up line “Are you wearing space
pants? Your ass is out of this world.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A girl in jodhpurs
and riding boots, holding a riding crop.”
41 NEW
Bryce Potter
Fundraiser, 45
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? A
Yorkshireman who
42 36
John Mitchell
ventured north to
study and forgot to go
home, Bryce works
for Waverley Care, Scotland’s leading HIV
charity. He claims he left his heart in Paris
in 1981, and while he is still working on
“the enigma that is Scottish men”, he’s at
his happiest when scoffing Häagen-Dazs
at a Cameo double bill.
Pluses “Spontaneous, loyal, good company.”
Minuses “Nae fashion sense; there’s a
rogue defective gene lurking somewhere.”
Worst date “The one that lasted ten
minutes and ended with, ‘This is a waste
of time, you’re English.’”
Best chat-up line Delivered by a barman:
“The gentleman at the end of the bar says
if he gives you the money, will you buy
him a drink?”
Nothing is sexier than… “Delicious
anticipation.”
Farmer, 25
Lives Lanarkshire.
Who is he? John runs a
3,000-acre farm, part
of which is Scotland’s
first wind farm, with
his brother and father.
PORTRAIT ROBERT PERRY
But it’s not all mud, manure and early
mornings. John is a natural performer,
having won the award for best individual
for the second year running at the Young
Farmers’ Talent Quest. He’s an accomplished
cook, but when he’s not in the
kitchen you can catch him wakeboarding
on Loch Lomond, snowboarding wherever
possible or on a night out in Glasgow.
Pluses He has a good sense of fun and has
his feet planted firmly on the ground.
Minuses Those feet smell a bit – there’s a
lot to tread in down on the farm.
Worst date At the high-school prom, when
a nosebleed struck during a frenzied
kissing session with the girl of his dreams.
Worst chat-up line “How much does a
polar bear weigh? I don’t know, but it
certainly broke the ice.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A beautiful
woman smoking a big cigar.”
Andrew Bushby
Army captain, 33
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? Andrew
was posted to Iraq
with the Black Watch
in February this year,
where he spent three
months working nights, co-ordinating
British helicopters. His army career has
also taken him to Hong Kong, Kosovo and
Kenya – and he’s due in Afghanistan later
this month. Currently in Edinburgh Castle
for the next 18 months, you’ll find him
sailing on the west coast of Scotland, rock
climbing or at the Hallion.
Pluses Who can resist a man in uniform?
Minuses As glamorous as living in a castle
sounds, there’s no escaping nosy tourists.
Worst date “After a date in London, I
returned to the flat of a friend who had
locked me out, and decided that the only
way to gain access was through the
skylight two storeys up. The result was 18
stitches in my head, a fractured sternum
and a fractured spine. I also had to pay for
the new guttering.”
Favourite film Big Wednesday.
Nothing is sexier than... “A southern Irish
accent accompanied by my own rather
extraordinary imagination.”
44
43 NEW Nick Haddow
37
Photographer, 37
Lives London
and New York.
Who is he? A freelance
photographer, Nick
does fashion shoots
and portraits for a
whole spectrum of glossy magazines,
including British and American Vogue, the
Sunday Times style magazine and British
Glamour. Favourite subjects range from
the actress Miranda Richardson to Gwen
Stefani and our very own Shirley Manson.
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
For those who like a man in
uniform, Captain Andrew Bushby
(no.43) of the Black Watch won’t
give out marching orders
Earlier this year, he photographed Orlando
Bloom and Keira Knightley at his home in
Notting Hill for Vogue. Constantly on the
move, he’s off to Argentina and Bali next.
His nomadic lifestyle makes relationships
“difficult”, but he does make time for
tennis, golf and skiing.
Pluses He has beautiful homes in London
and New York, and he’s actively looking to
buy in his home city, Glasgow.
Minuses An impressive collection of air
miles, but no time to use them.
Best date “I always prefer second dates to
first dates. They’re a bit more relaxed –
and it also means you like each other.”
Most romantic gesture Being invited to
Brazil by a guy he’d met just the week
before. “I was meant to be in Switzerland
and Thailand over New Year, but changed
my plans at the last minute.”
Nothing is sexier than... “Natural sex appeal.”
45 NEW
Colm Dempsey
Lawyer, 26
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is he? Colm
qualified in law at
Aberdeen University
and followed this
46 24
Graeme Neilson
with a post-graduate
diploma at Edinburgh. For the moment he
has put life as a solicitor on hold to pursue
a career in modelling and television
presenting. Until he damaged his knee
last year, Colm played rugby for Heriot’s,
but he’s off the game for the foreseeable
future and is training instead for the
London marathon. Single for a year, he’s
has a “sporadic” relationship history. You’ll
find him at Sygn in Charlotte Lane, the
Candy Bar and the Opal Lounge.
Pluses A buff bod – Colm goes to the gym
four times a week.
Minuses Two left feet. His inability to dance
is a “major weakness”, so he has gone back
to basics with lessons – the tango, the waltz
and Scottish country dancing.
Worst date “Going out with a girl on a first
date and bumping into her large (and
subsequently very angry) boyfriend,
whom she had neglected to tell me about.”
Best chat-up line “I go for a more
spontaneous approach, which hopefully
reduces the likelihood of being laughed at
– or slapped.”
Nothing is sexier than... “A girl who looks
brilliant in just jeans, a T-shirt and no
make-up.”
Falconer, 31
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? Running
one of Scotland’s
most successful
falconries in the
grounds of the
20 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

exclusive Strathblane Country House
Hotel, Graeme has used his past
experience as the duty manager at
Turnberry Hotel to help his fledgling
business take off. In the past 12 months
he has doubled the number of birds on
his roster. He loves long walks in the
countryside almost as much as he loves
brunettes, and can often be found
drinking in Glasgow’s Ashton Lane.
Pluses A down-to-earth country lad.
Minuses Try persuading him to take time
off work; Graeme took his first holiday in
four years this summer and was bored by
the end of the first week.
Worst date “Standing outside the Odeon
cinema in Glasgow on a first date and
holding the girl’s hair back as she was sick
on the pavement.”
Worst chat-up line “I’m a bird man.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A woman who
doesn’t try to change you.”
David Reid
47
NO CHANGE
Daniel Bee
PR guru, 31
Lives London.
Who is he? Born in
Edinburgh, Daniel has
always had a love of
the dramatic – trying
Stephen
Robson
Beekeeper, 28
Lives Berwickupon-Tweed
48 NEW
to join the Hungarian
State Circus as a child and then auditioning
for Archaos as a 17-year-old fire-eater.
After six years in a legal firm, he gravitated
towards PR and is now working for
Avalon, which manages, promotes and
makes TV programmes for the likes of
Jenny Eclair, Harry Hill and David
Baddiel. He parties with fellow eligible
Gerard Butler, Dustin Hoffman, Cat
Deeley and Boy George, and recently
dated Imogen Lloyd-Webber, the beautiful
daughter of his former boss Andrew. Alas,
his schedule gets in the way of true love.
Pluses He will get you into all the
best parties.
Minuses That might be the only way you
get to see him.
Best date “A blind date that turned into
a blind weekend.”
Favourite film The Cannonball Run
Nothing is sexier than... “Intelligence.”
Simon
Cormack
Naval architect, 27
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? A sailor
since the age of
seven, Isle of Bute
native Simon began
his own naval architecture firm just over a
year ago. A major contract to design a
leisure boat based on the old Clyde puffer
boats has kept him busy, and since its
launch at the Scottish Boat Show in
August there has been keen interest, with
plans to go bigger and better. Other
projects include a new water taxi for
Cardiff bay and a ferry for dolphinwatching
cruises in southern Ireland.
Pluses A keen sportsman, Simon keeps fit
by mountain biking, kayaking and skiing.
Minuses He’ll expect you to be able to
keep up with him.
Worst date “When a recent ex arranged for
all her friends to individually give my date
a friendly warning about how evil I was.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Getting a smart
line in with a pretty lady, feeling smug,
and then she outwits you.”
49
NEW
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
Property magnate, 41
Lives Glasgow.
Who is he? As a
director of Christie &
Co, David handles the
sale of the majority of
Scotland’s hotels,
pubs and restaurants. Most of his clients
are friends and a large chunk of Scotland’s
glitterati attended his 40th birthday party
last year. David’s love life has been fairly
non-existent, though he admits it would be
nice “to meet someone and settle down”.
He does up houses as a hobby (six last
year, two of which were featured in Homes
and Interiors magazine).
Nothing is sexier than... “The George V
Hotel in Paris.”
MAKING UP THE NUMBERS
Last year’s eligible women have been a busy lot.
Our former number-one gal, GMTV presenter
Jenni Falconer, has bagged herself actor James
Midgley, star of the television series Cutting It.
Radio 1 DJ Edith Bowman, who wasn’t far behind
at number four, has gone public with the lead
singer of the band Elbow.
Wedding co-ordinator Gaynor Gillespie
(last year’s number 48) could be planning her
own big day soon – to Joe Fyfe, a British Airways
engineer. Former eligible Heidi Cullen (last
year’s 33), of VisitScotland, met her fiancé
Stuart Cordner, earlier this year. Meanwhile,
film producer Gillian Berrie (last year’s 16)
is engaged to be married to Simon Cull, who
runs the post-production film company
Serious Facility.
On the boys’ side, Jay Feeney (last year’s 16),
of Cabaret Voltaire, has settled with Samantha
Woods, a visual-arts publisher. Interior designer
John Amabile (last year’s 15) has found a
partner with whom he’s “very happy”, and
television presenter Dougie Anderson (last
year’s 26) has also got himself hooked up.
Compiling this year’s list was, as ever, no easy
task. One TV presenter asked five of his friends to
flood our inboxes with his name, and an
entrepreneur – yes, he’s still on the list – thought a
picture of his naked bum covered in shots of
sambuca would help push him up the rankings.
50 NEW
Who is he? Stephen,
whose nickname is
Waspy, grew up on
Chainbridge Honey Farm in Berwick and
now works full-time for the family
business, looking after the bees. From
now until spring he’ll be out on the moors,
tending 1,700 hives. As well as honey, the
company produces cosmetics and
beeswax candles, supplying 350 shops
and a mail-order business. As a sideline,
Stephen runs a motor museum with his
dad, sourcing vintage tractors. He plays
rugby for the Berwick Seconds, enjoys
mountain biking, snowboarding and
jetskiing, and has just bought a set of
record decks.
Pluses You’ll never be short of a spread
for your toast.
Minuses Let’s not forget the bee stings –
with up to 20,000 bees per hive, Stephen
2 grand leather sofas
averages two or three stings a day (the
record is a fearsome 26).
for under £1000.
Worst date “I got stopped for speeding
while taking a girl to the movies – she
wasn’t impressed.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A cheeky smile.”
Immediate delivery now available.
Jenni Falconer with Cutting It star, James Midgley
Our new questions raised some eyebrows –
especially when we had to specifically ask for
less X-rated answers (Spectrum’s Sex Tips
column will be appearing soon). One man even
admitted that he was enjoying a bubble bath
while being interviewed – over the phone, we
hasten to add – while another played the piano
to a lucky interviewer.
From pushy mothers to bolshy PRs who
refused to admit the real status of their clients,
we have been amazed at people’s inventiveness.
Gerard Butler was stuck under four feet of ice
for four weeks before we finally got him on the
phone from Iceland, and we eventually tracked
down one female eligible in a taxi in India. And
let’s not forget the others, who fretted about their
photos, their placings and what their newly
divorced husbands would think.
3 seater and 2 seater cream or chocolate leather sofas, just £999
Martin & Frost
Be discerning. We are.
130 Mcdonald Road Edinburgh EH7 4NN
PHOTOGRAPH BIG PICTURES
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 21

WOMEN
PORTRAIT VERONIQUE ROLLAND
This year’s most eligible female,
Rachael Stirling, is popular with the
boys not only for her looks but
because she’s a keen footballer
1
7
Rachael Stirling
Actress, 27
Lives London.
Who is she? Rachael will be on our screens
this Christmas, playing “a dirty vicaress”
in Miss Marple, and a sexy aristocrat in
ITV’s comedy-drama The Quest. She’s
currently in rehearsal for Anna in the
Tropics, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by
the Cuban writer Nilo Cruz, which is at
Hampstead Theatre from November 25
until mid-January. Most people, however,
will still associate her with the lesbian
television drama Tipping the Velvet, and
her prominent parents, Dame Diana Rigg
and Scottish landowner Archie Stirling.
Having split from her long-term
boyfriend last year, she’s not necessarily
looking for a perfect match. “I’ve never
understood the theory that two halves
make a whole. I believe a relationship
should be about two independent people.”
Rachael is a keen footballer, but her allgirls
team, Frisky Tan, sadly disintegrated
last year when the goalie got pregnant.
She also enjoys a bit of yoga, lots of
reading and dancing to good music.
Pluses Although “pathetically star-struck”
herself, Rachael is loath to be a celebrity
and stays well away from the party circuit,
disappearing to her mother’s house in
France at every opportunity. “I’d rather
not be on the front cover of every tabloid.
I want to be a well-respected actress at the
age of 60.”
Minuses She completely submerges herself
in every role – Anna in the Tropics is set in
a Cuban community in 1929, so she’s
learning how to salsa and roll a cigar. “My
mind is permanently occupied with new
stimuli. I can concentrate, but I won’t be
the most generous listener.”
Best date “Sitting on a buttress of the
Ponte Vecchio in Florence, looking out
over the river in the evening sunshine,
with some bread, cheese and a bottle of
red wine.”
Worst date “Luckily for my ex-boyfriend, I
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
24 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

don’t really have one. But I don’t think
we live in a dating culture here – not like
America, anyway.”
Most romantic gesture “I’d been away
for a month and came back to find my
boyfriend had transformed my garden
from a wreck into something that Alan
Titchmarsh might have been at – full
of beautiful roses and camelias.”
Favourite film The Philadelphia Story.
Favourite book Anna Karenina.
Nothing is sexier than… “A sense of the
ridiculous.”
2
NEW
Nicola
Benedetti
Violinist, 17
Lives Surrey.
Who is she? Winning
the BBC Young
Musician of the Year
award in May helped
transform Nicola from child prodigy to
international artist. The West Kilbride
violinist first took up the instrument when
she was four, and later studied at the
Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey. She
performed to an audience of 10,000 at
this year’s Glastonbury Classical Festival,
and to 8,000 at the Scottish Proms at
Glamis Castle. She stole the show with her
performance at the opening of the
Scottish Parliament and is booked to play
at New York’s Carnegie Hall next year.
She also works with Sergeant Cancer
Care, promoting ‘Practiceathons’ to
encourage children to practise music.
Admittedly a very young Eligible, but
definitely one to watch.
Pluses A friendly, down-to-earth girl who
will happily relax to Norah Jones, Joss
Stone or a bit of R&B.
Minuses Be prepared to come second – she
practises her violin for six hours a day and
even takes it on holiday with her.
Worst date Going out for dinner to find
the first two restaurants they tried were
closed, and at the third place the food was
stone-cold.
Most memorable chat-up line Having a
stranger serenade her with an amazing
rendition of Christina Aguilera’s ‘You Are
Beautiful’ in the street – only to wink and
walk off.
Nothing is sexier than… “A sense of humour.”
3 NEW
Rachel Grant
Actress, 27
Lives London.
Who is she? Half-
Scottish, half-Filipino,
the former beauty
queen has played
James Bond’s
masseuse and would-be assassin in Die
Another Day, she was a body-double for
Angelina Jolie in Tomb Raider and stars in
The Purifiers. She’s also appearing on Sky
One’s Brainiac, as well as The Ultimate
Playboy, her “first and last taste of reality
TV”. Watch out for her in Star Hyke, a
sci-fi spoof series due out next year.
Pluses A babe with royal connections – her
great-grandmother was first cousin to the
late Queen Mother.
Minuses Many men have issues with her
being a lads’ mag favourite.
Worst date “I met up for a drink with a guy
I really liked, but we had an argument and
he ended up dancing with – and snogging
– some other girl.”
Best date “When I was 19, I was a
receptionist for Michael Winner. He used
to take me out for the odd lunch and
supper – not in a romantic way, but for
company. He wined and dined like a pro,
and ever since then no one has really been
able to match up.”
Most romantic gesture “A friend tattooed
his back with a dragon and my name
above it – it looked amazing, but I hardly
knew him. He just said he liked my name
and he liked me very much. It certainly
made my heart jump.”
Worst chat-up line “Teach this rose about
beauty” – from a stranger who gave her
a rose in Leicester Square.
Nothing is sexier than… “Superheroes.”
4
2
Dawn Steele
Actress, 28
Lives London.
Who is she? Following her departure from
Monarch of the Glen, the girl we know best
as Sexy Lexie has been reinventing herself
as a paranormal sleuth in the BBC drama
Sea of Souls. She has just finished filming
the second series with Iain Robertson and
Bill Paterson, which will be screened in the
New Year. It has been dubbed the Scottish
X-Files, which she admits is a “flattering
comparison”. But does she really believe in
the supernatural? “Absolutely – there’s too
much information on it for it not to be true.”
It is a world away from the wilds of
Glenbogle – which she has removed
herself from literally, moving down to
London at the beginning of the year. Now
she is auditioning for various upcoming
productions – and after her successful run
of Cuttin’ a Rug, the second play in John
Byrne’s Slab Boys trilogy, she isn’t ruling
out a return to theatre.
As for romance, Dawn has been much
too busy packing and unpacking suitcases
to worry about a boyfriend – this month,
she is off to the Maldives for a longoverdue
beach holiday.
Pluses A great body – Dawn’s addicted to
spinning and body combat classes.
Minuses A bad shopping habit. Plus, all
those extra bags means she favours cars
over planes. But at least the Glasgow-
London route is pretty comfortable in her
new BMW X3.
Favourite film “Magnolia – one of Tom
Cruise’s finest.”
Favourite book Starter for Ten, by David
Nicholls (“I annoyed everyone on set by
reading it constantly and laughing out
loud”) and any autobiography – Bill
Paterson has just given her a copy of
Joanna Lumley’s.
Nothing is sexier than... “Talent.”
Actress Dawn Steele (no.4) has quit Glenbogle for pastures new, and may return to work in the theatre
PORTRAIT ROBERT PERRY
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 25

WOMEN
5
NEW
Catherine
McQueen
Model/TV presenter, 28
Lives London.
Who is she? A model
for ten years, doing
campaigns for Dior
and Ultimo among
others, Catherine has also been a Bond
Girl (well, she had a bit part in Die
Another Day) and you can see her as a
biker chick in the forthcoming The
Purifiers. These days she works in TV,
presenting Sky Vegas three nights a week.
Oh, and she also has a property business
in Asia, and a degree in law and business.
Pluses She has all the latest celeb gossip.
Minuses A weakness for participating in
reality-TV shows.
Worst date “Being a contestant on Celebrity
Five Go Dating, a reality show on Channel
Five. It was fake and horrible, and I hated
every second of it.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Confidence, but
not arrogance.”
6
3
Susie Stoddart
Racing driver, 21
Lives Northampton.
Who is she? Susie is
the world’s top female
racing driver, with her
sights set on Formula 1
by 2006. She has just
made the final of the McLaren Autosport
award (the most prestigious young
drivers’ competition in the UK), came fifth
in the British Formula Renault Championships,
and in February was awarded the
Lord Wakefield trophy for outstanding
achievement by a woman in motor sport.
Pluses She enjoys skiing, swimming and
trial biking – and, thanks to an intensive
gym routine, has lost 9kg since last year.
Minuses During the season (ten months of
the year) she won’t drink or go on holiday.
Best date “The first date with my last
boyfriend. It was meant to be just a bite to
eat but turned into one of the best nights,
and I’ve never laughed so much.”
Worst chat-up line “Forget the race track. I
can give you thrills in another department.”
Nothing is sexier than... “A guy who can
make you laugh.”
7
6
Lindsay
Bannerman
Entrepreneur, 31
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? As the
brains behind websites
such as New
BusinessVoice.com,
Lindsay’s workload and profile continue to
Fun-loving Francesca Contini (no.11) runs Valvona & Crolla’s successful new venture, and she’s a great cook
rise. She is the youngest ever director on
the board of Glasgow’s Chamber of
Commerce, and her wealth of knowledge
is also put to good use on Radio Scotland’s
Gary Robertson show, where she does
business commentary. Having stopped
applying for awards as her shelf “was about
to break under the weight”, Lindsay has
signed a contract to write a book on networking.
She loves Oriental food, travelling
and sailing. Haunts include Bambou, the
Attic or any fundraising event for Sense
Scotland, on whose board she now sits.
Pluses Great contacts and the best parties.
Minuses Do you really have the energy to
keep up?
Best date “That would be telling…
needless to say it was a lot of fun!”
Worst date “The chap who talked about
nothing but his new Skoda.”
Worst chat-up line “Gosh, you’re tall!”
Nothing is sexier than… “A man who smiles.”
the Miss UK title shortly after. If all goes to
plan, a TV career beckons – she has an
audition for Hollyoaks this month, and
would also like to get into TV presenting.
Pluses No half measures – if she’s in a
relationship, she puts everything into it.
Minuses Her nomadic lifestyle might make
a romance difficult.
Best date “A picnic in the park on a sunny
day, where we just lay on the grass all
afternoon. Then we went to the theatre,
and after that we danced all evening.”
Worst chat-up line “‘Louise, you look
beautiful.’ If you’re going to chat someone
up, at least get their name right!”
Nothing is sexier than… “Johnny Depp in
Pirates of the Caribbean.”
“soul-mate” of five years, Shona plays as
hard as she works, favouring the Port of
Leith (“the best bar in the world”) for a
drink, the hills of Galloway for escape and
Castara Bay in Tobago when all else fails.
Pluses Having survived the swampland
jungles of Indonesia and the African bush,
Shona thrives on living life to extremes.
Minuses Not one for staying in “to watch
crap telly”.
Most romantic gesture “Returning home to
find every room filled with flowers, the
fridge full of Bollinger and a gorgeous
nutter exclaiming his undying love for me.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Camping on the
north-west coast of Scotland with someone
you really love, cooking over an open
fire and having a great bottle of wine.”
Keira
MacDougall
Businesswoman, 28
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? Already
successful in her
home town with her
recruitment company
KJM Management, this year Keira has
taken her creativity to the international
stage. At the end of 2003 she was involved
in buying the fund administration firm
FUNDsoft, with offices in Glasgow, London
and Jersey. In a solo venture, Keira bought
her own cocktail bar in Portugal; formerly
owned by footballer Luis Figo, it now acts
as her home for at least five days of every
month. She’s also involved in several
charities and you can often find her at
black-tie fundraising events.
Pluses A regular in the VIP section of
Glasgow’s hippest clubs, where she will
undoubtedly know everyone.
Minuses So independent you may have
trouble pinning her down.
Best date “A boyfriend told me to pack an
overnight bag and bring my passport. We
ended up in Paris for two days.”
Worst chat-up line “Here’s 10p. Away and
call your mum to say you won’t be home!”
Favourite movie The Shawshank Redemption.
Nothing is sexier than… “A guy with a great
body, just out the shower and wearing
only a pair of jeans.”
11 NEW
8 NEW
Film and video
producer, 31
Lives Edinburgh.
Francesca
Nicola Jolly
Who is she? Shona has
Contini
Shona
Donaldson
9 NEW
Miss UK, 23
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? Nicola
graduated in business
studies from Robert
Gordon University,
and won the Miss
Scotland title – thanks to her boyfriend at
the time, who entered her in the competition.
She flew to China for the Miss World
contest last November, and was awarded
turned her hand to a
wide variety of jobs –
from acting and radio to becoming one of
Scotland’s youngest film producers (she’d
completed her third feature film before
she was 27). She has won many Scottish
Communicators in Business awards and is
celebrating a successful first year for
Muckle Hen Productions, the company
she set up with her business partner, Carol
Rutherford. Recently separated from her
Manager, Vincaffè, 24
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Whether
you want prosciutto,
pancetta or parmesan,
Francesca’s your
woman. The daughter of Philip and Mary
Contini, owners of Edinburgh’s renowned
Valvona & Crolla deli, she gave up her job
as a pharmacist at Great Ormond Street
Hospital last year to join the family
PORTRAIT ROBERT PERRY
10
11
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
26 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

PORTRAIT ROBERT PERRY
Tina Warren (no.33) loves dressing up –
perhaps that’s why she founded
Scotland’s first burlesque club
has turned Wm Dow Plant Hire into a
successful and growing concern – no easy
task for a woman in what Sheila admits is
“very much a man’s business”. In 2002 she
started her own waste-management company,
envisioning a future where recycling
will become one of the country’s biggest
industries, and yet still manages to be “a
glam bird” about town. Known during her
backpacking days in Australia for always
having a pair of stilettos in her rucksack,
Sheila counts INXS among her good
friends, and depends on fashion adviser
Sarah Davidson to keep her looking good.
You can find her fly-fishing in the north,
skiing on the continent or drinking in
the Hallion.
Pluses Nicknamed DP, or Dom Perignon,
by her friends, this gal likes to play as hard
as she works.
Minuses She once managed to run a cruise
boat aground after one too many cocktails.
Best date “Yet to come.”
Worst date “Having dinner with someone
who had been on a TV show and who
talked about himself the entire evening.”
Most romantic gesture “A dozen red roses.”
Best chat-up line “I’m no good at chatting-up
women, could you give me some advice?”
Worst chat-up line “Show us the colour of
your pants!”
Favourite movie The Godfather.
Nothing is sexier than… “A man standing at
the sink wearing nothing but his apron!”
business. She has taken charge of their
latest venture, Vincaffè – a wine bar, café
and shop near Harvey Nichols. Top of the
agenda is to change our skinny-latte
mentality and do coffee the Italian way. So
make her day and pop in for an espresso.
Pluses Fun-loving, and a fabulous cook –
her speciality is curry.
Minuses When will you see her? She works
from 7am until late, six nights a week.
Best date A trip to Blackpool.
Worst date On her first visit to her
boyfriend’s parents’ house, she managed
to break the toilet seat and spill her dinner
all over the carpet.
Nothing is sexier than... “Catching the eye
of your partner and sharing a moment in
a crowded room.”
12
NEW
Mary Dickson
First ScotRail MD, 34
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? As the
newly appointed
managing director of
First ScotRail, Mary’s
job is to keep passengers
happy and trains running on time –
not an easy task. But Mary, who was the
driving force behind First Group’s bid for
the ScotRail franchise, has a solid background
in the industry, having moved into
railways in 1997 as marketing director of
National Express. Find her at stations
everywhere, from Ayr to Aberdeen.
Pluses Mary’s a keen golfer, deep-powder
skier and off-shore powerboat racer.
Riding is her greatest passion – she
regularly enters her horse, Dance, for
dressage competitions.
Minuses A high-pressured job.
Best date Being flown to the Algarve for
a round of golf and dinner at one of her
favourite restaurants.
Worst date Driving 400 miles to watch the
British Rallying Championships in Wales,
at the invitation of her date. “It was wet
and freezing cold, and I did all the driving.”
Most romantic gesture “My boyfriend was
living in Edinburgh and I was based in
Coventry. I was having a terrible day, and
arrived home to find him sitting on the
doorstep with a bunch of flowers. He’d
driven down to give them to me – and had
to drive all the way back that night.”
Best chat-up line “You’ve got a smile to
die for.”
Nothing is sexier than... “A well-dressed
man in an open shirt, no tie.”
13
19
Kahleen
Crawford
Casting director, 25
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? You will
probably have seen
Kahleen’s work at
the cinema or on
television – she has cast acclaimed films
such as Young Adam, Wilbur Wants to Kill
Himself and, most recently, Ae Fond
Kiss (starring another Eligible, Atta Yaqub).
Next year, look out for The Yank, starring
Elijah Wood; Alpha Male, featuring Danny
Houston from 21 Grams; and Advance
Party, the first in a trilogy. It’s all the work
of Hamilton and Crawford, the agency
Kahleen formed with Des Hamilton. Not
surprisingly, she can’t see enough films
(that’s your first date sorted, then) but
cocktails and live music also go down a
treat – try places such as Zinc, Barfly and
Nice’n’Sleazy.
Pluses Tons of energy.
Minuses You’re out of luck if you’re an
actor. She avoids them “like the plague”.
Worst date The man who sat and told her
about the night he got stabbed.
Most romantic gesture A boyfriend who
meticulously cut out paper snowflakes –
each one different – and spread them all
over the bed.
Favourite film The Wizard of Oz.
Nothing is sexier than… “Not giving
everything away.”
Katherine
Grainger
Olympic rower, 28
Lives Marlow.
Who is she? Katherine
came home from
Athens this summer
the triumphant
winner of a silver medal in the women’s
pairs event – one to add to the silver she
won in Sydney four years ago. She’s
currently having a well-deserved break,
“enjoying all the nights out I couldn’t have
as an athlete”, and is on holiday in South
Africa this month. The Edinburgh
University graduate, who hails from
Maryculter, Aberdeen, is “undecided” as
to whether she’ll train for the next
Olympics. Based in Marlow, where the
British squad live and train, she’s also
studying part-time for a PhD in law.
Balancing work and training leaves little
time for romance: “There seems to be
14 NEW
Sheila Dow
Company director, 31
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? A hardcore
traveller during her
20s, Sheila never
imagined she would
end up running the
family business back in Kilsyth, where she
15 NEW
something about female rowers. They
often have disastrous relationships.”
Pluses A glittering trophy cabinet.
Minuses Early-morning starts and a
punishing training regime, if she sets her
sights on 2008.
Most romantic gesture Plenty of red roses,
including a Valentine’s bouquet that
arrived for her at secondary school.
Favourite film Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Nothing is sexier than... “Any man not
wearing Lycra.”
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 27

WOMEN
16 NEW
Romy Wyser
Lingerie buyer, 27
Lives Fife.
Who is she? With a
mix of Swiss-German
and Scots blood,
Romy has always had
a passion for lingerie.
Despite holding down a day job, she set
up her own firm in July and sells undies
via her website (www.silkstorm.com). She
can be found on the beaches of Dalgety
Bay or at the Hallion in Edinburgh.
Pluses An unrivalled lingerie collection.
Minuses Working for two businesses
leaves little time for romance.
Best date Drinking mulled wine on a cold
November day halfway up Arthur’s Seat.
Most romantic gesture An ‘I love you’ call
over the airport tannoy after a lovers’ tiff.
Best chat-up line “I’ve had a bad day and it
always makes me feel better to see a
pretty girl smile – will you smile for me?”
Favourite film Ocean’s Eleven – “simply for
the final scene with George Clooney”.
Nothing is sexier than… “Wearing gorgeous
lingerie, whether anyone sees it or not!”
17
35
Ruth Millar
Actress, 29
Lives London.
Who is she? You can
see Ruth in Festoon,
which runs in
London’s West End
until January. She
also features in the first of a trilogy by
Stephen Poliakoff, due out next year.
Other hits on her CV include Footballers’
Wives and Solid Geometry (where she got
naked with Ewan McGregor).
Pluses She’s feisty and beautiful.
Minuses With Festoon running until
January, she’s working most nights.
Best (and worst) date Ruth once went
wakeboarding on a first date – fun, but
hard to retain dignity “wearing a wetsuit
and falling on my face in a muddy pond”.
Best chat-up line A man stopped her in the
street to say she’d dropped something.
When she turned, he replied, “My heart.”
Worst chat-up line “You’re like my mother.”
Favourite film Lovers of the Arctic Circle.
Nothing is sexier than... “A man in a
suit and Converse trainers.”
PORTRAIT GRAHAM JEPSON
Gifted violonist Nicola
Benedetti (no.2) is only 17,
but music is the food of love
18
22
Lulu
Singer, 56
Lives International.
Who is she? As if
you need to ask.
The Glaswegian
powerhouse is
enjoying 40 years in
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
28 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

showbusiness this year. Lulu, brought up
in Dennistoun, Glasgow, was voted
Britain’s Most Promising Newcomer by
Melody Maker in 1965, and she hasn’t
stopped since, racking up more than 20 hit
singles over the years. During the 1960s
she shared a stage with The Beatles, The
Rolling Stones, The Monkeys and Roy
Orbison, and even starred with the
legendary Sidney Poitier in the 1967
movie To Sir with Love. Twice married,
Lulu may have gone in and out of fashion,
but she is a true veteran, gaining an OBE
in 2000. Now hosting a Sunday show on
Radio 2, she is lined up to play at the
Magnum Centre in Irvine and Edinburgh’s
Usher Hall later this month.
Pluses Just think of the kudos at the next
karaoke party.
Minuses You might need to ‘Shout!’ to get
her attention.
Nothing is sexier than… Franz Ferdinand?
She loves their music but was too shy to
chat to them at the recent GQ Awards.
19 NEW
Katie Cullen
TV commercials
producer, 26
21 12
Rosie Kane
MSP, 43
20 NEW
Karen Koren
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Katie’s
love affair with the
camera began when
she was just 15, and a
talent scout spotted her through a national
newspaper modelling competition. It
wasn’t long before she moved behind the
scenes, though, and she’s now a TV
commercials producer. “Constantly on the
blower”, Katie liaises with directors and
clients all over the world, and this year has
been on shoots in Paris, Miami and New
York. In Scotland, she “enjoys the benefits
of the Scottish coastline” with her dog
Tilly, and likes to drink in the Fish Tank in
Edinburgh. She’s keen to find “a strapping,
handsome laddie”, and has reduced what
was once a list of 16 prerequisites to just
two: tall (she’s six foot) and funny.
Pluses Comfortable in any situation, she
loves good food, drink and company.
Minuses The fun doesn’t start until the
film is in the can.
Best chat-up line “I once got chatted up
about my shoes… good tactic!”
Favourite film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Favourite book Toast, by Nigel Slater.
Nothing is sexier than… “Laughter,
confidence and spontaneity.”
Managing director, 54
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? As the
woman who launched
such comedy stars as
Bill Bailey, Rhona
Cameron, Peter Kay
Actress Ruth Millar (no.17) ended up face-first in a muddy puddle after trying wakeboarding on a first date
and Johnny Vegas, Karen’s name is
synonymous with the Gilded Balloon, the
production company and venue she began
18 years ago. Heartbroken but unfazed by
the Cowgate fire, which destroyed her
premises two years ago, Karen has been
working hard to keep the firm’s profile
high. The company has also been running
Winter Wonderland in Edinburgh for
seven years and in Glasgow for three.
Always seeking new talent, Karen takes
time off when she can to go scuba-diving.
Pluses Your pick of the hottest comedy
talent around.
Minuses Can you really show her a better
time than a night at the Gilded Balloon?
Best date “Realising how much we had
in common and spending the afternoon
with champagne and strawberries,
overlooking the sea.”
Worst date “The man who couldn’t talk
about anything but his deceased wife.”
Best (and worst) chat-up line “I’m having
you tonight!”
Favourite film American Graffiti.
Nothing is sexier than… “Sun, sea,
sand and sex!”
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? Only an
irrepressible (she
would say stubborn)
woman could be
diagnosed with
depression and yet still have one of her best
years to date. But that’s what the Scottish
Socialist MSP has had. The stress of hosting
asylum-seekers in her own home during
2003 took its toll on her mental health, and
it was partly by talking publicly about her
experiences that she recovered. Protesting
has played its usual part in Rosie’s
activities, including moving her bedroom
into George Square for a day to highlight
the plight of the homeless. A high point
was meeting the Dalai Lama during his
visit to Scotland earlier this year.
Best date “A guy once took me to see an
outdoor performance of The Canterbury
Tales. We watched it over a bottle of wine.”
Worst date “The guy who spent the whole
night asking questions such as ‘What kind
of trainers do you wear?’ or ‘What type of
phone do you have?’”
Most romantic gesture “A bloke arranged for
me to go on a helicopter trip, but couldn’t
join me because he was too scared. I went
ahead and chatted up the pilot instead!”
Best chat-up line “Do you believe in love at
first sight or should I walk past again?”
Favourite film Il Postino.
Nothing is sexier than… “Che Guevera:
he was gorgeous but also brave, brilliant
and determined.”
22
30
Yvonne Taylor
Animal-rights
campaigner, 33
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she?
Headhunted by PETA,
the animal-rights
group, Yvonne left
Advocates for Animals after ten years’
service to become campaigns co-ordinator
for Europe. The main focus of her work
is a campaign against the Iams pet food
company, but Yvonne also undertakes
some elaborate protests in her spare time;
this year she blagged her way into leather
fashion shows in India and stormed the
stage. Other incidents include dressing as
a cow and chaining herself to a Mercedes
at the British International Motor Show.
PORTRAIT GRAHAM JEPSON
Yvonne’s haunts are Edinburgh’s Black
Bo’s or the 13th Note Café in Glasgow.
Pluses A beauty who sticks by her ethics.
Minuses Home acts as an animal shelter.
Best date “With a guy who had done his
research: wonderful veggie restaurant,
vegan chocolates, etc.”
Most romantic gesture “A guy gave up his
football tickets to help hand out leaflets.”
Best chat-up line “There is no such thing.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Attractive men
who prove you don’t need to eat meat to
be manly: Orlando Bloom, Joaquin
Phoenix, Josh Hartnett.”
23 NEW
Lois Weatherup
Model, 21
Lives Linlithgow.
Who is she? With
less than a year of
modelling under her
belt, no one was more
surprised than Lois
when she scooped the Miss Scotland
crown a few weeks ago. Currently taking
time out from her BA in textile design at
Heriot Watt University, Lois has found
herself in high demand since joining
Model Team in January. Since then, she
has used her earnings to pay off her
student loans, has become the new face of
high-street store Quiz and entered the Miss
World contest. Although she’s a country
girl at heart, Lois frequents Edinburgh’s
Opal Lounge, where she bemoans the lack
of men with the courage to approach her.
Pluses She’s a natural blonde, with legs
that go all the way.
Minuses “I have an appalling memory.”
Best date A weekend in Paris.
Worst date Going on a blind date with a
much shorter man.
Worst chat-up line “Do you want to see
something swell?”
Favourite film Dirty Dancing.
Nothing is sexier than… “Dark hair, dark
skin and dark eyes.”
24 NEW
Catherine
Aitken
Film Producer, 42
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? A successful
film producer with
a background in short
films, documentary
and TV, Catherine worked for Scottish
Screen as a development executive before
starting her own company, Gabriel Films.
Its latest release, Afterlife, won the Edinburgh
Film Festival Audience Award in
2003. She is working on an adaptation of
Alan Warner’s The Man Who Walks with
Mark Cousins and Irvine Welsh, and also
began her own designer handbag business
this year. With two marriage proposals and
several long-term relationships behind
➤
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 29

WOMEN
➤ her, Catherine is no stranger to
romance, and likes a man “with a bit of
muscle”. You can catch her at Oloroso.
Pluses Good to be around in an emergency
– she never panics.
Minuses Tendency to go off in a dwamm
thinking about her latest design.
Worst date Discovering she was allergic to
certain spices after going into anaphylactic
shock during a romantic dinner.
Nothing is sexier than… “A kilt and boots.”
25
Claire Chapman
Film executive, 40
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? Claire has
been busy since her
inclusion on last
year’s list. With the
help of a friendly
donor, she had a baby girl in May. “The
clock was ticking. I’ve always wanted to
be a mother and I thought I should do
something about it,” she says. She’s
relishing her new role, though admits she
couldn’t do it without the help of her
nanny, who will be on hand when Claire
returns to Scottish Screen this month as
head of production.
Pluses All the glamour of the film industry.
Minuses Nappies and sleepless nights, but
a very cute baby.
Best date Being flown by Concorde to New
York for lunch.
Most romantic gesture “Climbing a
mountain in Ireland, at the top of which
were hidden a bottle of champagne and
an engagement ring.”
Favourite film Falling in Love.
Nothing is sexier than… “Seeing the man you
admire across a crowded room attracting a
lot of female attention, knowing that you
are going home with him.”
26
NO CHANGE
NO CHANGE
Gill Mills
Broadcaster and
entrepreneur, 32
Lives Glasgow and
London.
Who is she? Television
and radio broadcasting
make up most of
Gill’s workload, but she juggles other jobs,
too – she’s also a journalist, club promoter,
DJ and writer. She has started up club and
band nights at the Buff Club and the Sub
Club and you’ll also catch her fronting TV
coverage of T in the Park and Glastonbury.
In the past year she’s “clocked up enough
air miles to rival Mr Branson”, but in the
rare event that she’s home, you’ll find her
at her local, the Observatory.
Pluses “A full head of hair, all my own
skin, good teeth and a loping gait.”
Minuses “Sarcasm and kleptomania.”
Best date “It involved the great outdoors,
sunsets, the ocean and a very special man.”
Worst date Getting halfway through a business
meeting and realising it was a date.
Worst chat-up line “I wrote this song
about you.”
Nothing is sexier than... “Sex.”
27 NEW
Suzi Mair
Donalda Noble
TV director, 46
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Having
worked her way up
from PA to director of
BBC Scotland’s parliamentary
broadcast
unit, Donalda has just handled her biggest
challenge to date – the opening of
Holyrood. “Wealthy in friends”, she skis
and rides and frequents Bloody Mary’s in
Glasgow and Fishers in Edinburgh.
Pluses She loves to get an adrenalin hit
and describes herself as a spontaneous yet
“calculated risk-taker”.
Minuses A complete lack of success at DIY.
Worst date With a man who said his very
recent ex-girlfriend was a supermodel.
Best chat-up line If you use a chat-up line,
she’ll automatically lose interest.
Favourite film Gone with the Wind.
Nothing is sexier than… “A watch on a
strong wrist.”
28 NEW
29 NEW
Jenni Keenan
Lynne Kennedy
News editor, 37
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Suzi is the
editor of Scottish
Television’s Edinburgh
newsroom. She is also
regularly seen in front
of the camera as a reporter on Scotland
Today. At the age of 16, she was Scotland’s
top female tennis player, even appearing at
Wimbledon. She still enjoys her tennis but
her four daughters now take up most of
her energy. Find her at her local tennis
club, Domenico’s Restaurant in Leith and
at the Living Room in George Street.
Pluses Sense of humour and a great
forehand.
Minuses You won’t be able to watch any
television when there is a major (or even
minor) tennis tournament on, anywhere
in the world.
Favourite film “Anything with Hugh Grant.”
Nothing is sexier than.... “Simon Cowell!”
Green
Actress, 29
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? You might
know Jenni in character,
as Heather in
River City, a role she’s
Scottish Socialist MSP
Rosie Kane (no.21)
relaxes in the new
Scottish Parliament
played for nearly two years. She has also
appeared in Monarch of the Glen and will
soon be seen in Sea of Souls. She trained as
a ballerina and worked in musical theatre,
but the actress in her eventually took over.
Single for a year, she admits it would be
“nice to do some dating”. Catch her in
Glasgow’s West End or in training for the
New York marathon.
Pluses She loves to dance, although these
days it’s more salsa than serious club stuff.
Minuses River City fame means that she
tends to get stopped in the street.
Best date Being taken skinny-dipping in a
loch and up a tree for a picnic.
Worst date Being given a maths and
spelling test while having dinner with her
boyfriend’s parents, so his mother could
find out how clever she was.
Most romantic gesture A boyfriend couldn’t
afford a birthday present so wrote her a
fairy tale. The first letter of each paragraph
linked up to form a love message.
Nothing is sexier than... “Kissing someone
you’re completely in love with.”
Editor, 35
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? Since her
first job making gunge
for a children’s show
on STV, Lynne has
risen to become editor
of Uptown magazine, launched last year.
An interior designer before moving into
editing, she still manages a small interiors
business in Glasgow. She loves to travel
and enjoys checking out the local culture.
Pluses A mischievous sense of humour
coupled with blonde-bombshell looks.
Minuses “I’m extremely strong-willed.”
Best (and worst) date A trip to New York:
the city was great but the proposal she
received on the plane over was unnerving
– especially as there was a priest there
ready to perform the ceremony.
Nothing is sexier than… “A man who knows
his own mind – especially to a girl who
knows hers!”
31 NEW
Interior designer, 39
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Anne set
up her own interior
design business in
Edinburgh after
several years working
in advertising in London, Hong Kong and
Europe. This year, she satisfied her shoe
obsession by launching ‘ah Choo’ – a
collection of sexy shoes for women, which
she sells through shoe parties. Find her in
the Living Room or the Hallion in
Edinburgh or at Glasgow’s Kelly Cooper Bar.
Pluses Your own personal interior designer.
Minuses You’d need a spare room for her
30 NEW
Anne Hunter
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret
30 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

32 NEW
brand development, marketing and corporate
literature design. High-profile
clients include HarperCollins and Lloyds
Kath Scarlett
shoe collection: “If there was a degree in
shoe shopping, I’d have first-class honours.”
Favourite film Some Like It Hot.
Favourite book Dice Man by Luke Rhinehart.
Nothing is sexier than… “Breakfast in bed –
preferably George Clooney’s bed.”
grannies’ nether regions all night long.
Most romantic gesture “Someone going out
on a winter’s morning to move my car
before I got a ticket!”
Nothing is sexier than… “A nice tush.”
Managing director, 40
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? She’s the
managing director of
One O’Clock Gun
Design Consultants,
which specialises in
TSB. With a keen interest in interior
design, Kath also dabbles in property
development on the side, and loves
visiting art galleries.
Pluses Smart, sophisticated and a great
party-thrower.
Minuses She’s enjoying her new-found independence,
so don’t expect to get serious.
Best date Cooking breakfast on North
Berwick beach after a great night out.
Most romantic gesture A boyfriend once
planted cress seeds on her lawn to spell
out the words ‘I love you’.
Nothing is sexier than… “A man who is
happy in his own skin.”
Donna O’Boyle
Medical lawyer, 38
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? As one of
the country’s foremost
independent consultants
on risk management
and consent in
healthcare, Donna has a wealth of personal
experience to draw on. A nursing sister at
the age of 23, she worked for the burns
unit in Edinburgh’s Bangour hospital for 12
years. Motivated by the exploitation of
patients’ rights, she began a part-time law
degree, working extra shifts to pay her fees,
and then moving on to study for an MPhil
in medical law and ethics. She started her
own consultancy, C3 Health Solutions,
earlier this year. With two long-term
relationships behind her, Donna “doesn’t
do flings”, and refuses to date doctors.
Pluses An eternal optimist who loves a
good night out with her friends.
Minuses Worryingly for a former nurse,
she’s “a bit of a klutz”.
Worst date With a date’s drunken rugby
friends, who proceeded to sing about their
Jennie
Patterson
PR director, 31
Lives London.
33 NEW
Tina Warren
Club impresario, 34
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? Tina runs
Club Noir, Scotland’s
only burlesque club,
with her business
partner Ian Single.
The night features striptease (with the
emphasis strictly on tease), saucy fetish
acts, comedy skits and magic. She styles
and choreographs most of the acts, and
even performs. “It’s about fusing the
glamour of the past with the energy of the
present,” she says.
Pluses Got a fetish? You know where to go.
Minuses She’s a trained hypnotherapist –
so expect to be analysed.
Best date A champagne picnic in Glasgow’s
Botanic Gardens, using a costume and
props from one of her acts. “We attracted a
lot of admiring looks.”
Best chat-up line “Did anyone ever tell you
that you look like Bo Derek?” (It worked.)
Favourite book Don Aslett’s How to Have a
48-hour Day – “I need all the tips I can get
at the moment.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Men’s hands.”
PORTRAIT ANDREW MILLIGAN
after their PR. From Belfast, she settled in
34 NEW
Scotland after a completing her degree at
Heriot Watt. She’s currently single after
four “longish” relationships with Scotsmen.
Pluses A lust for travel could take you on
some exotic holidays – she’s got Burma,
Greece and Cambodia in the pipeline.
Who is she? A director Minuses A hectic working schedule that
for Dowal Walker, one takes her all over Scotland.
of the UK’s leading Best date “My date turned up with a bunch
independent beauty of orchids and two carrier bags of ingredients
and proceeded to cook me dinner
PR companies, Jennie looks after luxury
brands such as Chantecaille and Nars. She while I sat and drank champagne.”
cut her teeth in PR with TMA in Glasgow, Worst date “We fell out in the taxi on the
moving to London seven years ago to work way to dinner and never made it to the
in fashion. Deciding it was too cut-throat, restaurant.”
she side-stepped into the world of beauty – Worst chat-up line “Would you like to see
“just as glamorous but with nicer people”. the invoice for my Porsche?”
Pluses With her contacts in the beauty Nothing is sexier than... “A hairy chest.”
world, you’ll never run out of aftershave.
Minuses By her own admission, she
“should probably have the deposit for my
own flat by now” but has “spent too much
on shoes and eating out”.
Alison Peebles
Worst date Turning up to find her date
accompanied by the military police. “He
was in the navy and had been charged with
being absent without leave.”
Favourite film Barefoot in the Park.
Nothing is sexier than ... “Twinkly eyes that
are only for me.”
35 NEW
Yvonne Savage
36 NEW
www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
Business development
manager, 39
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Yvonne
works for Bell Lawrie
White, stockbrokers
and investors, looking
37 NEW
Karen Lindie
Actress and theatre
and film director, 48
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? Alison
co-founded the Communicado
Company,
before moving into
film and television. Her first feature film,
Afterlife, earned her a nomination for the
Bafta Scotland New Talent awards this
month. As an actress, she has played leading
roles in theatres throughout the UK,
appeared as Alice in High Times, and won
critical acclaim for her performance in
Psychos on Channel 4 and in the recent Sex
Traffic. Currently directing Genesis Rock at
Oran Mor in Glasgow’s West End every
lunchtime, you can also often find her in
the Tron Theatre bar or Tapa.
Pluses The chance to accompany Alison to
film festivals the world over.
Minuses The frequent “Do I know you from
somewhere?”.
Worst date “We went to a seafood place,
then spent rest of the night in casualty.
Turns out my date was allergic to prawns.”
Worst chat-up line “Here’s a fiver for the
condom machine – we’re going to need it.”
Favourite film “My next feature film.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Candlelight.”
38 NEW
➤
Hairdresser, 26
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Fast becoming
the glitterati’s
hairdresser of choice,
Karen is in frequent
demand in London for
editorial commissions, and has worked
with several major celebrities as well as
London Fashion Week. Socialising takes up
most of her spare time, although she likes
to escape the city, and is quite keen on
remaining single for now. Check out the
Sub Club, where she loves to dance.
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 31

WOMEN
➤ Pluses You’ll have the best haircut in
town, plus “something for the weekend”.
Minuses Karen is a health-conscious girl,
so smokers are a definite no-no.
Worst date A man who suggested to Karen
that she might consider plastic surgery.
Favourite book “My scrapbook, which is
full of cuttings that inspire me.”
Nothing is sexier than… “Good fun.”
39 NEW
40
Zabdi Keen
NEW
Deborah
Paragliding instructor, 35
Lives Arran.
Who is she? One of
only two female paragliding
instructors in
the UK, Zabdi competes
on the world
paragliding championship circuit. In doing
so, she has clocked up more than her fair
share of adventure – she was the first
woman to fly over Outer Mongolia solo
(with vultures clawing at her paraglider),
has flown over crocodile-infested swamps
in Bolivia, and has trained one of
Scotland’s most notorious drug smugglers,
Chris Howarth, to paraglide. Based in
Arran, she set up her own paragliding
company, Flying Fever, 12 years ago, and
has another based in Hong Kong.
Pluses Adrenalin rush guaranteed.
Minuses Scotland is “a brilliant place” for
paragliding, but the weather can be
problematic, so she’s constantly travelling
to the far reaches of the globe.
Best date Flying cross-country in Nepal,
landing in a paddy field and spending the
night in a hut at the top of the mountains.
Favourite film The Big Blue.
Favourite book The Old Man and the Sea.
Nothing is sexier than… “Peach yoghurt.”
Soukop
Doctor, 28
Lives Dundee.
Who is she? Deborah
studied cell and
molecular history at
St Andrews University
before deciding to follow it with a second
degree in medicine at Dundee. She’s now
a senior house officer at Perth Royal
Infirmary, and is due to start her next
rotation at Ninewells hospital in Dundee
in February. Catch her at the Bothy on
Glasgow’s Byres Road, or at “as many new
restaurants as possible”.
Pluses No need to panic with this
(gorgeous) doctor at hand.
Minuses “Obsessively clean, but
scatterbrained.”
Most romantic gesture “When I was five
years old my next-door neighbour gave
me his favourite marble.”
Best chat-up line “Hello.”
Favourite film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Favourite book To Kill a Mockingbird.
Nothing is sexier than… “Pierce Brosnan.”
Caroline Michie
Doctor, 25
Lives London.
Who is she? Born in
Edinburgh, Caroline
41 studied medicine at
NEW
Morag Pirie
Football referee, 29
Lives Aberdeen.
Who is she?
Scotland’s first female
football referee, and
the first woman
nominated by FIFA
for international duty. Not everyone is
happy about her success – Albion Rovers
manager Peter Hetherston resigned last
year over his comments that Morag
should have been home “making the tea
for her man” instead of officiating at a
match which his team lost 1-0. An accountant
by day, she plays the clarinet and the
bagpipes, and has had a few serious
relationships, including one proposal.
Pluses She considers herself one of the
lads, and is even a bit of a Star Trek fan.
Minuses You might need to actually join a
football team to catch her attention.
Nothing is sexier than… “Jim Leighton.”
42 NEW
Aberdeen and now
works at London’s
Royal Marsden. She hopes to return to
Edinburgh in February to start a specialist
registrar training scheme in cancer. One of
the youngest ever members of the Royal
College of Physicians, she has worked in
A&E in Adelaide, helped organise an AIDS
project in South Africa, and taught English
to children in Zimbabwe.
Pluses She’s out socialising all the time.
Minuses Anti-social working hours.
Nothing is sexier than... “Confidence.”
43
44
Kitty Douglas
Hamilton
Campaigns manager, 28
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Currently
Scottish campaigns
manager for
Streetsmart, the
32 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY November 7, 2004

charity restaurant scheme that encourages
diners to donate a pound to the homeless,
Kitty’s also a curator, journalist and band
manager. You’ll find her everywhere from
Donegal pubs to private collections,
though feel free to whisk her off to
Uzbekistan for a spot of carpet shopping.
Pluses Kitty can take you to the best gigs,
galleries and grub in town and beyond.
Minuses She may drop you for a night in
to catch up on sleep.
Nothing’s sexier than… “Dashing good looks,
a startling mind and a twinkling eye.”
works for a brand down and have babies.
worst (at closing time)!”
management
Pluses Spontaneous, fun and good-looking. 50
company. By night, try Edinburgh’s Circus Minuses She likes to talk. And talk…
NEW
Nothing is sexier than… “A woman who knows
what she wants.”
Café or Oloroso. The rest of the time she’ll Nothing is sexier than... “Being talked and
Grethe
be shooting hoops – Elise is point guard laughed into bed.”
Knudsen
So who decided which singletons made it onto
the list? This year we assembled a panel of
judges with bulging address books and sharp
antennae for that brilliant catch.
Writer and broadcaster
Alison Craig wrote the
bestselling The Nappy
Years. A regular on
Scottish television and
radio, she has been
married for 13 years
44
Anne Hunter (no.31) will give you a home to be proud of, but you’ll need an extension for her shoe collection
NEW
(unlucky for some – namely her long-suffering
husband, David) and has a nine-year-old son,
Joanna Davies
her mother, a “fabulous socialite”. She Louis. She prides herself on being Scotland’s
Interior designer, 27 46
Lives Glasgow.
NEW
now runs her own PR and events management
company, Complete Scotland Ltd. an uncontrollable urge to organise blind (in
Cilla Black (minus the garish jackets) and has
Who is she? Joanna is
Anne Smith Pluses She’s a vivacious bundle of energy some cases, blind-drunk) dates. She feels the
Who is she? Last seen level of fitness (and probably a pair of legwarmers)
to keep up.
operates more than 30
club business that
45 NEW
in Auf Wiedersehen,
Pet and the mountainrescue
drama Rockface, up is to make eye contact and let me work Glasgow’s West End with his wife Marnie and
Best chat-up line “The best way to chat me
stylish venues. He lives in
Elise Lovell
an interior designer
for Zebrano, a brandnew
design company
in Edinburgh. She
heads up the young person’s design
section, and specialises in finding
Actress, 38
Lives London.
Who is she? The star of
numerous West End
musicals, including
Mamma Mia and
with invites to all the best parties.
Minuses Pippa’s first love is her “babies”,
pet dogs Molly and Dougal.
Nothing is sexier than… “Gifts from Agent
Provocateur and some melted butter.”
Eligibles panel is her spiritual home.
Nothing is sexier than… “A pulse and/or a
deep love of cellulite.”
Broadcaster and actress
Diane Lester has a daily
affordable materials that don’t
Evita, Anne’s career
radio programme on Forth
compromise on quality. Find her in St also includes big-screen roles. She’s been 49
Judes, or at club nights in Glasgow such around the world four or five times on
NEW
2. She performed in The
Vagina Monologues at this
as Mish Mash and Salt Lick.
board a cruise ship, working for a theatre
Georgia Hair
year’s Edinburgh Festival
Pluses She can upholster a chair, whip
up a pair of curtains or revamp your
living-room.
Minuses A plus for some, she’s a Celtic
season-ticket-holder.
Best date A winter bedroom picnic by the
fire to celebrate an anniversary with her
boyfriend.
company, where her distinctive “highpitched
Scottish squawk” helped her blag
her way out of Bangkok and escape natives
in Papua New Guinea. “People either laugh
or they run away,” she says.
Pluses A fun-loving all-round entertainer.
Minuses Watch out for that squawk.
Nothing is sexier than... “A warm smile.”
Singer/dancer, 19
Lives Glasgow.
Who is she? Georgia
has been dancing
since the tender age
of two, and her
energy and sheer love
of performing quickly ensured she stood
alongside Rosie Kane and
Christine Hamilton, and played Mrs Goggins for
several years in the stage version of Postman
Pat. Mr Lester has had the joy of sharing a home
with “Dynamite” (a nickname Diane lives up to
in every way) for seven years. She also has an
uncanny ability to meet and match people, from
strangers on trains to the over-65s.
Most romantic gesture A boyfriend grew
out from the crowd. She starts a scholarship
at the Academy of Dramatic Arts in big personality.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A brain, a bar and a
sunflowers from seeds – one in her
garden, one in his.
47
Favourite film Some Kind of Wonderful.
NEW
New York in February, after which she
intends to be the next J.Lo – “only better”.
Angus Lawrie is director
Favourite book The Godfather.
Zoë Eeles
Pluses Lithe and energetic, she doesn’t
of marketing and public
Nothing is sexier than...“Good taste.”
Actress, 29
“need alcohol to have a good time”.
relations at G1 Group, a
Lives London.
Minuses You’ll need a higher than average
leading bar, restaurant and
Marketing manager, 33
Zoë has just written up the guts to come to you.”
two-year-old daughter Reese, and admits that
Lives Edinburgh. a children’s book, The Clementine Tree. Nothing is sexier than… “A confident guy his role has its highs and lows. “Part of my job
Who is she? By day, Describing herself as a “serial monogamist who really doesn’t care what anybody is to work late and over most weekends in our
you’ll find Elise in with brief spells of being actively single”, thinks about him.”
bars, restaurants and clubs, which means I mix
Glasgow, where she she makes no secret of her desire to settle
with eligibles at their best (on arrival) and their
for the Scotland basketball team. With
two or three serious relationships behind
her, no one has yet tamed her. 48
Pluses Excellent ball handling skills.
NEW
Minuses She has a basketball match most
Pippa McLeod
weekends. Which, if you’re playing rugby,
could work out just fine…
Worst chat-up line “‘Just thought you
should know you’ll be snogging me by the
end of the night’ – and the worst part is,
he was right.”
Nothing is sexier than… “A pair of welldefined
quads.”
PORTRAIT IAN RUTHERFORD
PR and events
manager, 40
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Princess
Pip, as she is known
to her friends, was
brought up learning
how to throw a dinner party, helping out
Norwegian consul for
Scotland, 47
Lives Edinburgh.
Who is she? Having
lived in Brussels, LA,
Pakistan and London,
Grethe says her favourite posting so far is
Edinburgh, as she loves Scottish people.
Pluses Has a “prominent sense of humour”.
Minuses Her diplomatic duties keep her
constantly travelling.
Nothing is sexier than… “Eyes with a glint
in them.”
Drambuie – The whisky with a secret www.drambuie.5pm.co.uk
THE JUDGES
Glyn Partridge is no
stranger to Scotland’s
eligibles in his role as
co-owner of the Hallion
private members’ club, not
to mention the fact that he
was on the list himself last
year. Fond of Campari and possessing “a streak
of lunatic entrepreneurism”, he enjoys peoplewatching
in his bar. He plans to open a second
club in Glasgow next year.
Nothing is sexier than… “Champagne on the
beach at dawn after a great night out with the
girl I love… or one of her friends.”
November 7, 2004 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY 33