We challenge our contributor to reply to ten devilishly probing questions about their London and we don’t take “Sorry Gov” for an answer. Everyone sitting in the hot seat will face the same questions that range from their favourite way to spend a day out in the capital to their most hated building on London’s skyline to find out just what Londoners really think about their city. The questions might be the same but the answers vary wildly.

[M]elissa Wareham was born in London in 1969. A mad-keen dog lover, she began her working life at Battersea Dogs Home, looking after London’s waifs and strays. After leaving Battersea, Melissa wrote about her 15 years at the world’s most famous dogs home, and Rescue Me – My Life with the Battersea Dogs was published in 2009. It reached number four in the Sunday Times bestsellers list. Since then, Melissa has written, Take Me Home – Tales of Battersea Dogs, a children’s adaptation of Rescue Me; Winston Windsor and the Diamond Jubilee, also for kids; and her fourth book, Rescuing Gus is a humorous account of life with Gus, an elderly mongrel with a wonky heart, whom she rescued from Battersea Dogs Home. Melissa lives in south-west London with her partner.

What’s your secret London tip?
Get up early and head into the West End at the weekend. It’s deserted before 11am and you’ll have the centre of this incredible city with its stunning landmarks all to yourself.

What’s your secret London place?
Temple Church off Fleet Street. The Church itself is really interesting and dates back to 1185 but what I love about it is the secret, enclosed area surrounding it. It has quaint little courtyards, pretty gardens, ancient buildings and is a sea of tranquillity in an otherwise hectic city.

What’s your biggest gripe about London?
The time it takes to get across town.

What’s your favourite building?
St. Paul’s Cathedral because it is more than just a beautiful piece of architecture. It represents the spirit of London and its people, as Winston Churchill well knew. Those evocative images of firemen trying to save it during the Blitz encapsulate just how important it is.

What’s your most hated building?
The Elephant & Castle shopping centre. Even though it’s no longer bright pink, it still has that 1960’s bad construction whiff about it.

What’s the best view in London?
Cliché alert: the view from Waterloo Bridge at Sunset or after dark. This born and bred Londoner still can’t get enough of it, and it’s equally stunning whether you’re looking up or down river.

What’s your personal London landmark?
Battersea Power Station. I used to gawp at this iconic London landmark every day for 15 years when I worked at Battersea Dogs Home. The dog walking area and some of the kennels back straight onto it. Talk about a room with a view!

What’s London’s best film, book or documentary?
Best film: The Bank Job with Jason Statham. I watched it when I was living in Australia and horribly homesick. For 90 minutes I was back in my beloved hometown.
Best book: The Spirit of London by Paul Cohen-Portheim. It’s a factual book about London’s suburbs, it’s parks, and it’s people and traditions. Even though it was written in the 1930’s so much of it is still true. It’s also a bit non-PC; another reason for its appeal!
Best documentary: BBC2’s The Secret History of Our Streets, aired at the beginning of the summer. Fascinating stuff.

What’s your favourite bar, pub or restaurant?
Bar: Oxo Tower, it does the best Pimms in London and has great views.
Pub: the Red Lion, Crown Passage (a tiny little alleyway in SW1). It is at least 330 years old and is the holder of the second oldest licence in London. The courtyard of a nearby wine merchants held London’s last legal dual and the loser breathed his last breath on the floor of the Red Lion. A sobering thought as you’re downing your pint!
Restaurant: Indian Room, my local curry house in Balham. It does the best chicken Madras in the world.

How would you spend your ideal day off in London?
If distance and travel were no object, I’d begin with breakfast at Brew on the Northcote Road, a pleasant stroll across Wandsworth Common from where I live. It does excellent food and great coffee. Next, a bike ride around Richmond Park to burn off breakfast, followed by lunch at the Electric Brasserie and a movie in the plush and comfy Electric Cinema next door. Then I’d wander down to the Portobello Market for some mooching and shopping (and perhaps a red velvet cupcake from Hummingbird Bakery to keep me going). Finally, a curry at my local followed by a show at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre (assuming the weather behaves itself!).

This ‘Grill’ was first posted on the Radio Taxis blog.

We challenge our contributor to reply to ten devilishly probing questions about their London and we don’t take “Sorry Gov” for an answer. Everyone sitting in the hot seat will face the same questions that range from their favourite way to spend a day out in the capital to their most hated building on London’s skyline to find out just what Londoners really think about their city. The questions might be the same but the answers vary wildly.

[B]oris Johnson was born in 1964. He was a trainee reporter for The Times, subsequently working at The Daily Telegraph, where he became assistant editor. He was editor of The Spectator for six years up to 2005. He has also published a number of works of fiction and non-fiction, most recently The Life of London. In 2001 Boris Johnson was elected MP for Henley-on-Thames. He was been Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party and held shadow government posts for the arts and higher education. He resigned as an MP shortly after becoming Mayor of London in May 2008. During his first term, he banned alcohol on public transport and oversaw the 2012 London Olympic Games, in 2012, he was re-elected as Mayor. On 12th September 2014, Johnson was adopted as the Conservative Party candidate for MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the 2015 general election.

What’s your secret London tip?
I would urge Londoners and tourists alike to seek out and enjoy a full English breakfast at one of the amazing family run so-called ‘greasy spoon’ cafes that have existed in this city for generations.

What’s your secret London place?
In the midst of the London’s vast treasure trove of attractions is one of our less well-known gems. Across the river from City Hall, is the most wonderfully preserved stretch of Roman wall. Dating back to around 200 AD, it is a fantastic opportunity to marvel at the ingenuity of our Roman forebears, who built Londinium and helped shape the city we see today.

What’s your biggest gripe about London?
It is a modern tragedy that so many of our young people are struggling to get a foothold in the jobs market and are drifting into crime. We need more youth opportunities and improved literacy levels in our schools, so that they are equipped to compete in the global market, which will help them to succeed in life and aspire to a better future.

What’s your favourite building?
Home.

What’s your most hated building?
Standing derelict for more than 20 years, the Granary Building threatened to be a blight on an area in central London that is amidst an amazing transformation. It has now undergone a spectacular reincarnation from a barren building, to a university for the arts. It has become a fantastic focus to the regeneration of the King Cross area, matching my own vision for the city.

What’s the best view in London?
The view from my office window. The Tower of London, Tower Bridge, the City, Canary Wharf and the giant treble clef that is the Orbit visitor attraction in the Olympic Park. There’s no better view in the world.

What’s your personal London landmark?
The most iconic new landmark of modern times is the Shard of Glass. This huge engineering feat, rising confidently up to the heavens, is a symbol of how London is powering its way out of the global recession.

What’s London’s best film, book or documentary?
Johnson’s Life of London, it contains a number of historical characters whom I greatly admire.

What’s your favourite restaurant?
London is a fabulous destination for gourmands, with more than 50 Michelin-starred chefs working at some of the best restaurants in world. It is quite literally a cornucopia, with delicious food from across the globe to tantalise all taste buds.

How would you spend your ideal day off in London?
A bracing walk in the winter cold or an early morning jog in Highbury Fields is a perfect way to start your day. Followed by a visit to the British Museum, it’s a wonderful Mecca offering an unparalleled collection of historic artefacts and gems.

This ‘Grill’ was first posted on the Radio Taxis blog.