Lorelei Reddin talks to Warsash born Radio One DJ Rob Da Bank as he prepares to host Bestival Did you always want to be a DJ or did you have childhood dreams of becoming an astronaut?

"I wanted to be a journalist and I was for a few years but then I got more and more into DJing and stuff like that. At school I was one of the kids who the careers advisor couldn't place and people never really thought I'd do anything much."

What do you think you'd be doing if you weren't doing this?

"I don't know probably travelling the world or something or selling the Big Issue outside HMV in Southampton!" (Rob hails from Warsash) What's it like working at Radio One?

"It's an amazing place to work. People probably think it's constant cups of tea with Chris Moyles and Jo Whiley, but it's just a normal job for most of the people who work there exactly like working in an office, apart for the presenters.

But it was the best thing that could ever have happened to me. It was a leg up and it allowed Bestival to happen. It gives you such a profile and you get to know a lot more people."

How did Bestival come about?

Me and my wife Josie have been going to festivals for 15 years and we've always said we wanted to have our own. We've been doing parties for years in London which are crazy and then we started doing ones in Ibiza.

It kind of seemed like a natural thing but it was about finding someone who had the money to make it happen. I had loads of good ideas. It only really took off eight months before the first Bestival, so it all happened really quickly."

How do you decide who to invite to play at the festival?

"It's very random. I book a lot of the smaller stuff straightaway. I'm selfish and I tend to book people I want to see myself. It's amazing to have Pet Shop Boys and Scissor Sisters as two of the headliners this year.

They're both brilliant live acts. But there's loads more on offer. I hope lots of people don't even go and see the headliners because they're enjoying themselves elsewhere."

What else can you recommend this year?

Kid Creole and the Coconuts are still really good. They've probably been going for about 30 years and they're great. There's a band from Africa who were one of John Peel's favourites.

They've done Glastonbury before, but this is their only festival in the world this year. There's loads of up-and-coming acts. I think The Magic Numbers will be massive."

You've got ten minutes airplay to play the best songs of all time. What do you play?

"The Pixies, the Stone Roses, Bowie, Lou Reed, Kate Bush, quite traditional stuff. I'm listening to new music all the time, so when I get the chance I sit in my car and sing to something else like The Smiths. It's all stuff I heard at the Joiners. I was a bit of a goth back in the day!"

Are you a regular back on the south coast?

"Yeah my mum and dad and my grandpa are still here so I come down quite a few times a year. I've still got some mates in Southampton and Warsash. I wish I could get down more."

What do you think of the area?

As a kid I lived between Southampton and Portsmouth and I went to school in Portsmouth. I think both cities are really on the up.

I love The Lizard Lounge and venues like that. I don't even know all the other live places. When I was growing up there was just The Escape Club. The south coast still needs more, but it's good."

What's the most rock 'n' roll thing that's ever happened to you?

My baby Arlo. He's only a month old, but the Big Chill in August will be his first festival. We can't wait to get him in the camper van! Nothing that rock 'n' roll happens to me now. Eight years ago I was having four day benders with Bez and Shaun Ryder from The Happy Mondays, but I'm in bed by 9.30pm if I can these days!"

Bestival takes place from September 8 to 10, and Robin Hill near Downend on the Isle of Wight. Weekend tickets are priced £105. Call the box office on 08700 444 8898.