Alan Johnson

Dangerous Amusements: the Elvis Costello playlist

What a treat it was to catch up with award-winning author and former UK Home Secretary Alan Johnson to talk about his love of Elvis Costello’s music.

An EC fanatic since hearing (The Angels Wanna Wear My) Red Shoes, Alan tells me why he feels such an affinity with the man he credits with his personal lifetime achievement award.

We chat about some of Alan’s favourite Costello songs and the tape of his own compositions that he sent to Elvis in 1982. He still awaits a reply.

After releasing four critically-acclaimed volumes of his memoirs, Alan released his first novel in September 2021. Find out more on his website.

A former postman and trade unionist, Alan Johnson was a Labour MP for 20 years, serving in the cabinets of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in roles including Home Secretary. A keen guitarist and songwriter, in his youth Alan performed in The Area and The In-Betweens.