Each week we shine the spotlight on a member of Dorset’s business community and ask him, or her, for answers to our part fun/part serious questionnaire. This time…

His first record was Spirits Having Flown by the Bee Gees, he’d like to share a car with Lewis Hamilton – especially if he was driving –  gets angry at absolutism and polarisation and chooses New York, New York all-year round as his favourite holiday location.

Jason Ward, Creative Director, DawsonWard Creative Entertainment, takes the 20 Questions’ hotseat. 

Question: What is your favourite TV show?

Answer: I May Destroy You is the new standard in TV drama and its creator Michaela Coel is a genius!

Q: Who would you like to share a car with?

A: I’ve been lucky to meet some amazing people from Midge Ure and Farrah Store to Lord Astor and Disney Channel Stars. But sharing a
car with Lewis Hamilton would be very cool – especially if he was driving!

Q: The best bit of my job is…?

A: I work with incredibly creative people and I learn something every day.

Q: And the worst…?

A: We are a creative consultancy and some days the ideas for new entertainment concepts take a little longer to discover – which means lots of coffee, music, and disappearing down internet rabbit holes!

Q: Who was your childhood hero?

A: Mikhail Baryshnikov the Russian dancer – when he jumped it was like he could hang for a second in the air before deciding to land.

Q: What’s your favourite smell?

A: I am obsessed with Christmas so it has to be pine trees.

Q: Where’s your favourite place in Dorset?

A: My wife and I walk our dogs along Southbourne beach every morning and it reminds us why we moved here.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone starting out on a career?

A: Look beyond yourself every day, or you will always be the same.

Q: What was your first record/CD?

A: I bought Spirits Having Flown by the Bee Gees on vinyl with my birthday money in a department store in Folkestone in 1979. I was ten.

Q: What gets you angry?

A: Absolutism and polarisation – there are always grey areas that we should all learn to live with.

Q: Do you have a favourite piece of music?

A: Music is such a massive part of my life and career so this is very difficult to answer – Bowie, Sondheim, Kate Bush, Nile Rodgers and Dave.

Q: What are the qualities you look for in a new employee?

A: That they have done their research, that they have vision and have balance – please don’t tell me that you will be devoting all your waking hours to working for me because that is not healthy.

Q: What’s your favourite food or dish?

A: If it’s fresh it’s good!

Q: Steamed sponge pudding and custard or a plate of melon?

A: A plate of melon – ideally with some prosciutto (is that allowed?).

Q: Name the best thing about living/working in Dorset?

A: I love the mental and physical health benefits of walking by the sea but then of also being able to easily get into London.

Q: If you were Prime Minister for the day what would be the first thing you do?

A: Invest in feeding, educating and supporting the young people that need it.

Q: What’s your biggest frustration?

A: Inequality of opportunity.

Q:  Where’s your favourite holiday location?

A: New York, New York – winter, summer, spring and fall!

Q: Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time?

A: Walking my dogs along Southbourne beach every morning with my beautiful wife Florencia.

Q: What would you like to be remembered for?

A: For being the only man to win an Oscar, the British Grand Prix and have the Christmas number one record all in the same year. Failing that as someone who helped somebody else succeed.