It’s a question we’re often asked, as a light moment of humorous reflection. If you hosted a dinner party, which famous celebrities, living or otherwise, would you invite?

I’ve researched a few of the top answers. I suppose people’s responses tell us something about the host. After all, if we’re inviting them to our table, we’ve chosen them, so the choices must explain something about us.

Royalty feature a lot in most people’s choices – I’ve checked the lists. So many people pick Princess Diana. She was glamorous and big hearted, she died tragically, she left so many questions unanswered, so that makes her a good choice. And the Queen is a firm people’s favourite too, although I’ve no idea what she’d eat. I can’t imagine she’d like what I’d serve up…

 Being a curious host leads to interesting guest choices like David Attenborough, Albert Einstein and Martin Luther King. We’d expect them to be fascinating, to share scintillating conversation, and we’d leave the dinner party more informed and fulfilled.

Celebrities who feature highly on many people’s list include Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley and David Bowie. Being icons and being no longer with us make them attractive guests.

Talking of attractive guests, people like Marilyn Munroe, Julia Roberts and Daniel Craig are picked a lot. I suppose they’d be some sort of eye candy while everyone’s eating and the conversation goes quiet. They’d fill the silences. But I’d certainly have a few questions for Marilyn about what really happened to her – I bet she’s an interesting person.

Guests who are able to be witty and clever throughout dinner are a great choice – the list is topped by Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey. Popular figures from history who’d be really informative and fascinating include Michaelangelo, Cleopatra, Van Gogh, Gandhi, Isaac Newton, Socrates, Harriet Tubman. If we’re allowed fantasy characters, then why not the Invisible Man or Frankenstein’s Monster?  Hannibal Lecter would add a different dimension to any dinner party. I can’t imagine him being happy with my vegan food…

My own list would probably not include any of these popular choices, although I think a few might come close if I was holding a huge banquet. I’d invite Benjamin Zephaniah, the poet, if I could, which of course I can’t now. But I met him several times, received postcards from him, warmed to him as an artist and a lovely human. I’d definitely enjoy chatting to him again.

I’d want my party to be fun, so I’d invite Harpo Marx. I love him to bits for his performance and musical skills and his creative genius. I wonder what the real man was like.

Figures from history would be there simply so I could ask them questions. I’d choose Steve Biko. There’s so much I’d like to know about his experiences. He’d be magnetic and fascinating. Sadly, Biko died of injuries sustained during interrogation in 1977. I have to go to his literature for answers.

I’d choose Boudicca too, the Iceni queen who led a failed uprising against the conquering forces of the Roman Empire in AD 60 or 61. She and I would have a lot to talk about. I think I’d like her.

Someone spiritual would be an interesting guest too. Popular choices include a pope, Mother Theresa, Jesus, Buddha – these people would figure highly on most people’s dinner party list. I’d pick the Dalai Lama or maybe Paulo Coelho, a Brazilian author known for his spiritually-infused novels that explore themes of destiny, self-discovery, and personal transformation. 

There would have to be a rock star or two at my table. Burning Spear (Winston Rodney) or Alpha Blondy or Manu Chao. And definitely Eddy Grant…

Hang on, though. I’ve taken the bait and led myself down a path of fantasy when the real truth is that I have all the fabulous dinner party guests I want right now in real life.

Big G, my brother, Tony, and our Kim. Liam, Maddie, Kayak (if they’ll behave…) Joey. And I have the best of friends who are all scintillating conversationalists and lovely, attractive, clever and fascinating people. I’ll never get tired of sharing special meals with them. And some incredible people I haven’t met in person yet but I know already; some I’ve only met a few times, but who I will get to know better because our paths cross intellectually or professionally.

I’m fussy about who I break bread with – to me, it’s about so much more than just filling my face. It’s symbolic. It’s an agreement to share something akin to love. Sitting across a table and listening to special people I’ve chosen from real life, engaging with them, is a privilege.

So – here’s to our next dinner party.

As a matter of interest, who would you choose?