Hugh Grant, Holly Willoughby, Tom Odell, Laura Carmichael and Billy Ocean

Abdul-Rehman Malik, journalist and broadcaster

Chris, when I was young I used to imagine what it would be like to be a bona fide celebrity. I’ve never had any great musical or acting talent, so my aspirations to stardom were entirely unfounded, but I used to love watching awards shows and thinking about the acceptance speech I would give when I received an Oscar or a Grammy. My speeches, at least as I delivered them in the shower, were always pretty good. Instead, I’ve had to console myself with brief encounters with some real stars. One of those run-ins is particularly memorable. You won’t remember Hugh, but we’ve actually met before.

About 20 year ago, I was in university and had walked over to what was then Toronto’s only really fancy coffee bar. I was dying for a latte, but the fellow in front of me was anxiously rummaging through his pockets trying to find the right change. All the time he was worriedly running his hand through his hair and apologising profusely in a British accent. At that moment, the front door of the café flung open and someone shouted, “for God’s sake, hurry up, the crew can’t wait all day!” The anxious Englishman turned around – and knocked squarely into me. “So terribly sorry!” he said hesitating. I’m cool man, I said, trying to sound cool, because by this time I had realised it was Hugh Grant.

Surveys shows that young people have never desired fame and wealth more than they do today. A 75-year long Harvard University study on happiness tells us something a bit different. It’s something I think we already know in our gut: pursuing notoriety and money for notoriety and money’s sake will make us miserable. Few can attain the success of the guests facing me today.

What’s the answer then? Billy gave it to us long ago when he sang, “You don't have to be alone/Together we can live and learn/In the love zone”. Over the course of the study, it was the presence of good, loving relationships in people’s lives that made them really happy.

“Bringing joy to one heart with love,” advised the mystic Rumi “is better than a thousand repetitive recitations of prayer.” I’d think we’d all like to be famous for giving joy and love. The folks in the studio this morning do that by making beautiful music, great films, meaningful telly and supporting charities. Celeb or not, that’s an ambition we can all get behind. Just don’t keep the desperate fellow standing behind you in line waiting too long for his latte.