Richard Branson

What's the idea behind renaming The Australian and calling it The Brit? I'd love to take credit for it but The Australian themselves decided that they were holding their head in shame after the Ashes so they thought they'd call it The Brit for a couple of weeks [until October 15] and serve British pub grub and drink. It's not everyday that an Englishman in Australia gets bragging rights in the sporting arena  - but the launch of The Brit celebrates England's win and Virgin Atlantic's red hot fares to London from  only $1908. As Britain's flag carrier we couldn't miss out on this opportunity to  partner  with  Australia's  most  iconic  pub  to keep the friendly banter rolling. To that end, visitors to The Brit will be encouraged to submit their best sledge to go in the draw to win a trip of a lifetime to London. 

It's been a busy week for you with Virgin Mobile taking over the naming rights to the Metro... I believe The Metro needed some kind of support and they approached Virgin and we're quite involved with music with things like V Festival down here and in other parts of the world. The Metro's an iconic rock venue and we're delighted to have our brand attached to it.

What would be your dream line up for a V Festival? I suppose I'd drag back a lot of the oldies, I'd try to get Pink Floyd to reform, and the Rolling Stones. They still work great live, so we'd get them as our support act. We'd get the Stereophonics along... So that's next year's headliners. I wish!

Is it true that somebody swam out to your Caribbean island to ask you to save FBi radio, and if it is true can you tell us the story? It is true. I didn't know that they had started a campaign to try and get my attention at the time.

A hell of a way to get it. It was a very good way to get it. We didn't write out the cheque there and then but the Virgin companies put their heads together and have worked with the station to try and make sure it is saved. I think they have now managed with various promotion campaigns plus other ways to keep their head above water, which is great news.

It is. People must ask you for money all the time for worthy causes. What's your stress test for whether you say yes or no? We have a foundation and we have a team of people in that foundation who examine all the requests. Sometimes we can do imaginative things like say giving people a trip into space or a trip to Necker Island or a trip to game reserve in Africa or things we can do to help raise money. But for the bigger things, we look at seeing whether we can put our entrepreneurial skills together with our cash and a social problem and if 1+1+1 can equal 10 then we'll consider doing it. For instance Nelson Mandela wanted to set up a group of elders to tackle conflict situations in the world and that was perfect for us to get involved with. Likewise with global warming we've set up something called the carbon war room using our business skills to set up the team of people to go out there and think of every way in the world to try and tackle the enemy, which is carbon.

Is it true that when you're in Sydney you stay in the Holiday Inn in Kings Cross for $90 a night? Yes, because that's where all our cabin crew stay from Virgin Blue. It's a happening hotel and I would recommend it to anybody. You won't be able to get in because most of the rooms are taken by them, but it means I can get to say hello to them all and we've had a few drunken nights there in the bar.

It's been a tough financial year for a lot of people, what's the best advice you can give people on riding out the recession? The key is to try and keep your job. In times of recession, generally the price of everything comes down so if you can hold onto your job you shouldn't be doing too badly. If you lose your job I think the important thing is to try to stay positive, try to stay healthy and just don't take no for an answer. Try and make sure that you are noticed in trying to get a job, keep banging on doors. Be creative and just don't take no for an answer. This is the time when you need to rely on family and friends to keep your spirits up.

Lastly, what name will you adopt when you finally step away from your business interests and become a Bond-style supervillain on Necker Island? Become a what, a porn star?

A Bond-style supervillain, or a porn star. You can choose. [Laughs] Well, I've always been known as Dr Yes because I seem to love to say yes to things so maybe I'll just have to adopt Dr No once I've retired.

‘The Brit' was at 100 Cumberland St, The Rocks 2000 (02 9247 2229The Australian Heritage Hotel).

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