Basically, my mum and dad bought me a CD player for my 14th birthday. They didn't really listen to music at all, but my dad had a couple of tapes that he'd listen to, like Tom Lehrer. My dad was a physicist and Tom Lehrer was like this really weird Harvard class professor, who was really cool because he was also a satirist and pianist.

Having spent half my time at university studying English literature, I know from experience that reading lists often contain more white men than Jacob Rees-Mogg's last birthday party.

I found myself in a meeting on my 13th birthday, which I really had no idea the enormity of, but I was in a meeting with the CEO of Atlantic Records, who sort of signed me right then and there as I was playing guitar for him.

I am a very private person, so on my birthday too I will spend a cozy time with my family and a few close friends!

I reflected a lot, I thought a lot on my 50th birthday. It has been one of the most important birthdays in my life, not in terms of celebration but in terms of retrospect.

First I wanted number seven since my roll number in school was seven. But, someone was already wearing jersey number seven. Then a BCCI manager said I should take 18 since my birthday is on 18 July. At that time, I didn't know that Virat Kohli also wears number 18.

On my 50th birthday the Rolling Stones played at my party at Grosvenor House. That's not bad for a kid from Tooting.

I was born on Dev Anand's birthday so I believe... the older I get, the better I become.

I was concerned about being 40 and for my 40th birthday my wish was to go see Cher, and I got to meet her.

I'd go out with my family and my close ones, who have been by my side through the years, but I am not the one who will throw parties on his birthday.

One time, a hedge fund gentleman in Connecticut brought in a bunch of professional wrestlers and myself at a very hefty price for his son's 11th birthday.

My grandma spelled my name wrong until she died. Like literally, birthday cards, mail, everything.

It was shortly before my 18th birthday when I came out and admitted that I was gay.

I came out at a very early age. I sat my mom down at my 12th birthday party and told her in front of my friends. She said, 'Baby, mama already knows, and I'm going to love you regardless.' Once I got my mom's support, there was nothing else I needed.

I never knew anyone who have growing up who had a clown at their birthday party. They are something I think of as being from the past. So I never had strong feelings about them. I do think that they can be creepy, I guess it depends on the clown.

My mum likes to remind me of the birthday treat I asked for when I was just 13... and that was for them to hire a stretch limo for my birthday when we travelled to L.A.

Aged six, I sailed from South Africa to England by steam ship with my family. It was a three-week journey. I remember crying on my birthday when I didn't get the enormous teddy bear that was for sale in the ship's shop but, aside from that, I had a wonderful time.

I have always told my family that I don't want my birthday to be celebrated and that they shouldn't get me anything, even though if they didn't I'd probably write a standup routine about it.

Now that I think about it, my 40th birthday was the most anxiety I've ever had, and my wedding was also the second time I've had that much anxiety. So I'm starting to realize that I can't be throwing these big bash parties because I need to own that I get anxiety with a lot of people diverting their attention to me.

I did drama at school and when I was doubling Xena, one time for my birthday mom and dad bought me an acting course 'cause I've always liked the performance side of anything.

I'm the type who minds my own business and am not keen on giving interviews on my mom's birthday, or my dog's birthday.

My birthday is generally a very quiet affair.

When I see the kind of passion Sir Alex shows, it is hard to believe he is about to celebrate his 71st birthday.

My 21st birthday was probably the worst day of my life.