When I was young we lived in a village outside Livingston, which was quite isolated until, over the course of about 10 years, the town expanded and surrounded us. So, what began as occasional Sunday drives to Biggar ended up with my mother and father deciding it would be a great place to live permanently — again in a fairly isolated house, outside town.

I was aged 11 in 1991, when we moved into what was a converted former flour mill, built in 1800. The front porch had been the water-wheel house. We moved there for my last term at primary school, which meant that I had some pals during the summer holiday — and there were a couple of kids in the nearby village who I was able to play with. At that age, you make friends so quickly, I didn’t feel it was a particular wrench leaving West Lothian; I had been used to growing up in the countryside.

It helped that as soon as I moved in, I was given an old-banger 80cc trial motorbike, which meant I could ride around the fields having a great time.

It was a good move by my parents; by the time I was 16 or so, I had got my love of motorbikes out of my system. I realised how much safer cars were, and I still do. I wouldn’t ride a bike now — I’ve too many friends who have been in accidents.

I am an only child, and while I like my own company, I am also quite sociable. The countryside and woods were brilliant to play in. Woods are where you built gang huts.

The house was amazing and it has so many fantastic memories. It was a lovely, big old place built on a hill and had five floors across three storeys — with various landings. Downstairs, there was the living room and kitchen area. The living room had a huge open fire, which was fantastic at Christmas, it felt — as the cliché goes — like the heart of the home.

My mother had been brought up in Hong Kong and Japan, so a lot of furniture was from the Far East, including pieces that had been passed on to her. But, in general, the furniture was pretty eclectic. There was nothing minimalist or modern, it was homely and cosy, and, being a former mill, there was a lot of wood.

My room was an odd shape in that, because it was on the top floor, it had a half-attic space above it, big enough to fit a single and double mattress, so there was always space for mates to stay. It was really a split-level bedroom, connected by a ladder, and there was room for at least four mates, some of whom would visit from where I used to live, in West Lothian.

Over the years, the posters on the wall changed from the rally driver Colin McRae to various bands, who would quickly become uncool. There was a spell when I was into The X Files and had the posters on the wall to match. Latterly, it was the “choose life” speech from Trainspotting, because it had swear words in it.

Remarkably, for such a big house, it had only three bedrooms, but the place had a real, big feel to it, not least because of all the landings and large rooms. There were plenty of nooks and crannies, which were great for hide-and-seek, especially if it was only me who knew the best places.

I was brought up among actors, courtesy of my father , which meant frequent visits to Edinburgh and Glasgow to watch him in rehearsal or performing. Up to the age of eight, I wanted to be a rally driver, or drive a JCB, anything vehicular. But, after that, I started going to a youth theatre in Livingston, and getting into theatre.

It wasn’t like a theatre school, as such. You could be the worst actor in the world and you would still be welcomed. It was more about the social aspect, confidence-building and finding yourself as a person.

You could be who you wanted, you weren’t pigeon-holed, you could be different and not be bullied for it. It was brilliant. So, doing workshops, games and summer projects was great way of making new pals and getting the buzz of acting.

I was 19 when I started studying drama at Queen Margaret College in Edinburgh, initially commuting in a car until, after about six months, my folks got me a flat in the city. I had had enough of the early starts and late nights driving home, and at the time it was a smart investment to buy property in Edinburgh. I moved in with a friend.

James Mackenzie presents Raven, the latest series of which is being broadcast early next year. He is also performing in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in Hull.

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