Adrian Hearn grills the EastEnders legend about his cars, his career and getting driving tips from the Stig.

“I hit 200mph in a Porsche 911 Turbo on the Autobahn.”

Ross Kemp really loves Porsches.

“I had six Porsche 911s in a row,” says Ross. “I bought a Targa and Turbo new and I really loved them but the moment I drove out of the showroom I lost £20,000 – I’ll never buy a new car again.”

“It’s breathtaking doing 200mph on the Autobahn,” says Ross. "But you’ve got to be careful because cars looking to pull out and overtake can’t judge how fast you’re really going. I wouldn’t do it the UK!”

But his petrolhead past began on more modest terms.

“The first car I bought was a 1.6-litre Ford Capri when I was 17 from my earnings on Emmerdale Farm. I still remember its registration - JET194W,” says Ross.

His love of German cars has shifted west from the Stuttgart-based Porsche to Munich-built BMWs.  

“I love my BMW 6-Series,” says Ross.  “It’s great to drive; people say it’s ugly from the rear, but I disagree – especially with the convertible.”

Ross has been fortunate enough to appear on Top Gear as the ‘Star in a Reasonably Priced Car’, where he picked up a few driving tips from his neighbour before taking to the track.

“I used to live in the same street as the original Stig, Perry McCarthy,” says Ross. “He gave me some really good advice on getting round the track in the best possible time. He had to leave the show when people found out his identity.”

After taking the Stig’s advice, Ross took the Suzuki Liana round the soaking wet track in a respectable 1 minute 54 seconds.

The 43-year-old has just returned from filming his new series Ross Kemp in Afghanistan.

“I was ambushed by the Taliban,” says Ross. “You have body-armour on but nothing protecting your arms, legs or head.”

In the five-part series, to be broadcast in January, Ross follows his father’s old regiment The First Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment from their training on Salisbury Plain to fighting in the lawless Helmand Province.

“It’s the most scared I’ve ever been,” says Ross. “I was nearly killed when we were ambushed. We knew the Taliban were in the area but we didn’t know when they were going to attack us. I was walking with the regiment when we got opened up on. You get training but nothing prepares you for being shot at, when the bullets are that close.”

It’s been a fairytale year for Ross – he has picked up a BAFTA for his series Ross Kemp on Gangs, a series which came about by chance.

“It was a complete fluke,” admits Ross. “I was standing in on a documentary about America’s obsession with guns where I met a member of the Bloods gang who had been shot 26 times.”

“He was very polite and intelligent and, had he been born a couple of miles away, could have had a totally different life. It gave me the idea for Gangs and I pitched it to Sky.”

Ross saw first-hand how gang life really pans out.

“A lot of guys don’t have cars,” says Ross. “There’s a lot of poverty. You don’t see a lot of driving, but you see a lot of drive-by shootings. There was one when I was filming the Bloods and Crips in St Lois, Missouri.”

The former EastEnders star has made 13 episodes of Ross Kemp on Gangs so far, visiting countries such as El Salvador, New Zealand and Russia where he was set on fire by Neo-Nazis as part of an initiation.

But after being shot at by insurgents and getting burned by skinheads, Ross is about to be confronted by a baying mob of screaming kids. 

He’s appearing as the witch’s henchman in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the New Wimbledon Theatre alongside panto legends Bobby Davro and Warwick Davis (pictured).

“I am looking forward to the booing,” say Ross. “But I hope they don’t throw too much at me – I’ve spent the last few months dodging bullets.”

There’s one question stuck in my mind, which I have to ask him - will we be seeing the Mitchell brothers - Phil and Grant - back together in Albert Square?

“Never say never. If it wasn’t for EastEnders I wouldn’t have the career I have,” says Ross.

What next for this hardworking actor, documentary maker and author?

“After panto, I’m making four more Gangs shows, maybe in Haiti, Nigeria, Mexico and Thailand,” says Ross. 

“Then I’m taking a holiday.”

Ross is appearing in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the New Wimbledon Theatre from December 7 to January 20. For ticket information call 0870 060 6646.

Ross Kemp in Afghanistan will appear on Sky One in January, 2008.

The book Gangs by Ross Kemp is on sale now.