STONEWASHED denim — not quite the future Peter Kay would choose for himself if he could go back in time.

The star has contributed to an innovative book called “Dear Me: A Letter To My Sixteen-Year-Old Self,” in which celebrities write a note to themselves in the past, with the wonderful luxury of hindsight.

Peter, now aged 36, would warn his 16 year-old self against bad fashion, women and cult television The Bolton comedian starts his note: “Dear Peter (age 16). Few tips for you. Avoid stonewashed denim.”

He also warns his younger self against dating Carol Farrell. “She’ll break your heart... twice,” he writes.

The television series Twin Peaks is also a no-no because of its disappointing ending.

And in a postscript, Peter adds, “The winner of the 1992 Grand National is Party Politics.”

The book, which is edited by Joseph Galliano and published by Simon and Schuster, also contains letters from the actress Emma Thompson, television presenter Paul O’Grady, pop star Will Young and writer Stephen Fry.

Actress Patsy Kensit warns her 16-year-old self: “You adore music more than anything else in the world, you have a great passion for rock and roll... but that doesn't mean you have to marry the lead singer of every band you ever had a poster of on your bedroom wall.”

War correspondent Jeremy Bowen offers some useful advice which no doubt could have helped his future path: “work a bit harder on foreign languages. Stop taking perverse pride in being bad at French. Arabic might be useful in the future.”

Singing star and actor John Barrowman asks his younger self to switch off Dynasty to read the letter, in which he reveals: “Dream big, work hard and floss every day. Trust me. All three will pay off.

Dear Me: A Letter To My Sixteen-Year-Old Self is available now.

kdibbits@theboltonnews.co.uk