An innate dislike of fast food and a policy of always making sure he gets a decent night’s sleep has kept globetrotting superstar DJ Judge Jules partying well into his 40s. Chris Price caught up with him.

Launching careers on his radio show and DJing at clubs all over the world makes Judge Jules’ life sound pretty full-on.

But the former Radio 1 dance music legend, who has just finished the 13th season of his Judgement Sundays night in Ibiza, isn’t your stereotypical all out partying DJ. In fact, Jules put his longevity down to keeping himself fit on a diet of Asian food and by avoiding the beers.

“As you get older, you can not burn the candle at both ends as much,” said Jules, 45.

“That is just a reality but I have never been one for going absolutely mental anyway. As a DJ you are expected to perform and it is often your mates and entourage who go crazy, whereas people assume it is the DJs.

“You have to look after yourself. Even when I was 16, 17 and 18, I was never somebody who could spend the night without sleep. I drink at gigs but within reason and I go to the gym as much as I can within the confines of travelling.

“It is just a case of being sensible and looking after yourself. I have done that for a lot of my life. I am lucky enough to like quite healthy food and dislike unhealthy food. I don’t like kebabs or burgers very much.”

The north Londoner added: “I like light, freshly-cooked, vegetable-heavy Asian food. Thai or Malaysian – anything like that. Going out at 6am to the local kebab shop is not my thing at all, thankfully. I am not a big beer drinker either. I like vodka, usually with Diet Coke.”

After presenting his last show on Radio 1 in March, following the station’s decision to shake up its dance music output, Jules is aiming to double his output of singles from about three to six a year. He is also indulging in another of his great passions. A law graduate from London School of Economics – the root of his DJ name – he is finally following up on his qualification, working a couple of days a week as a music lawyer.

“I’ve got professional qualifications as well, so this is an unusual twist to use that,” he said, revealing he is working for some high profile clients but none he is prepared to disclose.

“As a DJ, your week is orientated around Thursday to Sunday, so this has become my new job on Monday and Tuesday.”

Splitting his time each summer between his London home and Ibiza, Jules – a happily married father-of-two – also visits the USA seven or eight times a year.

He has also played lots of shows in Kent throughout his career. He always turns up early for gigs, so fans at his next show in Canterbury’s Club Chemistry nightclub might catch him at the bar if they arrive in the night’s early stages.

“I have done Maidstone a lot historically for the big promoter Clubclass. All the major towns I have done a handful of times like Gillingham, Folkestone, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells but it is Maidstone I have done lots and lots of times. I have always had a blast there. It has got a long-standing dance music heritage. I haven’t done a non university-based show in Canterbury before so I’m looking forward to it.”

‘Homework’ that’s all part of the job

Each week, Jules receives between 700 and 800 promos from budding dance DJs hoping their new mix will feature in his next show.

These are whittled down to about 100 by his team, which Jules then listens to each week. He then narrows them down to about 20 new tracks a week. The volume has not died down since he left Radio 1.

He said: “It’s the homework you have to do. DJing is not just about turning up and playing tunes, it is all the stuff that supports it. It is about making music, social networking, interviews and, most time consumingly, listening to all the new tunes.

“It used to infuriate me that for many years I had to defend the profession of being a DJ against the accusation of being just somebody who played other people’s records. You play records but a lot of them are your own or exclusive things you have made specifically for your DJ sets.”

He added: “You can’t fool anybody and your enjoyment and your passion has got to spread itself to the dancefloor. There are many people I have grown up with who have had careers shortened because they have clearly fallen out of love with clubs, clubbing and dancefloors. If that happens, it is not going to work for you.”

Judge Jules will perform at Fusion at Club Chemistry in Canterbury on Saturday, October 20. Tickets £6 in advance, £9 on the door. Visit www.facebook.com/fusionclubchemistry. Call 01227 462520.