presenters

STARSIGN:

Sagittarius

BORN N BRED:

Hemel Hempstead

LAST JOB:

Freelance journalist

FOOTBALL TEAM:

I once remarked during my journalist training that I didn’t really see the point of 11 men running around a field kicking an inflated piece of dead cow. It was amazing how many people came up to me after the class to thank me for saying what they were secretly thinking.

I WOULDN’T BE WORKING HERE IF IT WASN’T FOR:

Refusing to take two failed job interviews as an answer (third time lucky).

MOST INTERESTING FACT ABOUT YOU:

I used to have a flourishing writing career which includes six published books.

MOST ANNOYING TRAIT:

Not being able to go more than two hours in the day time without a cup of tea.

CLAIM TO FAME (OTHER THAN 3CR):

Being recognised by someone more famous than me in a public place. It was while standing in the queue for a very popular Chinese restaurant in London I heard from behind: “Hello, what are you doing here?” in an Australian accent. I turned around and it was Kristian Schmid (best known as Todd in Neighbours) whom I had met on the set of The Tomorrow People. We had a quick chat and he introduced me to his grandmother. I was then called to my table while the rest of the queue stared at me wondering who this woman was who was friends with a soap star.

MOST EMBARRASSING MOMENT (NOT ON AIR):

All I can say is there were ten cameras in that room and none of them managed to capture the moment.

MOST EMBARRASSING ON-AIR MOMENT:

My colleagues enjoyed the time I was reading the news and trying to play various clips of politicians and protestors as part of the bulletin. But every time I hit the button, the computer skipped to the last clip of a BAFTA award acceptance speech. The third time this happened, I apologised to the audience by saying: “I’m sorry, I can’t seem to get rid of Thora Hird.”

WEIRDEST PLACE YOU HAVE EVER SPENT THE NIGHT:

In a double bed with my friend in Laos because it was either that or be without accommodation in a country which had only opened up to the West three years before.

FIRST RECORD:

I would like to pretend it was Tainted Love by Soft Cell, although I did actually purchase Bang Bang by BA Robertson several months earlier.

FIRST CAR:

My Mum’s old Nissan Micra.

FAVOURITE PLACE IN BEDS, HERTS OR BUCKS:

Any rural Bucks village.

DESERT ISLAND LUXURY:

Tea.

HERO:

Commander John Crichton

WOULD HATE TO BE IN THE BIG BROTHER HOUSE WITH:

J. Michael Straczynski

FAVOURITE ITEM IN WARDROBE:

My salmon pink summer dress. It’s not really in a wearable state any more, but I don’t intend to throw it away. I bought it new around 12 years ago for £10 and I’m told it will cost a couple of hundred to make a replica.

IF I WASN’T AT 3CR, I WOULD BE:

Working at another radio station. I tried to leave radio ten years ago and it was a disaster.

DREAM CO-PRESENTER:

If I don’t say Justin Dealey, I will be in serious trouble…

I REALISE I’M GETTING OLD…

Every time I start a sentence: “Do you remember when…?” and nobody does.

USEFUL TIP:

Use loose leaf tea, a teapot and a tea strainer. Don’t forget to warm the pot – and for goodness’ sake, pour the milk in first!