FIRST IMPRESSIONS: FERN BRITTON
What are you working on?
Novel number four, which is as yet untitled, but I’ve got the plot and I am rather excited because it goes back to my theatre stage-manager days.
When were you at your happiest?
I’m generally pretty happy but I was very happy during the Malaysian Grand Prix. I was in bed and one of my sons got in and we sat and drank tea and ate biscuits and watched the race. It was brilliant.
What is your greatest fear?
I don’t think I’m particularly frightened of anything, although I wouldn’t want to jump out of an aeroplane. Life doesn’t scare me – I’m ready to get on with it.
What is your earliest memory?
Paddling in the sea in Cornwall on the beach at Looe with my Uncle Paul and my fishing net. We used to go on holiday there every year.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My mother. She has saved lives with her incredible courage. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) when she was young, during the war. She would shoot down enemy aircraft. She has some stories, and they’ve been recorded in a book recently, which is lovely. She was amazing.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I get too emotional so that I can’t see the wood for the trees and I have to leave things alone for 24 hours. If you react immediately you make a mess of it.
What is your most treasured possession?
It is a toy cat. He looks just like a big sausage because I’ve hugged him since I was four. He’s called Johnson and my uncle gave him to my sister but I nicked him.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Meanness of spirit and meanness of generosity.
Do you have a fantasy address?
Somewhere like Constantine Bay, by the sea.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
When I was younger I could pick a list as long as your arm, but as I’ve got older I’m just grateful that I have everything.
What is your favourite book?
Gone With The Wind. A fantastic book – I urge people to read it. If you’ve seen the film and think that means you know the book, you don’t. It is extraordinary.
What is your favourite film?
An old one would probably be Top Hat; a modern one would be The Queen with Helen Mirren.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
Let’s say the Hunky Dory album by David Bowie. But the one I’m in love with at the moment is Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience.
What is your favourite meal?
Roast lamb, roast potatoes, peas, gravy and mint sauce.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
The Queen: obviously she’d have to be so relaxed that she’d tell us everything. Also Michael Bublé – the Queen would like him. He’s very funny, very rude and very naughty. I like him a lot. And Janet Street-Porter – I think she’d be fun.
Which historical character do you most admire?
Elizabeth I. She was a woman in a man’s world, and she decided to use her feminine wiles while actually using a very male brain.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has said to you?
A very famous lady, who was in my dressing room having her make-up done, said to the makeup artist, ‘Whose shoes are those?’ pointing at a pair on the floor. The make-up lady said, ‘Oh, they’re Fern’s’, and the female presenter said, ‘Hasn’t she got big feet.’
What is your secret vice?
Lying on the sofa watching Formula One with a big, big, big box of Maltesers.
Do you write thank-you notes?
I try.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
Probably ‘fabulous’, ‘wonderful’, ‘darling’.
What single thing would improve your quality of life?
A personal masseur would be nice.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
That I was a good mum and quite a nice person.
The Holiday Home by Fern Britton is published by Harper, priced £7.99.
Novel number four, which is as yet untitled, but I’ve got the plot and I am rather excited because it goes back to my theatre stage-manager days.
When were you at your happiest?
I’m generally pretty happy but I was very happy during the Malaysian Grand Prix. I was in bed and one of my sons got in and we sat and drank tea and ate biscuits and watched the race. It was brilliant.
What is your greatest fear?
I don’t think I’m particularly frightened of anything, although I wouldn’t want to jump out of an aeroplane. Life doesn’t scare me – I’m ready to get on with it.
What is your earliest memory?
Paddling in the sea in Cornwall on the beach at Looe with my Uncle Paul and my fishing net. We used to go on holiday there every year.
Who has been your greatest influence?
My mother. She has saved lives with her incredible courage. She joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS) when she was young, during the war. She would shoot down enemy aircraft. She has some stories, and they’ve been recorded in a book recently, which is lovely. She was amazing.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I get too emotional so that I can’t see the wood for the trees and I have to leave things alone for 24 hours. If you react immediately you make a mess of it.
What is your most treasured possession?
It is a toy cat. He looks just like a big sausage because I’ve hugged him since I was four. He’s called Johnson and my uncle gave him to my sister but I nicked him.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
Meanness of spirit and meanness of generosity.
Do you have a fantasy address?
Somewhere like Constantine Bay, by the sea.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
When I was younger I could pick a list as long as your arm, but as I’ve got older I’m just grateful that I have everything.
What is your favourite book?
Gone With The Wind. A fantastic book – I urge people to read it. If you’ve seen the film and think that means you know the book, you don’t. It is extraordinary.
What is your favourite film?
An old one would probably be Top Hat; a modern one would be The Queen with Helen Mirren.
What is your favourite record or piece of music?
Let’s say the Hunky Dory album by David Bowie. But the one I’m in love with at the moment is Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience.
What is your favourite meal?
Roast lamb, roast potatoes, peas, gravy and mint sauce.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
The Queen: obviously she’d have to be so relaxed that she’d tell us everything. Also Michael Bublé – the Queen would like him. He’s very funny, very rude and very naughty. I like him a lot. And Janet Street-Porter – I think she’d be fun.
Which historical character do you most admire?
Elizabeth I. She was a woman in a man’s world, and she decided to use her feminine wiles while actually using a very male brain.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has said to you?
A very famous lady, who was in my dressing room having her make-up done, said to the makeup artist, ‘Whose shoes are those?’ pointing at a pair on the floor. The make-up lady said, ‘Oh, they’re Fern’s’, and the female presenter said, ‘Hasn’t she got big feet.’
What is your secret vice?
Lying on the sofa watching Formula One with a big, big, big box of Maltesers.
Do you write thank-you notes?
I try.
Which phrase do you most overuse?
Probably ‘fabulous’, ‘wonderful’, ‘darling’.
What single thing would improve your quality of life?
A personal masseur would be nice.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
That I was a good mum and quite a nice person.
The Holiday Home by Fern Britton is published by Harper, priced £7.99.