No.1 for Interviews - Lorraine Kelly
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With her autobiography hitting the shops, Cara Kennedy catches up with the nation’s favourite presenter and finds out that she’s just as fabulous off screen as she is on
In the fickle world of television, Lorraine Kelly has remained a constant and much-loved figure on our screens. For over two decades the Glasgow gal has reigned supreme as the ‘queen of the couch’ and brightened our homes every weekday morning with her down-to-earth attitude and infectious sense of humour. And it is just those attributes that have won her a legion of fans, so much so that you’ll be hard pushed to find someone who doesn’t like Lorraine Kelly. So when faced with the prospect of meeting up with the woman dubbed one of Scotland’s ‘national treasures’, you can understand the excited frenzy that ensued in the office – and she didn’t disappoint! Warm, friendly and funny, the 48-year-old told us why she had decided that now was the right time for to write an autobiography – which, for the record, is a great read. Who has been the most difficult star she has ever interviewed and, in between fits of laughter, why a naked man dancing behind Jackie Brambles is all part of a day’s work!
What prompted you to write an autobiography?
To be honest, I would never have thought about doing it but last year a book about me came out that somebody had written without talking to me. It was really odd and it didn’t tell my story. I didn’t even know anything about it until it was actually published. When I read it I thought, ‘I really should try and tell my story myself, because there’s a lot more to it than that!’
How did you find the writing experience?
I actually started out my career as a journalist so I
found the process of writing really enjoyable. Sometimes it was difficult because I’m obviously working at GMTV and I have my columns to write – and I’ve got to see my family! I was very organised and I set myself a certain amount of words every day, but because I’m used to meeting deadlines I was determined that it was all going to get done when it should be done. It’s been a really interesting experience. The most interesting thing about it was talking to my parents and grandparents about their lives. Unless you’re looking for your family tree you don’t really talk to your relatives about their early lives.
Was there anything that you found out that you didn’t know before?
I didn’t know that my grandmother – my mother’s mother – wanted me to be adopted. My parents were only 17 and not married when they fell pregnant with me and it was my dad who stood up and said, “No”. He’s a very strong man, with a strong sense of morals in a really positive way.
You’ve covered some of the most difficult experiences of your life in the book, including your miscarriage, was that difficult for you? Or did you find it therapeutic?
It was hard to write about but it was a long time ago – it happened back in 2000. What really helped me at the time was the letters and cards that I got from women – and men. Everybody forgets that it affects the partners or the husbands as well. I always knew that viewers and readers had this sense that they knew me really well and that really manifested itself at that time. I really needed help – and those letters and cards did. It just shows how you do touch people. You forget when you’re sitting in your studio, chatting away and having a bit of a giggle that you end up in peoples’ homes. In many ways it’s a really unique relationship.
A lot of people seem to use their autobiographies as a way of ‘settling old scores’. You haven’t – is it just not in your nature?
To be honest, I don’t have that many scores to settle and I don’t believe in holding on to grudges. If I’ve got a problem with somebody, I’ll sort it out there and then. There really wasn’t anybody that I disliked that much that I’d want to ‘diss’ them in a book. I don’t really see the point of that. I wanted it to be positive but truthful, so there’s nothing really nasty in it.
When you are in the public eye, you are open to critical stories surfacing in the press. Is it hard reading such things?
I don’t mind if people go on about me looking a bit plump or not liking my accent. I’ve actually been very lucky as I haven’t had anyone saying, “Oh she’s not very good at her job” because, to me, that would hurt a lot more. It’s crazy the way people go on and on about what you look like. Just recently, a photo was taken when I was walking about with my daughter, Rosie, and I was having a ‘fat day’. I actually have a bit of a belly – shock horror! I have had a kid and I’m in my late 40s. I’m the kind of person who will always have a few pounds here and there and you’ve just got to accept it. We all have a weight we should be. I should be a size 12. When I’m a 14 I look a bit plump, when I’m a size 10 I look a bit gaunt – that’s not happened very often mind you! I don’t think we should beat ourselves up about our weight – it’s okay!
You have managed to avoid major controversies, which with the length of time you’ve been in the business is quite an achievement!
I’m very aware of the things that I do, I’ve always got this sort of ‘cheques and balances’ in the back of my head and it’s always, ‘Would this embarrass your mother or your daughter?’ and that is my mantra. If I’m going to do anything that is in any way going to embarrass or upset them then it’s just not worth doing. That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy doing things like The Friday Night Project, Graham Norton or Have I Got News For You and having a laugh at myself, and being a bit cheeky and naughty – that’s absolutely fine. I don’t think there’s a problem there. But there is a line and you have to make sure that you don’t cross it and end up embarrassing yourself or more importantly, the people that you care about.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
I think it’s the whole package really and the fact that every day is different. Sure meeting famous people is interesting but what I enjoy more is meeting people who have done amazing things – so called ‘ordinary people’. Which I think is nonsense as there’s no such thing as an ‘ordinary person’. I always find that really interesting.
How do you cope when things go wrong on the show?
Things go wrong all the time. There’s really not a day that goes by when something doesn’t go wrong, whether it’s a guest that’s late or a link that goes down. But I have an earpiece and the crew talk to me through it all the time. They’ll let me know if there is a problem like a piece of footage that might be a bit dodgy. I’ve always got the papers so if worst comes to the worst I can refer to them, or I can always witter on about Coronation Street. If I do talk about Coronation Street, then that’s it; the shit has hit the fan and all I’m getting through my earpiece is a lot of headless chickening! I have to just keep talking until I can go to a break. I always think if something goes wrong then tell people. If a naked man is running behind the likes of Jackie Brambles, as has happened, say, “Oh look there’s a naked man!” Don’t try and kid on he’s not there because I can see him so I know you can see him!
Tell us a bit about your working week?
It’s very different now because I live in Scotland. My husband, Steve, and I always wanted to come home and Rosie was going to start secondary school so we thought, ‘If we don’t move now then we never will.’ That was about three years ago. Sunday night I fly down to London from Dundee – the airport is about 20 minutes from my house, which is fantastic. I do a lot of homework on the Sunday night and talk to the crew about what we will be doing on the show the next day. Monday I do my show and have meetings up until about lunchtime and Tuesday I do three shows. I do my live show and pre-record the other two and I’m home by Tuesday night. So I’m only away Sunday and Monday night. I couldn’t be away any more from my daughter – that would be too difficult. Then I write my columns on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. It’s pretty full-on.
Who is the most difficult celebrity you’ve ever had to interview?
Usually anyone who has an entourage of over 12 is pretty difficult! Often the celebrity themselves isn’t bad – it’s the people around them. They have to justify their existence so they run around demanding special water, and cushions, and candles, and white draperies – and you think, ‘Oh behave!’ To be honest, most people are on the show because they are promoting or selling something so they are usually on their best behaviour!
And your favourite?
I’m going to be very predictable – Mr George Clooney was adorable, because he just is adorable! Will Smith as well, he’s fabulous – just the nicest man. Both of them are just so easy. I remember after I interviewed Will Smith I said to him, “I wish every A-lister was like you because you are just so easy.” He looked at me and said, “But it’s my job.” I thought, ‘What a brilliant attitude’ because so many of them don’t think so.
They sit there with miserable faces and just don’t
want to be doing the interview because they are
talking about a movie that they worked on 18 months ago and have moved on to another one, and probably another one after that. That’s when five minutes feel like five hours.
You have a big fan base in the gay community – how do you feel about that?
It’s just marvellous and the student thing is great as well because that’s what led to me to becoming rector at Dundee University, which was wonderful and then I got an honorary degree in June as well. So I’m actually Dr Kelly! It makes me laugh – I love it! I didn’t go to university because I went straight into working for newspapers so my dad and mum didn’t get to see me graduate so they loved it. My dad was just beaming. Out of all the things I’ve ever done getting that Doctor of Laws degree made them so happy. I love it because if anyone ever asks, “Is there a doctor in the house?” I can say yes – sort of!
TV has been a very precarious profession but you’ve been working consistently since the 80s – what’s the secret to your success?
I don’t think there’s any secret. It’s mixture of luck and sheer bloody hard graft! Working as a reporter I’d be running around and was like a sales woman selling Scotland. If a day went by and there was no Scottish story on the programme I would be very upset. I was like a wee terrier. I was always on the phone to them in London saying, “You’ve got to do this story or that story,” and I think that and my coverage of Lockerbie was what got me onto the sofa. Now it’s a case of never taking it for granted.
You started out as a news journalist – what for you has been the most difficult story you’ve had to cover?
Dunblane by a mile. There won’t be anything as bad as that. That was very, very difficult covering that. You know when you see hard-bitten reporters white faced and police officers crying that you’ll never see anything like this again. I don’t know how the parents of all the children who were killed and injured managed to keep going, I really don’t. I thought they were incredibly brave and inspirational – I’m sure they wouldn’t say that they were. Most of us can’t even imagine what they have been through.
Tell us a bit about the work you have done to support breast cancer charities.
My gran had breast cancer and although she was in her 80s when she died I still feel cheated that she’s not here. She was just amazing. So that’s why I’ve done the Marathons and Moonwalks for Breast Cancer. I probably get more out of it than the charity in a way because I feel like I’m doing something positive and something that is hopefully going to help someone.
Tell us about those marathons – they are an amazing feat to complete.
They are but that is in no way because I’m fit, I am determined. I have the stamina of a wee Shetland pony. I would love to be one of those women with their perfect figures and bouncing ponytails. I’d see them when I was out training, all red and hot and sweaty and half dying. I wanted a bouncing ponytail. I wanted to look like a thoroughbred and instead I looked like a Shetland pony! Three marathons and I can’t even run the length of myself now.
What do you want to be doing in five or ten years time?
I do love what I do and I’d be more than happy to still be doing it if people want to watch me. I’d like to
do some writing though. I’d like to write some novels. I’ve got some good ideas. I think this book has given me a taste for writing so if I got the chance to do that then I’d really like to.
QUICK FIRE
What is you biggest indulgence in life?
Holidays although shoes are good!
What do you always have in your handbag?
A book because I do so much travelling
If I wasn’t a TV Presenter I’d be…
An RAF fighter pilot
My beauty secret is…
Keep your eye gel in the fridge and put it on when you get up in the morning
My biggest bug bear is…
Biggots. I can’t stand people that are
narrow-minded
My most prized possession is…
A video of Rosie from when she was a baby right the way through
The best thing about being Scottish is…
Our sense of humour and the fact we can talk to anybody!
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