Published: 18 July 2011
Presenter Christine Bleakley:
The treasured item you lost and wish you could have again...A beautiful gold ring with amethyst stones my parents bought me for my 21st birthday. It got lost when I moved from Northern Ireland to London in 2007. I was devastated and still hope it will pop up in a sock drawer.
The unending quest that drives you on...To be completely independent. My mum instilled that in me from an early age. She wasn’t a driven career woman herself but she understands the freedom a woman has when she doesn’t depend on anyone else.
The way you would spend your fantasy 24 hours, with no time travel restrictions...I visited Paris for the first time last March with Frank [her fiancée, Chelsea footballer Frank Lampard] and every second was magical. I’d start there, then head to Val D’Isere for skiing, then to Italy to top up the tan and for some glorious food. Frank would be with me, with family and some mates, too.
The temptation you wish you could resist...Being the last to leave a party. I always want to dance with the last few hangers on when the band is packing up.
The book that holds an everlasting resonance...The Crucible. I became fascinated by all things Arthur Miller after reading this play. I also fell in love with Daniel Day-Lewis and Winona Ryder after watching them in the film. Painfully magical.
The priority activity if you were the Invisible Woman for a day...I’d follow traffic wardens and whip on newly paid up tickets in cars just before they issue a fine to an unsuspecting driver.
The way fame and fortune has changed you, for better and worse...I could never comfortably link my name with the term fame and fortune, but being on the telly does have its bonuses. People are always very chatty and friendly when they see you out. The downside is that close friends find it hard if I end up talking about the show with other people when are meant to be catching up.
The film you can watch time and time again...I adore comedies with a storyline you can relate to and I love Meet The Fockers. Who doesn’t get nervous meeting the in-laws?
The person who has influenced you most...My parents have been incredibly influential, as has Adrian Chiles, but if I had to pick one person it would be Frank. He is a great man with a lot of integrity and has an inner strength few of us possess. I admire his work ethic most – it’s second to none.
The figure from history for whom you’d most like to buy a pie and a pint...Marilyn Monroe. I’d have a million questions, but I’d ask if she knew the effect she would have by standing on that grate with the air blowing up her dress. I guess the answer would be Yes!
The piece of wisdom you would pass on to a child...Nuala McKeever, a well respected Northern Irish writer and comic, once said: "Christine, jump and the net shall appear." At the time, I was worrying about moving to London and the second she uttered those words I had clarity and moved.
The unlikely interest that engages your curiosity...I studied A-Level art and nearly went to art college, so painting with oils is a real passion. I can lose days in front of a canvas – it is the ultimate escape.
The prized possession you value above all others...A Rolex watch I bought myself when I moved to London. It wasn’t overly expensive but it represents a scary and lonely time. I had never lived away from home so it was an enormous step, personally and professionally, but I’m so glad I took the plunge.
The unqualified regret you wish you could amend...I really don’t have any regrets. If I make a decision that doesn’t go according to plan then I learn from it and move on. I don’t dwell on regrets.
The poem that touches your soul...The Lady of Shalott by Lord Alfred Tennyson is beautiful.
The misapprehension about yourself you wish you could erase...That I just popped up on telly out of nowhere. I’ve actually been working in television since I was 17.
The event that altered the course of your life and character...Moving to London to work on The One Show. I still pinch myself sometimes because I can’t believe my luck.
The crime you would commit knowing you could get away with it...I can’t bear people who litter. If I caught someone throwing stuff out of their car, I’d push the car into a hole and fill it with concrete.
The song that means most to you... Van Morrison’s Brown Eyed Girl. My dad used to sing it to me when I was young. I’m still his brown-eyed girl.
The happiest moment you will cherish forever...My sister Nicola’s wedding day in 2007. I cried with happiness and pride for 12 hours solid.
The saddest time that shook your world...I vividly remember my grandmother passing away when I was ten. I had to sit my 11-plus exam not long after. I held a little picture of her in my hand the entire way through the exam. I passed and no doubt she had something to do with that.
The unfulfilled ambition that continues to haunt you...I really don’t have one. My mum taught me to appreciate what you’ve got, rather than mourn what you haven’t got. And she always says: Stay humble and you won’t have far to fall.
The philosophy that underpins your life...What goes around comes around. Every time.
The order of service at your funeral...A grand buffet, with traditional Irish oysters and Guinness for good measure. Loads of comedians and great music. Comic Leigh Francis could host proceedings. The way you want to be remembered...Happy, genuine and trustworthy.
The Plug...Christine co-hosts ITV1’s Daybreak with Adrian Chiles weekdays from 6-8.30am
Copyright: Rob McGibbon/Accessinterviews.com 2011 (2014). All rights reserved