ESTHER RANTZEN
Words of wisdom
Broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen, 77, splits her time between London and the New Forest
How tidy is your house?
I think it is tidy but my daughter thinks it is incredibly cluttered. I’m not minimalist. I’ve got bits and pieces from various stages of my life that remind me of happy days. It’s what they call an eclectic mix.
When was the last time you personally cleaned your bathroom?
I don’t know what makes you think I ever personally clean my bathroom! I have a go at it when I notice, but fortunately I have help.
How often do you change your bedclothes?
Once a week.
Cook for friends or go out for dinner?
I meet friends on a regular basis. We tend to go to a local restaurant and each of us pick up our own bill, so no one has to pick up the whole bill or worry about washing-up. It works very well.
Who would you invite to a dinner party?
Barack Obama – I adore his books and he is funny and wise. I would also invite Michelle Obama, as she is a really interesting woman. Oscar Wilde for his wit and Elizabeth I. I would have Mr and Mrs Stanley Johnson and Kara and Tom Conti – they are very close friends of mine.
What’s the best bargain you ever bought?
I went to the Selfridges’ sale once and my daughter Becca, who is a truffle hunter when it comes to bargains, found a red silk jacket that had been £900, and got it for £90. She tried it on and I said, ‘I am not sure it is your colour,’ grabbed it from her and I wear it to every event. It is so useful!
Are you a saver or a spender?
I have moods when I spend and moods when I save. I am completely inconsistent.
What’s your health motto?
Everything in moderation – it’s something my father used to say, and he lived until he was 90, so that’s probably right.
Where in the world is your happy place?
I love living in London and I spend a lot of time in the New Forest. They are my happy places. My homes and my garden.
What will always lift your mood?
Any television programme about antiques. I am addicted to those.
What’s at the top of your to-do list?
I’m embarking on a UK tour called That’s Life with my daughter Rebecca. She has given me strict instructions that there are two things we won’t talk about – they are sex and Brexit. We’re doing it to mark my 50th year in broadcasting. I feel I’ve had tremendous luck. I am not the most beautiful woman and not the most talented, so I have been very fortunate to make the programmes I’ve been making. It has given me the opportunity to create the charities Childline and The Silver Line.
What did your parents teach you?
My mother always said, ‘It will be better in the morning.’ When everything seems bleak, it is very hard to remember it but just hang in there – everything will seem better in the morning.
What advice do you hand down?
If you can’t get over it, get around it. When someone says no to me I tend to regard it as a challenge.
◆ Visit dameestherrantzen.com to find out more about the That’s Life tour
I’ve been very fortunate to make the programmes I’ve made