Me, my selfie and I
GIZZI ERSKINE, 38 The chef, TV presenter and food writer takes a selfie – and reveals all…
Who is your hero? My mum Maria [above] has been a pillar of strength and inspiration. She was a single parent who brought up three kids at a time when that was less of a norm than today and she did it in a way that allowed her to be a powerful female. What are you most proud of? Going to Greece last year and cooking for refugees and all the volunteers was one of the most incredible things I’ve done – and a good reality check! What’s your biggest regret? I’m very emotional and impulsive and I’ve hurt a lot of people because of that. They say regret nothing, but I regret a lot: I have ADHD and it comes out in a way where I can be flippant, extreme and cutting. That I’m a know-it-all. What did you think about before falling asleep last night? I was watching a programme about Bitcoin, thinking I was still none the wiser about it.
Who do you call in a crisis?
Rose Dougall [below] – she’s my assistant and best friend. We are like sisters and lean quite heavily on each other. She knows how to fix me.
What song do you never skip? Erasure’s A Little Respect. I can’t not listen to it. What’s your go-to dinner party anecdote?
When I was very young I got headhunted as a model and a friend of mine asked me to model for the catwalk at [fetish club] Torture Garden. Afterwards, I got introduced to some famous people backstage and there was someone very alarming there. It would ruin your childhood if you knew!
What from your past would you like to delete from the internet?
There are a lot of misquotes and things that aren’t quite the truth, even on my Wikipedia page! It’s annoying.
Who owes you an apology?
I’ve got a very good heart and look after my friends a lot – some people have taken advantage of that. So those people.
Tell us a secret.
I was in an Elton John video back when I was a punk.
What’s the biggest misconception about you?
I don’t think people realise that I’m actually quite good at what I do. I may look a certain way, but I trained as a chef, went to catering school and have won a lot of prizes.
What advice would you give your younger self?
To follow your instincts. My decision-making comes from the heart and a deep underlying confidence that everything is going to be alright. That’s the trick to life.
‘ THEY SAY REGRET NOTHING, BUT I REGRET A LOT’