I’m a firm believer that diet, exercise and sleep conquer most things...
Ahead of this year’s Ideal Home Show, TV property guru Phil Spencer talks to about feeling ‘super-fit’ and having no regrets INCE finding fame on the ever-popular Location, Location, Location alongside Kirstie Allsopp, Phil Spencer’s become a bit of a T V mainstay, with Love It Or List It and History Of Britain In 100 Homes among his most recent credits.
Later this month, the property guru will once again appear at the Ideal Home Show, sharing his industry insights and tips with audiences.
First up, Phil, 49, who lives in Hampshire with his wife Fiona and their two sons, talks to us about working with Kirstie, why life’s like driving a racing car, and how fitness is helping him stay young...
SI NEVER imagined it would last so long. I thought it might be an interlude and an opportunity to see how T V worked. I think we were the very first property programme, we got the pick of the formats and we chose one that really works. I’d love to see us reach our 20-year milestone. Kirstie and I have always said that if people keep enjoying the show, we’ll keep on making it. IT’S like a T V marriage, really. We’ve shared a lot over the years. Predominantly, it works because we’ve become firm friends. We’re totally different but our core values are very similar. She’s far more spontaneous than me. I don’t like surprises, I like to have a plan and as much detail about what I’m going to be doing as possible, so I can mentally prepare.
She makes every day fresh because you never know what she’s going to do next, and when you’ve made a programme like ours for 18 years, you need things to be fresh. I THINK Kirstie keeps a count, and we’ve had around eight, which in 20 years isn’t bad. It all blows up, there’s a fair bit of noise, and then 10 minutes later we’re kind of, ‘OK , we got that out of our system, let’s move on with the day’, and it’s fine. I think only good friends can do that.
I never see them as, ‘Oh my God, this is the end’, because they usually happen when one of us is hungry, tired, stressed or worried, and then something little kicks it off. We moved from London to Hampshire a few years ago. I’m always interested in advances in technology that allow us to run our homes more efficiently. My home’s energy-efficient, with solar panels, insulation and glazing. I’m pretty hopeless at DIY; I tried putting some pictures up recently and had to resort to using Blu Tack.
My father’s advice to me was : Make owning a property a priority, because an awful lot can go wrong in the world without affecting you if you own the roof over your head.
GENERALLY, I enjoy being fit, but I need a goal. I promised myself at 40, I’d be fitter than I was at 30 – but it’s a bigger ask to be fitter at 50 than I was at 40! The years do count!
I feel super-fit at the moment because I’ve just climbed Everest in four days, doing around 12 hours climbing a day to raise money for brain tumour research. I did it last year and it was incredible, but just as challenging, punishing and the equivalent of running three marathons. It meant intensive training over five months. It’s made me feel so good and I’m so buzzing with energy. The only drawback is I wake up incredibly early.
I’m an outdoors person – and there’s nothing better than a walk with my dogs. My normal fitness regime is exercising for around 45 minutes four times a week in a gym. most things. So if I’m feeling a bit c**p, three days of really conscious exercise, diet and sleep generally sorts out most things in my world. If it doesn’t, then perhaps there’s a bigger problem. I’ VE been very fortunate not to have too many tough times. If I’m worried about something, I’ll talk to my wife. I have a very close family, so if I step out of line, one of them or Kirstie will pull me up! I’ve got friends I’ve known since I was a teenager and we’re always there for one another. S OMEBODY once told me, life’s like a race. When you watch Formula One, and the driver has a helmet camera, you see his hands constantly correcting, and going from left to right even when the road is straight. He’s trying to keep steering in a straight line, and I kind of see life like that.
It’s about constantly balancing, rebalancing and keeping all the balls in the air – keeping your marriage going, looking after the children, running a house, being good at work, maintaining a social life, keeping fit and healthy. It’s busy and there are the normal stresses, but I’ve been very fortunate. I have a gorgeous wife, two healthy children, a nice house, a job I love and a family that are alive and healthy. I’m really happy and have no regrets.
The Ideal Home Show will return to Olympia London from Friday, March 22 to Sunday, April 7. Phil Spencer is hosting property talks on stage. For more information, see idealhomeshow.co.uk RESEARCHERS have carried out the first long-term study into potential factors that could lead to suicide attempts in young people.
The University of Bristol team examined data from young people taken over a five-year period when they were aged between 16 and 21.
Their research, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, examined what proportion would make an attempt on their own life and whether those at greatest risk could be identified. It found that 12% of 16-year-olds with suicidal thoughts went on to make a suicide attempt by the time they were 21.
Factors that predicted suicide attempts were non-suicidal self-harm, use of cannabis and other illicit drugs, and exposure to self-harm in family or friends.
Young people who had a personality type that was more open to new ideas and experiences were also more likely to attempt to take their own lives.
Dr Becky Mars, research fellow at the University of Bristol, said: “Findings from our study could be used to help those who work with young people identify those in greatest need of timely help, support and interventions.”