Jackie Dunbar

Sits down with

MMHolyrood’s

What’s your earliest memory?

Well, I can tell you one of my first memories. I remember when I was young, my dad used to be a shepherd and we used to get woken up through the night to go and walk the parks to find any sheep that had lambed, then we got to have the responsibility of feeding any of the orphaned ones.

Do you prefer the town or countryside?

I’m a toonser nowadays. I moved to Aberdeen when I was 16, but before that I grew up in the country, hence the different twangs you’ll hear me speaking sometimes. I’m still a country quine at heart, but I think it would be the toon because of all the comforts close at hand, to be honest.

Where did you got to school?

The north east of Scotland. I was born in Peterhead and we moved everywhere between there and Nairn when I was little. My secondary education was at Elgin High School.

What were you like at school?

I was quiet and very, very shy. Just a normal person.

common sense. As for practical skills, they should all be able to sew on buttons…

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

It’s probably a strange one, but when my daughter was just born, one of my friends said to me: “People are going to give you lots of advice, listen to it all and say thank you very much, and ignore the bits that you don’t believe in, but never say you don’t want it, because it’s that one piece of advice that you’re going to need in later life.” I always say that to young mums as well.

What’s your top film and TV programme, other than Masterchef?

I love the movie Beaches, with Bette Midler. I like musicals too, Ghost, Dirty Dancing – I’m from that era. Anything with Whoopi Goldberg too, she’s brilliant. I also used to watch a lot of forensic detective programmes as I just love how they work things out.

MWhat’s your favourite holiday ever?

We normally go to Zakynthos, one of the Greek islands there’s a small village there that has got one main street. Going back to my country upbringing I like it small. The people are so nice and welcoming. Somebody told me they have GMT time over there: ‘Greek Maybe Time’. If you’re going to get a bus, they’ll tell you, it could be half eight, but be there for quarter past, but don’t worry if you have to wait until quarter to nine. It’s just nice to not have to clock watch for once, like when

you’re busy at work. That’s what happens out there.