Hometruths

HELEN SKELTON GETS UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH HER HOME

The BBC presenter and

Countryfile host lives in Cumbria with her children, Ernie, Louis and Elsie.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE

TIME OF DAY AT HOME?

Definitely early morning – that’s the calmest time of day in my house. I’ve always been an early bird because I grew up on a dairy farm, so the day starts early. I just like that stillness of the morning when everything is waking up.

WHERE’S YOUR HAPPY

PLACE AT HOME?

When the kids have gone to bed, that’s my time to switch off – just half an hour sitting in the bath. I’ve just gone from a freestanding bath to a fitted bath. I loved my freestanding bath before, but I quite like a fitted bath at the minute because you can put stuff around the edge like candles and a glass of wine.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SHOP TO BUY HOMEWARE FROM? Anthropologie, because you don’t expect to see homeware among the clothing. I’ve tried to buy the furniture that they display stuff on so many times – like the actual shop fittings – because they’re so cool. They’ve not let me buy any yet, but I'm still working on it!

WHAT CHORE DO YOU

LOVE DOING?

This is gross, but I really like taking the hair out of the shower drain – it’s so satisfying! And cleaning the shower screen using a window wiper – it doesn’t take very long but it has an immediate impact. In fact, I just ordered a Kärcher window vacuum cleaner for the job!

…AND WHAT CHORE DO YOU HATE? All housework. I hate putting dishes away and I hate cleaning the kitchen. I try to encourage the kids to do chores and say they won’t get pocket money if they don’t, but somehow they wangle their way out of it.

DO YOU TRY YOUR HAND AT DIY?

I regularly try. I’m not good at it, but I’m not terrible at it. I built some garden furniture at the weekend, and I do have a big bathroom mirror to go up, but it’s so heavy that I need a ‘proper’ person to put it up. I try little things, but I wouldn’t trust myself with a nail gun!

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE A GOOD HOST? Yes, I do. I’m a good host in that I’m welcoming, I’ve got good music on and I’m relaxed about my home. That said, I’m not a good cook. My friends always bring their own food when they come to my house!

■ Helen Skelton is the first brand ambassador for bathroom retailer Victoria Plum, representing the brand on a range of activities, including community and sustainability projects across the UK.