10 minute TV interview
STICKING around for any length of time in the cut-throat world of television is no mean feat.
And surviving live TV – notorious for finding out those out who can’t handle the pressure – is also pretty noteworthy.
But as iN10 catches up with Tim Lovejoy, the ever-popular presenter is as laid back as can be – despite marking an impressively lengthy milestone.
August will see him celebrate 20 years of live weekend telly.
He spent years on Saturdays hosting Sky’s Soccer AM before co-presenting hundreds of episodes of BBC2’s popular Something For The Weekend alongside chef Simon Rimmer.
Scheduling issues led the BBC to pull the plug after six years. But the high ratings saw Channel 4 swoop and the duo were back on screen just one week later with Sunday Brunch.
“I’ve had to work weekends almost as long as I can remember – but I’ve got a brilliant job so I don’t care,” says Tim, 48.
“I’m working while most other people take their rest time. But I always try to get time off during the week.”
Tim is more than aware that weekends are usually big family time.
He has 14-year-old twin daughters Grace and Rose from his first marriage and a three-year-old daughter, Jamie Jeane, with netballplayer partner Tamsin Greenway from whom he has recently split up.
As we speak Tim has been up through the night with his poorly youngest, apologising for his sleepy-sounding demeanour.
But, like any dad, he was more than happy to be there by her bedside and insists the kids come first,
“I make sure I always have time for them,” he says.
“Saturdays are pretty much sacred for me now and the older two have been coming along to my shows since they were about four.
“They come in when I have them every second weekend and they’ve almost become part of the furniture in the studio.
“They’ve been hanging round for so long they’ve seen so many celebrities it’s ridiculous. It’s funny as they’re almost bored with it all.”
Sunday Brunch’s mix of cookery, interviews and chat is, like BBC’s Saturday Kitchen, a winning recipe.