The big interview ‘I love a SURPRISE, and I love a PARTY ’ , the face of Question Time and , opens up about both her TV career and her off-screen life

iona Bruce has been a constant in Do you ever sit back and take stock Britain’s homes for more than 30 years. of what you’ve achieved? She switches with ease from her serious Oh God, no, I don’t look at it like that. and authoritative news presenting to Each time I start something new, I feel the comforting warmth and joy we know incredibly fortunate. Each job brings Fand love on Antiques Roadshow. In January 2019, different challenges.Question Time she became the first female presenter of BBC’s has been the most challenging of Question Time. During the months since, she’s anything I’ve ever done by some aced it, and is helping the programme celebrate considerable distance. So I just think, its 40th anniversary. ‘I’d better not mess this up.’ In person, she’s warm, funny and thoughtful with How did you feel when you first a hearty, excitable laugh – sharing jokes about her took over from ? baking disasters (‘I’m a terrible cook!’ she exclaims), I was incredibly nervous to start with, and how the thought of wearing make-up and more nervous than I’ve been for smart clothing on the weekends fills her with dread. anything in years. That has eased ‘When I’m not working, I like to put zero thought off now, butQuestion Time is not into it. I’m absolutely not bothered.’ At home, a programme that you can relax into. Fiona lives with husband Nigel Sharrocks and You are marshalling the programme from their son Sam, 21, and daughter Mia, 17. where you sit, rather than interviewing, so

Photography DAVID VENNI Words JEN CROTHERS

NOVEMBER 2019 GOOD HOUSEKEEPING 17 The big interview big The 18 afternoon, I’moff. That’s beena revelation. people’s, where usually by Friday a weekend that lookslike lotsofother I haddonefor 20years. Now Ihave work thesixor10o’clock news, which Time about work. The onethingthat having saidthat, life isabsolutely notall I certainly amabigbeliever init.But no substitute for hard work and amount ofhours,that’s for sure. There’s I’m certainly notthat! Iputinadecent say you’re aworkaholic? You dosomuch;peopleever news. There’s nothinglike it. But I’malways goingto love doing to work with him andIlearnsomuch. a longtime, soit’s anabsolute pleasure show] isagoodfriendI’ve known for [the artdealerandco-presenter onthe Sherlock, partarthistory. PhilipMould a great day out. Thousands ofpeoplecome andit’s our articulated lorryandallourgear. We turnuplike atravelling circus with Antiques Roadshow What doyou enjoy aboutthemall? That’s just how itisinthisbusiness. I’ll findoutthat I’mnolongerinthejob.’ day. SoI’ve always saidthis:‘Oneday, that choice willgetmadefor meone there’s never beenaplan.Inthisindustry, I couldn’t choose. I’ve never chosen, Or Fortune? including You front suchavariety ofshows I really don’twant ashoutingmatch. that peoplehave to listen respectfully. has to listen, andIfeel very strongly different view from them. Everyone to otherswhomay take acompletely more polarised;peopleare sittingnext politics around Brexit hasbecome and us,thevoters. Particularly as gap between ourelected representatives time to tryto closethe critical more a have foreseen. There’s never been programme isnotsomethingIcould that theBBChasentrusted mewiththis It’s anincredible privilege. The fact programme’s 40thanniversary... And now you are at thehelmon work. It’s adifferent stature allofits own. very a it’s different dynamic to my other

GOOD HOUSEKEEPING hasgiven me isnothaving to incredibly lucky to still be working beworking to still lucky incredibly I’m I’m 55, bebrutal. and can TV Antiques Roadshow . Doyou have afavourite? Fake OrFortune? isareal event. NOVEMBER 2019 and Question Question

is part ispart

Fake Fake

screen; Ithinkthat’s really changed. of allintherepresentation ofwomen on equal pay. Ithinkit’s come thefurthest I thinktheBBChascome alongway in for equal pay at theBBC? How doyou feel aboutthebattle that, andI’ve nodesire to. in my life. Ican’treally seefurtherthan been suchanextraordinary development the next job?’ To get these jobsgoing?’rather than‘What’s than thenext job. Now, it’s ‘CanIkeep like inthat Inever thoughtfurtherahead doing. Idon’tknow what success looks years that Iwould bedoingthejobsI’m I would never have dreamed inamillion on thought Iwould. When Iwas aresearcher Well, Ihave achieved more thanIever What doessuccess looklike to you? matter. I’mjust realistic, that’s all. Whether I’llactuallybelike that isanother you would befinewithit. It soundslike ifthings were to happen, lucky to still beworking. be it.Imean,I’m55,andincredibly One day, itwon’t bethecaseandso on thepositive endofitfor many years. and Iamfortunate enoughto have been get made. It’s brutal,butthat’s how itis That’s just theway itis.These decisions phlegmatic aboutthenature ofthejob. definitely for older women. I’mperfectly Things have definitely improved, and for women onTVduringyour career? How doyou thinkthingshave changed Panorama Time (above) and Antiques Roadshow our screens: fronting Fiona israrely off , amongothers , whichwas where Istarted, Question Question

Question Time

has has

How would you describeyour home? can. That’s hugelyimportant. of my family andfriendsasIpossibly a goodde-stresser. Itryto seeasmuch out abit,too, andIfindrunningisquite quite alotandendedupinA&E.Iwork of equalpay, theBBChasgonealong changed beyond recognition. Interms In terms ofwomen onscreen, ithas Now, that isnotanissue any more. good enough? Ivery muchdoubtit. Time Would Ihave gotajobon occasions, buttherest ofthe time, I’m Up to apoint,inthat Ilike to dress upfor Is fashion important to you? not abitembarrassing, what’s thepoint? say inappropriate things.Frankly, ifyou’re I’m embarrassing, that I’mtoo loud and to work.’ Mydaughter definitely thinks while you’re doingthis,it’s never going and my sonsaid,‘Ifyou’re goingto laugh kids offaboutsomething at thetable that way. Iremember tryingto tell the it just doesn’tseemto have worked out I thoughtthat Imight beastrict mother; What are you like asamum? of worked. Sothat’s thekindofcook Iam. and putthemuffinsbackinagain.Itsort out ofthepapercases,putinsugar I gotthemoutoftheoven, scraped them sugar. Ithencouldn’t make themagain,so in theoven andrealised I’d forgotten the house. Imadebananamuffins,putthem production team camearound to the rare! When Ijoined it iscommented uponbecauseit’s quite Put itthisway, ifIcook somethingedible, It’s soeasy, butitsoundsquite impressive. can’t cook… That doesn’tsoundlike someonewho made spaghettiallevongole theotherday. I deal inourhouse. Icandofishpie and something successfully, it’s quite abig enjoy it.SowhenIdomanageto cook I’m aterrible cook andIdon’tparticularly Do you enjoy cooking? Comfortably messy. It’s definitely lived in. be quite terrible andI’ve fallen off eight ornineyears ago, soI’llalways favourite thing.Ionlystarted about weekends. That, handsdown, ismy the country. Igetto dothat most Get onmy horseandgoridingin when you gettimeto relax? What’s your favourite thingto do definitely moving intherightdirection. have furtherto go? Yes itdoes,butit’s way intryingto resolve that. Doesitstill 10years ago, assuming Iwas Question Time goodhousekeeping.com/uk Question Question , the , the

FIONA WEARS (PREVIOUS PAGE): TROUSERS, VICTORIA, VICTORIA BECKHAM AT FENWICK. BLOUSE, TORY BURCH. EARRINGS; RING, BOTH MONICA VINADER. BANGLE, DAPHINE. THIS PAGE: JUMPSUIT, EMILIA WICKSTEAD AT MATCHESFASHION.COM. BANGLE, DAPHINE. RING, MONICA VINADER. SHOES, MALONE SOULIERS to berebellious It’s important It’s important

The big interview

a problem or something to dread. I definitely didn’t think I’d be working I don’t at 55. Things have changed a lot for like being told women, certainly at the BBC anyway. I would never have thought it was what to do possible. That thing that people say about, you know, ‘I might be 70 or might be 60, but inside I feel like I’m 30,’ I totally get that because inside I absolutely don’t feel like I’m 55. Is there an extensive beauty regime that you follow? Not at all. My beauty regime extends to Boots No7. For work, I have to do my hair, make-up and think about what I’m wearing. When I’m not working, I do not do any of those things. I tie my hair back in a ponytail and I don’t wear make-up. How important is friendship to you? There are six of us who were all at school together and they’re my closest friends. We don’t see each other as much as I would like, as most of us live in different parts of the country now, but absolutely not bothered. At weekends, to do. So I always think it’s important to we’ll always be there for each other. I’m always in my jeans. I’m fundamentally be a little bit rebellious, even if it’s in really It’s fantastic to have that. pretty lazy about all that. I’m more than tiny ways. The kids are always going, ‘You It is, and it’s just an incredibly close

happy to wear more or less the same can’t do that,’ and I go, ‘Yes, you absolutely network. We’ve all grown up together. thing from one day to the next. I think can.’ So yes, I think a healthy little dose No one puts on a front or pretends things that’s partly laziness and lack of interest, of rebellion in everything is a good thing. are better than they are, and that group and partly because I have to think about How do you feel about ageing? of women is one of the most important what I wear for work and so when I’m The face I see in the mirror every day things in my life. It’s incredibly precious. not working, I like to put zero thought is not how I feel inside. I suppose that’s  Question Time celebrates 40 years into it. I associate dressing up with work. because, since my 40s, I’ve had some on air this autumn. Watch Question Have you been approached to do of the best challenges career wise, so Time on Thursday evenings at 10.35pm reality TV shows? I certainly haven’t felt that ageing is on BBC One Yes, most of them I would say. Have you ever been tempted? I did one about 13 years ago called A FEW OF FIONA’S FAVOURITE THINGS Just The Two Of Us [a celebrity singing WHAT MAKES YOU household chores organised by my competition, where Fiona duetted with LAUGH? Lots of things. particularly, but my husband as surprises. 1980s singer Alexander O’Neal]. My husband makes favourite thing is taking I love a surprise I thought I’d turned it down, as I’d me laugh. He’s just stuff that we no longer and I love a party. said, ‘I’m just not around, I’m away very funny. need to the recycling WHAT FOOD at half-term,’ and then they moved the WHO WAS THE LAST centre, because then COULDN’T YOU LIVE show and I didn’t have any more reasons ARTIST THAT YOU it’s gone. But there’s WITHOUT? I couldn’t to say no. It’s quite hard to say no to the LISTENED TO? Avicii. I a million other things live without cake. head of BBC One, so I felt I couldn’t like some of his stuff and I’d rather do than that! My favourite is really. So I did it and I absolutely hated it! I had that on in the car. BEST PRESENT a mille-feuille, which You once had blue hair for a week. WHAT TV SHOW CAN YOU’VE EVER BEEN is like a custard slice, What’s the last rebellious thing you did? YOU SIMPLY NOT MISS? GIVEN? My best but a really fancy one. I think it’s always important to rebel I just finishedBig Little presents are always WHAT’S YOUR a little bit. Having spent my life trying Lies. But my favourite from my husband. He’s BIGGEST to teach my kids to obey rules, I’m now thing of all things is a brilliant present buyer. EXTRAVAGANCE? trying to teach them that you don’t have Fleabag. It was amazing. The best would be my Holidays. Last year, to obey them all. I think having a healthy YOUR PREFERRED 40th birthday party and we went sailing in distrust of authority is a good thing, HOUSEHOLD CHORE? my 50th birthday party, Croatia and this year within certain parameters, obviously. I don’t like any both of which were we went to California.

I don’t particularly like being told what MANAGEMENT. CAROL HAYES MAKE-UP: CHARLIE DUFFY AT MANAGEMENT. CAROL HAYES GABRIELLA MINCHELLA. HAIR: JON CHAPMAN AT STYLING: BBC PICTURES ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY: MONICA VINADER. BANGLE, DAPHINE. FENWICK. EARRINGS; RING, BOTH SMITH AT PAUL FIONA WEARS: DRESS,

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