Cathy Newman: 'Your 40s are so much better than your 20s'

Cathy, 44, is a presenter of Channel 4 News. She lives in London with her husband, John, and their two daughters, aged nine and 14. She tells The Telegraph about her average day... 

When my alarm goes off, I roll over and try to go back to sleep for a few minutes before finally getting up at 6.45am. My husband John makes a start  on breakfast while I get dressed and wake the girls. We eat together – I usually have sugar-free muesli with fruit, yogurt and a drizzle of honey  – then John does the school  run while I clear the breakfast things, listening to Today  on Radio 4. 

I’m lucky because I get my make-up professionally done at work but I still can’t leave the house without a little foundation, mascara and blusher. I am embarrassed to admit that I have three wardrobes: for home, for the office, and for on-air. I love clothes and recently bought a pair of 1970s pink silk Bertie shoes in a charity shop in Hastings for a tenner. 

After the morning news meeting, I read the papers and head to hair and make-up ready to go on-air at midday. At lunchtime I meet contacts (often MPs), and I spend the afternoon finalising stories ready for the 7pm news. 

John usually cooks (he makes a great Thai chicken curry).  I have a cast-iron rule of no phones at the table but I’m the one who breaks it most often when there’s the ‘ping’ of breaking news. 

Weekends are usually spent as a family. I also love music; the girls and I sometimes play the violin together.

Occasionally I have off-days and I do worry that I’ll drop the ball live on air, but the good thing about working in TV is that when I come off-air, that’s it, it’s done, and I can go home to relax with my family – they are the heart of everything.

The best book I’ve read recently...

21 Lessons for the 21st Century  by Yuval Noah Harari. I love history but was taught badly at school. Harari makes it easy to understand. (£18.99, Jonathan Cape)

I couldn’t live without… 

Anti-frizz lotion for my curls. Totally indispensable.

My wardrobe staple is…

Trainers. I wear them to commute then change into heels.

My most treasured possession… 

My violin. It has been with  me since I was a teenager. I don’t get it out nearly as often as I should.

My guilty pleasure… 

Chocolate florentines. I can  never resist them. 

My style icon

Ingrid Bergman, particularly in ‘Casablanca’. She’s gorgeous and that era was so understated. 

Cathy’s tips to keep calm and carry on

1. Hard work and determination are key to success – but so is the ability to down tools.

2. A karaoke session is  as effective as therapy, but much cheaper.

3. If you can walk to a meeting in less  than half an hour, ditch the car and do it.

4. Remember, your 40s are so much better than your 20s because you realise how strong you are.

5. Live by the motto of Taoism founder Lao-Tzu: ‘Take things as they come. All things pass.’

‘Bloody Brilliant Women’  by Cathy Newman is out now (William Collins, £20)