FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Katie Derham
What are you working on at the moment?
I’m deep in Proms season, and have spent many months with five fabulous amateur orchestras for All Together now: The Great Orchestra Challenge – the contest is running now on BBC Four.
When are you at your happiest?
with my husband John and our girls on a boat in the Greek islands.
What is your greatest fear?
That i might not be able to do the above.
What is your earliest memory?
Laying turf in the garden. I was about 18 months old (apparently) and I remember climbing on towers of turf, and my mother putting the squares down like a jigsaw, as I thought.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I’m pretty chilled about myself. I sometimes wish I was more opinionated though. I have a tendency to agree with everyone’s argument.
Who has been your greatest influence?
Both my grandmothers were clever, funny, strong women, though from very different worlds. They were both amazing pianists, too.
What is your most treasured possession?
My piano and violin. I love my instruments, even if I neglect them sorely.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
People not doing what they say they’re going to do. It must be my age but I can’t bear it when people flake out on plans which have been in the diary for weeks!
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Again, I’m pretty chilled. But I can have some spectacularly bad hair days.
What is your favourite book?
Changes every day. But today let’s say Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible.
What is your favourite film?
The American President (the precursor to The West Wing – I’m a sucker for Aaron Sorkin).
What is your favourite piece of music?
Villa- Lobos’s Bachianas Brasileiras no 5.
What is your favourite meal?
You can’t beat a great steak, skinny chips and a green salad with really good dressing.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Mozart, Barbra Streisand (imagine, two enormous divas!), Peter Ustinov, Dave Allen, Tim Minchin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dorothy Parker – how big can this dinner party be? – and of course my girls and John. And Kay Plunkett- hogge for cooking, cocktails and the best filthy jokes.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
Oh, I’ve been called lots of things over the years, but I put my fingers in my ears and say, ‘La, la, la.’
Do you believe in aliens?
There must be something out there.
What is your secret vice?
Muffins on the train to work.
Do you write thank-you notes?
I try! I love receiving them.
What phrase do you most overuse?
‘Of course I’ve got time!’ (I rarely have time.)
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
About two more hours in every day.
Tell us one thing people might not know about you.
I was a synchronised swimmer at school.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘She was funnier than she seemed on the telly’.
The third episode of All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge, presented by Katie Derham, will be broadcast on BBC Four on 13 September at 9pm. Katie presents The Last Night Of The Proms on 10 September on BBC Two and One
I’m deep in Proms season, and have spent many months with five fabulous amateur orchestras for All Together now: The Great Orchestra Challenge – the contest is running now on BBC Four.
When are you at your happiest?
with my husband John and our girls on a boat in the Greek islands.
What is your greatest fear?
That i might not be able to do the above.
What is your earliest memory?
Laying turf in the garden. I was about 18 months old (apparently) and I remember climbing on towers of turf, and my mother putting the squares down like a jigsaw, as I thought.
What do you most dislike about yourself?
I’m pretty chilled about myself. I sometimes wish I was more opinionated though. I have a tendency to agree with everyone’s argument.
Who has been your greatest influence?
Both my grandmothers were clever, funny, strong women, though from very different worlds. They were both amazing pianists, too.
What is your most treasured possession?
My piano and violin. I love my instruments, even if I neglect them sorely.
What trait do you most deplore in others?
People not doing what they say they’re going to do. It must be my age but I can’t bear it when people flake out on plans which have been in the diary for weeks!
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Again, I’m pretty chilled. But I can have some spectacularly bad hair days.
What is your favourite book?
Changes every day. But today let’s say Barbara Kingsolver’s The Poisonwood Bible.
What is your favourite film?
The American President (the precursor to The West Wing – I’m a sucker for Aaron Sorkin).
What is your favourite piece of music?
Villa- Lobos’s Bachianas Brasileiras no 5.
What is your favourite meal?
You can’t beat a great steak, skinny chips and a green salad with really good dressing.
Who would you most like to come to dinner?
Mozart, Barbra Streisand (imagine, two enormous divas!), Peter Ustinov, Dave Allen, Tim Minchin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Dorothy Parker – how big can this dinner party be? – and of course my girls and John. And Kay Plunkett- hogge for cooking, cocktails and the best filthy jokes.
What is the nastiest thing anyone has ever said to you?
Oh, I’ve been called lots of things over the years, but I put my fingers in my ears and say, ‘La, la, la.’
Do you believe in aliens?
There must be something out there.
What is your secret vice?
Muffins on the train to work.
Do you write thank-you notes?
I try! I love receiving them.
What phrase do you most overuse?
‘Of course I’ve got time!’ (I rarely have time.)
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
About two more hours in every day.
Tell us one thing people might not know about you.
I was a synchronised swimmer at school.
What would you like your epitaph to read?
‘She was funnier than she seemed on the telly’.
The third episode of All Together Now: The Great Orchestra Challenge, presented by Katie Derham, will be broadcast on BBC Four on 13 September at 9pm. Katie presents The Last Night Of The Proms on 10 September on BBC Two and One