Health scan

Lifestyle Q&A with John Kelly, broadcaster

Do you think you have a healthy lifestyle?

I think like most people I go through cycles. Most of the time I’m fairly conscientious about things, but then I let things slide for a few weeks. Fortunately I’m not a smoker and never was. I was always afraid it might make me look like a young Lauren Bacall.

How often do you exercise?

The idea is three times a week for half an hour on my wife’s cross trainer, but that sometimes translates to only once a week. Between my kids and my work I’m always a little on the wrecked side and so good intentions are very hard to keep. I was a member of a gym but the music they played was driving me so demented I left in a stressed-out rage.

Do you get your five a day?

I have enough numbers to keep in my head as it is. Because we have kids there is always fruit around the place and we make sure they eat it, but whether or not I’m getting my five a day I have no idea. I hope so. We make a point of cooking – or not cooking – decent veg with everything.

Do you worry?

Incessantly. I’m worrying right now about that five-a-day question. But yes, I do worry. I worry about everything – things personal, local, national, global and cosmic. During the day it doesn’t really count because I can pass it off as “thinking”, but the bit that worries me most about worrying (there’s your proof) is when I wake up in the middle of the night and start worrying. I try to avoid that. If that kicks in, I just get up and read a book – or worry about writing one.

What do you do to relax?

I sleep when I’m let. I read books I don’t have to read for work. I watch Rick Stein cooking fish. I listen to Hank Williams.

What’s your unhealthiest habit?

Lying awake at night plotting revenge on anybody who has ever slighted me.

John Kelly presents a new series of The View Presentsstarting tonight on RTÉ One