Lorraine Kelly talks about her debut novel, the benefits of wild water swimming and the excitement of setting out on tour
WORDS: ALISON JAMES
CELEBRITY
Lorraine Kelly is one of the busiest – not to mention best-loved – personalities in the country. She’s been a regular on daytime TV for more than 30 years now and, like Madonna, Beyonce and Rihanna, is instantly identifiable by just her first name.
A trained journalist, not only does she host her own show every weekday morning on ITV but writes a weekly newspaper column, has penned several non-fiction books and works tirelessly for her chosen charities.
However, Lorraine had always nursed a secret ambition to write a novel, and now that ambition has finally been realised. Published this month, The Island Swimmer is set in the Orkney Islands with the plot following main character Evie who returns to her home island, having left following a childhood trauma years before.
“I’ve had such a brilliant time doing this although it was one of the toughest things I’ve done,” says Glasgow-born Lorraine. “It’s something that I’ve always wanted to do, and I just felt that this was the right time. Books have always been such a massive part of my life. I’m never without a book in my bag, and to think I am actually going to be a published author of fiction – it’s a dream come true. It really is.”
Orkney is one of Lorraine’s favourite places in the world. “It’s a place that truly feels like home,” she says. “It is very much at the centre of the story. It’s almost like a character itself, I guess.”
We’re guessing that, with a title like The Island Swimmer, swimming plays quite a big part in the novel, too.
“Wild swimming is how Evie begins to reconnect with the community, and it’s become a passion of mine, too,” she reveals. “I didn’t think it was for me but I was filming a documentary to mark the 25th anniversary of the Dunblane Primary School tragedy when one of the parents, whose son was murdered, told me about it and how he found it helped him cope, and find solace and healing in wild water swimming.
“It certainly calms and resets you. It’s a brilliant way to de-stress, and you come out feeling mentally and physically revitalised. It’s fantastic when you’re in, and when you get out you feel totally energised. It’s wonderful.”
Not one to do anything by halves, Lorraine’s first experience of wild water swimmin
