Lorraine Kelly on her biggest fears, new ventures and marriage
WORDS: ROBYN MORRIS. PHOTOS: GETTY, INSTAGRAM @LORRAINEKELLYSMITH, SHUTTERSTOCK
She’s been on our screens for 40 years, but it seems despite her success and longevity in the world of TV, Lorraine Kelly still fears it could all end at any moment.
‘I don’t take my job for granted, because telly’s ruthless,’ she told woman&home. ‘If it all ended tomorrow I would be sad, but it’s been a great innings.’ But it’s clear that despite her worries, Lorraine, 64, has a real passion for what she does and has no plans to jump before she’s pushed. The star added, ‘I’ve really enjoyed it and I hope it will continue for many years to come because I feel I’ve still got something to say and people to talk to, and I still love it.’
New project
But it’s perhaps these concerns about her telly career ending at any moment that spurred Lorraine on to write her first novel, The Island Swimmer, something that has been a goal of hers for years. ‘It was a dream to write a novel. I’ve always said I wanted to be a novelist but I couldn’t carve out the time, especially when Rosie was young,’ the star explained. ‘Then I realised I couldn’t keep putting it off. I had a story that I was desperate to tell, which is one we can all relate to – relationships with our sisters, our mothers, our partners, and how complex they are.’ And while Lorraine has achieved many great things throughout her career, she’s admitted that she’s always struggled to celebrate her success – something she’s trying to change now after writing the novel.
‘I’m not very good at feeling proud of myself, but I’ve loved doing the book and it would be astonishing to achieve as loyal a following for my writing as for my TV career. This is a whole new area for me, which at my age is a great thing, and I’m feeling excitement mixed with apprehension.’
Health first
Speaking of age, something else that concerns Lorraine as well as her career as she gets older is her health. This has been on the star’s mind even more since her ITV colleague and friend, Fiona Phillips, was diagnosed with dementia. ‘As I get older, the only thing that’s a big worry is health and losing [myself],’ Lorraine said. ‘Obviously, my lovely Fiona has been diagnosed with dementia. She’s OK, she’s still here, still her.
‘She’s so b****y strong and has dealt with it with dignity and humour. It brings it home when it’s someone you know. I do as much as I can. I
