Winter Edition 2018

INTERVIEW
“Have courage
and be kind”
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURA LEWIS, SOPHIE MULLER, SHUTTERSTOCK
and over, like my relationship
with Ed Harcourt who I’ve done
three albums with.
Your highlights of Strictly
Come Dancing?
Ah, so many. It was lots of
fun. I loved learning something
new and it showed me that no
matter how nervous you are, you
can still get out there and dance!
When it all went well, it was the
best feeling. It took away the last
of my inhibitions.
How do you juggle being a mum
with your career?
It’s all we know. I’m just a
working mum to them and
I’ve been very lucky to have
support. I juggle it the same way
as any working parent except I
have it easier than most. I can
bring them to work if I want
and I can turn things down if I
feel it’s not making sense to me.
Not everyone is so lucky.
Have your boys inherited any of
your musical talents?
I don’t know if I’m raising any
musicians but I think I’m raising
music fans and that means more
to me. Plus they all love a boogie
which is great!
Tell us about The Song Diaries
and the inspiration behind it?
Folk have asked me for a while
about doing a greatest hits album
but I couldn’t see the point.
Then a few years back, a talented
friend of mine called Amy
Langley did a string version of
Groovejet for a charity gig. It
sounded so cool and different
that it sowed a little seed and the
idea to do an orchestral greatest
hits came from that.
What other passions do you
have? (Fulham FC?)
Haha not Fulham! That’s my
dad’s team. I don’t support
any football team personally
although if I had to I guess I’d
choose them for my Pa! My
passions are sorting out the
house - I love interiors stuff and
decorating, cooking food, vintage
clothing and dancing.
Are there any charities that are
close to your heart?
I support charities which get
kids into the arts like the
National Youth Theatre and The
Music House for Children. I am
also an ambassador for Save the
From above clockwise: With
husband Richard Jones (bassist
with The Feeling), posing for
photographers on the opening
night of Strictly Come Dancing
2013, charity trip to India with
Save The Children 2017, The Song
Diaries album cover with artwork
by fashion Illustrator David
Downton, with mum and step-dad
on a recent trip to Venice.
Bottom p20: Ed Harcourt
Children and Lumos. I suppose
broadly speaking children’s
charities resonate because they
have a voice that doesn’t always
get heard and it’s so important to
raise happy, confident and kind
children; they will rule the world
one day, after all.
Motto for life?
‘Trust your instincts’ is definitely
one but ‘Have courage and be
kind’ is good, too.
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