Tess Daly: “I’m rubbish at switching off!” Take your holiday wellness seriously

0:00Hello and welcome to the Happy Place Guide to Holidays brought to you by British Airways holidays. I'm Fern Cotton and today I'm chatting to Tess Daly. For me going on holiday it's about enjoying the moment. It's a treat away from real life where you know I'm sort of facilitating everything in everybody's life. I am the facilitator. But when I'm on holiday I just try and swerve the email as much as I can, stay off my phone as much as I can and I do try and be in the moment because you know it's sort of for me there's nothing more mindful than looking at the ocean. Having a glass of rosé at lunchtime it's a lovely moment, it's a treaty moment You don't only do that sort of thing on holiday and I don't want to be overly distracted from that.

0:40Now you might have noticed that this isn't just your regular episode of the podcast. This is the Happy Place Guide to Holidays, an exclusive Happy Place mini-series brought to you by British Airways Holidays, who are all about helping you take your holidays more seriously. Oh, I absolutely love travelling and I know from speaking to guests on the show, friends and family, you lovely lot that for so many people being on holiday is where they find their happy place. Honestly just take me to the sea or that is where I'm happiest. But the thing is life can often do its thing and get in the way can't it?

1:15You just never quite get around to making the time to get away. Each episode I'm going to be joined by someone who has a real love of travel and we're going to explore what really makes a holiday. It's food and drink, yes please, it's getting lost in a good book and nurturing our passions. But today, brilliant Tess and I, who by the way has just been honoured with an MBE, legend, we're going to do our best to get to grips with wellness and the truly transformational effect prioritising it can have, not just on our minds and bodies, but on our holidays too. Wellness will obviously mean something completely different to each of us.

1:52Maybe it's connecting with quiet nature, or might be booking a spa day, or just having a few moments on your hotel bed wrapped up in your toweling robe before dinner. Interestingly though for lots of people it can even influence choices before the holiday even begins. British Airways holidays have seen a big rise in popularity of trad holidays so those more traditional all-inclusive holidays because according to a recent survey by YouGov commissioned by British Airways holidays 43 % of adults say they find booking all the individual elements of a holiday really stressful. I hear you we have to make enough decisions in our daily lives already don't we right let's crack on here's the show

2:55hello test daily hi thanks for having me chat. Oh, thanks for coming on. First of all, massive congrats. Oh. Because you went to Buckingham Palace the other day, didn't you? Well, I haven't been yet. You haven't been yet? I haven't been yet. So it's been announced, but you haven't been? But it's in the offing note. Yes. Congrats. The actual investor is imminent, but I guess it'll be in the next couple of months. But thank you. This is so exciting. I still can't quite believe it. Absolutely. You're a broadcasting legend. Oh, it's just, oh well, I wouldn't go that far. No, you need to be honoured.

3:24But it's a wonderful honour to receive, and I am, I just, yeah, it's like the greatest thing that's ever happened to me, I think. It's so amazing and so deserved. Now, the important question is, what are you wearing to the place? Don't ask. What do you wear? I think this is the time where you wear a hat because where else do you wear a hat? You never wear a hat, apart from maybe a wedding, but even then. And is it a suit or is it a dress? Is it a high heel? Is it a wedge? I'm going high heel, hat, and like a dreamboat dress. Yes. So excited for you. Thank you very much. Has it felt like a bit of a landmark for you in terms of your career?

3:59Have you kind of stopped and gone, oh, my God, let me look back on this whole career of mine? um I mean I have thought I wish my dad could know about this because I sadly lost him many years ago about 22 years ago before I even had kids so he never saw me on Strictly he loved Brucey he loved ballroom dancing he'd have loved that moment when I was you know and I would have there are certain things that you wish could have happened and I would have loved him to have sort of known that um that this had happened because that would have meant the world but yeah it's it it I haven't I I haven't sort of looked back and thought, oh, it's for this, it's for this.

4:32But I have thought, you know, it's an incredible honour. And, yeah, I mean, I haven't really fully taken it in yet. I suppose when I actually get to hold the medal, wear it and have it pinned to me, that's going to be when it really sinks in. Do you know who's doing it? Will it be Prince William? No idea yet. It could be King Charles. It could be Prince William. Come on, King Charles. It could be Princess Anne. Love a bit of Princess Anne. Yes. I think you'd have, like, mega bants with her when she's doing it. She's wonderful. She is so wonderful. Well, I'm so, so thrilled for you. You've now been doing Strictly, what, 20 years?

5:0420 years. Yeah, I was pregnant with my eldest child and she turns 21 in October, as does Strictly. That is wild. It's unbelievable. Does it feel like 20 years? Well, not really, but I was in my mid-30s when I started and now I've got about to be 21-year-old. A lot has happened. It's almost a lifetime. It is a lifetime for my girls who are 20 and 16. And they've been, obviously, I was pregnant with both of them during different series. Amber in 2009 Phoebe 2004 so it has been a massive part of our lives really growing up Phoebe's birthday is in October every year I think please don't let it be on a Friday or a Saturday because you don't ever want to miss your kid's birthday and then her party has to be on a Thursday instead so yeah it's been a massive part of our lives and they've loved it actually and getting to work with Claudia of course is an absolute dream love her but you can tell from watching it you both just love it and you still love it after all these years I know.

5:58It's amazing, isn't it? I mean, it's always sort of felt like having a seat at the best show in town. I've always felt kind of really privileged to be part of something that people really enjoy. And people in the street or in the supermarket, they talk to me about Strictly and how they don't want winter to come, but they can't wait to watch Strictly. So they kind of don't mind that Christmas is coming. And to be part of people's viewing habits and something that brings them together. And it just feels like something quite special, really, to be a part of that. and you don't take it you never take for granted that people are going to come back and watch you know and and it is amazing when they sort of say we wouldn't miss it and we sit down with our family because that's quite rare these days that people sit around the toilet together as families you know it is that's what I like about you know my kids are now about to turn 10 and 12 and you look for those moments where you can sit together because otherwise one's on a playstation one's watching youtube and actually those moments where you congregate and they're not even in the same room and we're in the same room you know and I remember growing up as a kid sitting down with my family to watch Saturday night television and it was you know it was you set your week by it you were going to be there you weren't going to miss it there wasn't obviously there was not social media there and there was there were not the distractions that there are now and families came together for event television and for you know entertainment shows whatever it might be and it just it felt kind of special and I have memories of sitting with the family you know we had our tea and then we sat and watched the telly something special on a Saturday night and yeah that was part of my childhood growing up and of course now it's really different because there's a lot more choice yeah and so few live shows are well even in existence let alone watched but Strictly is up there still like you get the viewing figures you get the fan base people are like you say it is willing it on people's magic of all ages you know and so that is it's a gift really because it's quite rare it's so rare and it's getting rarer and rarer but it certainly just feels like it's in like a world of its own it'll just keep on going well it is joyful it's warm it's entertaining and it's real you know it's happening in real time we do not contrive reality you watch it there's no delay if someone falls being brought down from the ceiling on a wire into a Pasadoplo has that happened?

8:05no but I think I'm sure someone did get stuck I'm on standby with like a contingency card I bet you are every single routine just in case something goes wrong, in case the music doesn't go right first hand. The band has to start again in case someone gets stuck coming down the wire, in case someone jumps into someone's arms and doesn't make it and falls. Is that quite stressful? There's always a contingency, yeah. Especially in Blackpool, because in Blackpool we have mass, it's a huge venue and the sets are a lot more elaborate and ambitious and a lot more could go wrong. And I'm a lot further away from the floor because it's such a huge venue.

8:36So I have to like canter in those heels at speed. Oh my God. poised with a contingency card just in case something happens or the props aren't ready because the props guys who are absolute legends create those sets in literally about 90 seconds sometimes we time in the dress run and it's like 95 seconds and you just come on no come on Tommy you can do it you and your team and you know they do it every single time but I'm poised in case it's not quite ready and I've got to go and question the judges whilst we wait see I think that this is we need to know these stories because you watch the show and you're like oh it's also slick and everything is so busy and gorgeous but actually there's so many people running around stressed beyond in the background making this stuff happen yeah I mean it's a huge machine and a lot of people are involved and it's our director who makes it Nikki Parson she makes it look that slick because it's like yeah we're all running behind the scenes just to deliver it on time and Grace will swallow the surface and the legs are cooking on the it's like crazy also alongside that another of your projects is your own business that you own your swimwear business so you have got a lot going on a business is I mean I'm really proud of it because we've really grown in the last four or five years since we launched but a business is like a small child it never sleeps it's like a baby yeah and it needs you constantly to nurture it to grow it and so you know you are always accountable for it because you have to be you want everything to go smoothie you want to grow it but it's brilliant because you get to be creative and you know I've always sort of had that entrepreneurial side I really I enjoy building a business I'm doing it my best friend Gail so it's fun and we get to sort of you know design gorgeous swimsuits and resort wear things we would wear on holiday you know and things that are practically brilliant they're they're fabulous gorgeous and they look amazing but also they will shove into your suitcase they don't weigh anything and they won't crease when you arrive because we're practical we are mothers we have not got time to steam on arrival.

10:36Forget it. That caftan's coming out. It's not creased. I don't think I've ironed anything in the last 20 years. That's what I mean. The most I've done is stick it on a hanger in the shower and turn that on really hot for a kid. Yeah, that's a great hack. That works. We love that life hack. We don't have to do anything. Exactly. But I mean, you have got a lot going on. And as you say, with a business, you can't switch off. You try and sleep and there's 10 problems you're trying to solve in your head. Yeah, of course. Wondering what the next move is. And then obviously when you're throwing live TV into the mix and a show is demanding as strictly where it's multiple days a week and there's a lot of preparation involved.

11:08Are you naturally good at switching off, would you say? No, I'm terrible at it. I just live and breathe it, whatever the project is at the time. There's often multiple projects. I think we're all wearing mini hats, aren't we, these days? So I don't really switch off, no. I'm terrible. I'm like a night owl. So I go to bed at midnight, but then I wake up at 5 or 6. Really? Ready to go. Oh, my God. How do you survive on so little sleep? I mean, I don't mind getting up early. I love early mornings, but it's late night. Constance snacks. My personality dies at eight. Does it? Yeah. What time do you go to bed?

11:43I mean, I try to get in bed for half nine, sleep by ten. Yeah. That's on a good day. I wish I could do that. A bad day is like half ten. If I'm creeping towards eleven, I'm panicking. Really? I am panicking. Are you? Yeah. I've just got nothing to give past eight p.m. I just sort of, I just wither. And if I'm, I was out the other day at a party and I was, it was 11 o 'clock and I hit a wall and I was like, I've got to get out of here now. I can't speak. Eject me. I need a cab. This, like two seconds ago, I should have been in a cab. Well, how many hours a night then do you get? Well, I'm waking, I probably wake up between five and six.

12:19Okay, wow. That's impressive. Yeah. Yeah. But then I have quite broken sleep. Mine's more sort of six. Yeah. Yeah, I know what you mean. Broken sleep. Busy minds. A kid in the bed. so there's just like a lot of that going on. No liquids an hour and a half before bed is the key. Yeah. I still go though. Do you? Yeah, like twice a night, every night. Maybe it's just too much liquid. Just like no pelvic floor, weak bladder, that's like a really bad combination of all the things. So you're not going to switch off, no, nor am I. I think it's really hard when you've got a lot going on. For most people, you know, it's just hard to switch off.

12:55How can you just, I tell you who can switch off, men. They can switch off. They're so good at it. So Vernon just goes to bed night and he's off. Literally, I mean, honestly, he could sleep on a washing line quite contentedly for eight hours. Switch, magic switch goes off. I just think because we're the facilitators and we're doing everything and wearing every hat, I think our minds are a lot busy. I don't know. I think it's a lot easier for men to switch off. I know I'm generalising, but in my experience. I think it's a pretty solid generalisation right there. It's really tough. What does wellness mean to you?

13:29That's quite a broad question because, I mean, even with Happy Place, we are a wellness brand, but then I don't necessarily align with all of the wellness things. I don't traditionally think of wellness as one thing. So I'm always intrigued as to how others view it. What does it mean to you? For me, wellness means feeling good in yourself, feeling energized, feeling positive, feeling able and capable to manage everything in your day. turn up for everything in your life that's no mean feat nope for everybody who needs you yeah the little people the older people you've got to feed them all you've got to manage them all and do it with love you know it's got you don't you don't want it to be a chore and then you've got to turn up for everything else in your life that needs you um whether that's paying the car insurance or sorting out the school stuff or whatever it is um finding the water bottle on You know, all the little things that we need to do.

14:25I try and do it all the night before. I try really hard to be really organized, but there's always something that escapes me notice in the morning. I make notes on my phone and it's ridiculous. I do little alarms. Like all day long, I have little notes. I spring to attention. Yeah, what have I set this alarm for? I can't remember. What am I doing? Okay, there's a note. Phew, I left the note with that one. Just trying to stay on top of it all. But for me, wellness is, it's being physically able to turn up for everything in your life. that demands your time, demands your attention. And it's feeling good doing it.

14:56And it's feeling well mentally, really. I'm trying to, you know, stay positive and stay positive for everyone in your life who needs you to be positive. Yeah. So wellness to me, it's been fit, it's been flexible. But, you know, I'm having a Kit Kat and a packet of crisps every afternoon. I'm not a saint. It's eating whole foods because I love whole foods, healthy foods. I haven't eaten red meat since I was 16. That's just a choice for me. But, you know, I love naughty snacks. So it's about moderation and balance. And I'm, you know, I'm certainly not a saint. But I need to sort of occasionally lift a few weights or else I get too sinewy.

15:38I get, you know, I've got a very fast metabolism. I don't sit down very often. I'm constantly on the go. Don't sleep enough really. So there are certain things that I need to do, little hacks for myself I need to do, whether that's getting enough sleep or whether that's stretching you know doing 15 minutes like an online yoga thing 15 minutes just to stretch so that I feel flexible so I spring out my chair you know rather than dragging myself out my chair flexibility for me is wellness knowing I can run upstairs fly up the stairs yeah and and just kind of yeah keeping yourself mentally and physically well not obsessing about it I refuse to obsess about anything good it's all in moderation I agree I think that is it's moderation for me is key wellness is is like whatever makes you feel well yeah and I agree with you like I I love doing yoga and I love having those little things that I know really work for me whether it's doing a little meditation one day but then the next night I might want to go out and drink margaritas and laugh heartily with my friend which is gonna really boost me make me feel really good and I think when wellness becomes too prescriptive that's when it's an issue when it's like you have to do all of these things and then it's bloody boring and then i think you're not going to stick to it realistically you know it's like you're not a lot a lot of diets a lot of people fall off the wagon because you can't stick to that it's too there's too there are too many conditions to satisfy that are not practical yeah within your busy life to manage you know so i think it's about taking little bits what what works for you and um you know whether that's having a protein yogurt once a day just because you get a bit of extra protein whatever it is that works for you it's just kind It's looking after yourself and it's allowing yourself a little bit of slack as well.

17:19Yeah, too, right. A little bit of what you fancy. Not being too hard on yourself. How are you about taking breaks? Are you good at scheduling in holidays and making sure that you do have time off? I would like to have more holidays, but I am fanatical about having at least two a year, hopefully. I would like more, but it's tricky doing the schedules together. Vernon's very busy. But it's such a treat and I think we need it to look forward to. I'm guilty of booking really last minute because you know the nature of our work means that you don't know what you're doing two weeks before it's not like a nine to five it's quite exciting as well though like oh I booked a holiday and I'm going next week I like that feeling but then I've got friends who book theirs like a year in advance and they're counting down looking forward to it and that's quite nice having that little carrot dangling when it all gets chaotic it's quite nice but I've never been that organised British Air Race Holidays are obviously trying to encourage all of us to take our holidays seriously which I think is super important because a we need a break yeah and we need to have that balance and that time out but also when we're there there's no point going on holiday if we're then gonna feel stressed out there be still thinking about things that are going on back home when you're on holiday are you quite good at being yeah I'm livid if I get an email when I'm away do you do an out of office I'm like no I don't when I want to I I unscribe to basically everything I'm subscribe to but if anyone sort of eases me it's like if anyone emails me on a Sunday I'm slightly livid I sort of think what don't why would I don't want to talk about work personally on a Sunday I want to have a day of rest I want to not engage so although when you've got your own business of course you are working on Sundays but when I'm on holiday I just try I really try and I try and swerve the email as much as I can you know I stay off my phone as much as I can and I do try and be in the moment because you know it's sort of for me there's nothing more mindful than looking at the ocean yeah heaven you know it's just gorgeous and or or having a glass of rose at lunchtime it's a it's a lovely moment it's a treaty moment you don't only do that sort of thing on holiday and I don't want to be overly distracted from that so yeah I tend to try and leave my phone as much as I can but then you need to take a photograph because you're like this is a lovely moment I need to take a photo two years ago I started a new thing where I put my phone in a drawer in the hotel I'm staying in and then I bought a just a rubbishy little digital camera and I took pictures the whole holiday on the camera and then it was such a treat at the end I actually got them developed I mean whatever next what a novel thing to do did you put them in a drawer I've never looked at them since yeah um but it was so nice not because I know if I take my phone to the beach or if I'm even sat by a pool I'm gonna I'm definitely gonna check social media I don't need to I'm definitely gonna you're gonna send a photo to everyone someone you know because you've got a cute photo of the kids and you need to share that with your mum.

20:03And then you're on it. And then you're on it. And then you're sucked into that because you're like, oh yeah. I sort of almost gave myself an hour in the morning where I'd do a few worky things or if I'm editing a book, I'll do a bit of editing. And then in the evening, I'd like check in with my mum, check in with whoever's looking after the cats, do all of that kind of maintenance stuff and then put it back in the drawer. The cats are fine. It's going away. The cats are fine. That means I can now relax. That takes real discipline to do that though. Yeah, but it's good. I think it was three days in, I thought I actually don't care about my phone.

20:31Yeah, it's so good to do that. I mean, I'm very good at sort of forgetting about when I go away. I just forget social media exists. Yeah, that's great. I just don't even look at it. No. You don't want to. Oh, look, there's Instagram. Yeah. Who knew? What a novel concept. I know. And I sort of give, you know, I'm quite good at sort of swerving all that. But then you get into a WhatsApp conversation with somebody you've not spoken to in years and you're still talking to them 20 minutes later and you're talking to other people and then you're like, ah. I know. It's a spiral. I've missed the sunset.

20:55It is. It is. but for me yeah I love I love being on holiday for that very reason that it does put you in the moment it forces you to sort of forget everything else as much as you can you know these days because obviously it follows us yeah but we need that we need a brain break we need a break you know it's so important and our kids as well if you're holidaying with your family I think it's really important that you give them your attention because it's a real time to connect isn't it and just be away together from everything else and I think they really enjoy that yeah they need that because we're all so distracted constantly at home or rushing I'm constantly telling my kids to hurry up it's like all I ever say to them is like put your shoes on get in the car hurry up and yeah you just need to take the you know your foot off the gas and just do nothing yeah and that is the ultimate treat I think it's a treat it is and it shouldn't be that is wellness for me that's just chilling out yeah you know do you do like if you're away do you work out do you do yoga or are you just totally letting loose?

21:51Sometimes I'll do, if they've got a nice little like sunset yoga class and I see them the day before stretch and they look very kind of mellow and happy, I think, oh, I'll have a bit of that. Might get involved with a downward dog whilst looking at the oceans, the sun's going down. It's a beautiful moment. That looks like a beautiful moment. So I might do that occasionally. I might have a little spa treatment maybe. Oh yeah, what are you going for? A massage for me. It would be like a stretchy shiatsu tie type. Anything that gets deep into the muscle. get an elbow in my buttock and I'm happy yeah or reflexology I love reflexology I love as well someone touching my feet is oh I love it the greatest sensation of all time but only if it's done really well because it's done gently like someone's rubbing lotion into your body it feels really kind of and I'm like oh no don't please do it meaningfully get stuck in and then it's an absolute treat and it's really relaxing otherwise it's the opposite of relaxing and how about cuisine what are you going for food wise oh yeah food this is I mean I have to say apart from gazing at the ocean of sunsets doing the odd downward dog my ultimate pleasure on holiday is the food and not you know not having to prepare the meals not have to shop for the meals and not have to like you know yeah no cooking and when you've got teenagers you know they're like no I don't want that no I don't want that no I don't want that and so you don't have to I'm like I'm not a restaurant yeah but when you're away that pressure has gone I love that And I just love that everyone can have what they want and you can just choose.

23:18And you haven't got to do the dishwasher afterwards. That's my favourite bit. My favourite bit. I hate loading the dishwasher. That's what I mean. I hate it. That's why I kind of prefer hotels to villas. You know, self-catering is brilliant. It's all I had growing up because you've got your own space. Yeah. A lot more space to run around in. But I just love not having to start the dishwasher and, you know. That's a lift a finger. Fold a teetad. I love that. It's absolutely dreamy, isn't it? Take the bins out. Forget it. Yeah. None of that. Are you like, I'm just going to eat local cuisine. I'm going to eat whatever the hell I want.

23:48What are you going for food-wise? Well, for me, the ultimate pleasure on holiday is a buffet breakfast. I love a buffet. I do too. I just love having a little bit, like about six courses of fruit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And none of them match, but they're all on the plate at the same time. Horridge, maybe a couple of boiled eggs. Yes, exactly. And just frothy coffee. I don't drink coffee very often. Do you not? No, I always have builder's tea at home. Really? That's how I wake up. Can't wait for that cup of tea. I'm not that with coffee. Gets me out of bed. I'm like, I can't wait for that first sip of tea.

24:18Same. I cannot wait for my first sip of coffee. But equally, if you said I couldn't have it, I would be so devastated. I don't think I'd be able to get out of bed. No, honestly, that galvanizes me out. Absolutely. I fly out for it. And I take my own tea bags on holiday as well. Yeah, that's a must. You do. I take my own pillow. Yeah, do you? Yeah. Because I really want to do that because my neck locks a lot. I take my own pillow because I can't tolerate other people's pillows. No, I get that. I take my eye mask, my earplugs. Same. I take my own coffee, the type that I like. Oh, good. I'm like very niche with all the things I have to take with me on holiday.

24:52That's a lot of luggage. It's a lot of, it's a big suitcase. But I know that when I get there, I can enjoy the amenities, but I've also got my home comforts with me. I'm very specific. All of them. Have you got your rug? Literally all of it. Like the sofa comes. What about the cats? The cats, they sadly don't come. but I think this is the I feel like we have a similar holiday experience like we wanna let loose and relax and just chill out and just chill take your foot off the gas take your foot off the gas you know do a little bit of exercise if it feels like you need to move your body but it's yeah and you know I'll get on a paddle board I love paddle boarding love a paddle board yeah because it's funny you don't feel like you're doing anything workout wise it's just so but you are the core leisurely it's not leisurely because your core is going crazy you're so right that was such a shock the first time I got on a paddle board such a shock what's the best one Probably as strenuous as I get on holidays as a paddleboard, to be honest.

25:40What was your best ever holiday? Is there one that sticks out? Oh, that's a really good question. The best ever one. It was probably the one where we renewed our vows after 10 years of marriage because Vernon surprised me with that. And he flew, like, our daughters were on the next plane. I didn't know they were coming in the morning of our anniversary. We'd only been away for a day. We were away for a long weekend for the 10-year anniversary of our marriage. And on the first morning we woke up there, he surprised me with, we're going to ruin you our vows today. And the next thing I knew, I went downstairs and there were our daughters in little cute dresses with sparkly shoes and little princess dresses.

26:19That's so fair. And did so good. So that was lovely. He did really well, actually. Yeah, that was, and it was such a surprise and I hadn't had to organize it, which was the first. So I usually organize everything to do with holidays. And did he do it right? Microscopically. He did. Well done, Bella. He did really well, yeah. He even brought a dress and shoes for me. Oh my God. Did you like the dress and shoes? I loved it. yeah he did this is a big tick oh my god well done and I had a choice of two imagine if you'd gone don't fancy I know I'm not wearing that I'm not going out I'm not I'm not playing out but yeah that was special just because yeah because yeah I've never really holidayed without my kids so I only had about 12 hours without them and then they were there the next day it was brilliant which is why I'm terrible at wellness holidays because you know what like a lot of people go to like exercise boot camps and they do all this sort of stuff and I always look at it and I think I buy magazines dedicated to healthy holidays and I feel like I'm almost there you know I'm like there so close almost so close close just not there I'm googling the resorts and the ninja they're alive I'm thinking oh imagine crossing your legs in Thailand and eating vegetarian food and just you but then when it comes to it because I've been a mum for 20 years I've never actually wanted to go on holiday without my kids yeah because I'm you know I need to let go you could almost do a wellness holiday now they're 35 no they're not but there So there are ages where you could take them and they'd probably really like it.

27:35Very true. Yeah. It'd be so special to do that. I mean, I've never been on a retreat in my life, which I feel is slightly jarring considering all the other stuff that I'm into. But I think it is due to motherhood. Yeah. It hasn't happened. I haven't had the opportunity to do it, but I'd love to do that. Never be in the right time. Yeah. But I'd love to do like a proper wellness break where you just dedicate that time to you feeling well. Yeah. I mean, imagine. Imagine. The luxury. You've got to do it sometime. If only thinking of yourself. I can't even imagine. I haven't done that since 2003. No, no.

28:08Not allowed. That's not an exaggeration. You're so close like they are. Every mum is going, I hear you. Yeah, I know. Because I'm the same. You're nearly at the age where they're off doing their thing. I know, true. And then I'll be a wreck. And then you'll be like, come back. I know. I'll be crying into my pina colada. Yeah, correct. I know there won't be one in my wellness retreat. It'll be a virgin. Green juice. Yes. Neither of us have been on a retreat. We might rectify that one day. But I think it's still easy enough to have a holiday where you implement small little wellness practices. I definitely do a bit of yoga on holiday.

28:39Absolutely love it. Sometimes I'll go for a run early doors if it's not too hot. So you pack your running shoes. I pack my running shoes because I think actually to go and see a local area properly, you've got to walk or run. True. So like a little light jog before it gets too hot. Yeah. How about you? Smart. Well, I pack my, the one thing I do not, apart from my vitamins, which I always take with me, my supplements, but I take an exercise band with me. Oh, nice. Because it weighs nothing. Yeah. It folds up, fits in your bag. And you're doing this kind of action with the arms and legs. And I just, yeah, I use that just for like arm, you know, arm and leg stretches.

29:10You know, you do the cowboy like things to the side. You tie it around your ankles. Oh, right. I've never done that. Like a crab. You move sideways like a crab. And you can do that in a hotel room. You can do that in a hotel room in five minutes. Yeah. So I can do, because I don't really want to be going to the hotel gym. I've got to be honest with you. Yeah. It's not my idea of fun. I don't like gyms. No. I haven't been in a gym in years. I don't like sweating. No. I actually have got a workout routine that I can do in the smallest space. So say like I took the kids away at Easter and I do need 30 minutes on my own where I'm just not being a mum.

29:40And they're on screens and I put out a little yoga mat. I did a little half an hour, part workout, part yoga. I've had a bit of time on my own. I've worked out. You need literally the space. That is like a holiday, isn't it? It's like a little holiday in your mind. Holiday on holiday. It is. If you're holidaying with kids, you do need like 30 minutes. It's so true. When no one's saying mum. Because then you come back and you're sort of rejuvenated, refreshed and ready to give again. Correct. Correct. How would you say wellness has evolved for you on holiday over the years? I mean, for me back in the day, I don't know if it was part of it at all.

30:12Holidays for me, like certainly my 20s, were about going out as much as I could, probably didn't sleep very much, then just basking in the sun all day. I think actually motherhood's changed things massively for me in terms of I do want to feel refreshed when I get home. I don't want to go home more tired than when I arrive. True, true, true. So sleep, eating good, doing a bit of exercise, they are the musts for me. Yeah. How's it evolved for you, would you say? Well, for me, it's for me going on holiday. It's about enjoying the moment. It's a treat away from real life where, you know, I'm sort of facilitating everything in everybody's life.

30:48I am the facilitator. facilitator yes you are um like every mother and working woman I know um and so for me it's just about it's kind of it's just stepping back really and just enjoying myself and being in the moment and enjoying that meal sitting down to enjoy that with my family reconnect reconnecting with them or being around you know being around a table three times a day with my family for me is a treat it's lovely it's really rare that happens though it is rare yeah everyone's waking up at different times at home or out of the house or at school. And I'm like hyper vigilant about getting us all around the table because that's how I grew up.

31:21And it was important time to decompress with your family, just to discuss your day, whatever it is. And I think that's really important to just connect. And so for me, holidays are about reconnecting as well as a family, especially if you've got older kids because they just, you know, they're not that interested in connecting with you all the time. But then you bring them in or you might pull out a card game, a bit of Uno or whatever it is at the table. We play so much Uno on holiday. I bloody love it. It gets quite competitive. Tell me you've got Uno Xtreme. No, no, no. The one that you put the batteries in, it spews the cards out.

31:48I've not got that. When you can't go, you've got to hit the button and it may spew out five or six cards. Oh, wow. Oh, no, we've just got regular Uno. Uno Xtreme is the bomb. But we did every lunchtime at Easter when we were away. And we had one of my friends came out with her son and we played Uno for like an hour every lunchtime. And you're so right. I'd really underestimated the three times at a meal table thing. It's so lovely and so important. It is, because it just brings you together. Yeah, it's gorgeous. I know, and I love that. Yeah, so definitely, you know, extreme. That's what you need on your next trip.

32:18Where would you say your holiday happy places? It can be a location or it can be a scenario. For me, it's probably the South of France. I love because of the ambiance and the light and the rosé and the people. I lived in Paris for about five years when I was in my mid-twenties. And I just love the French. I love the language. I just love the way of life. I love that everyone eats at least two baguettes a day and doesn't bat an eyelid and they're eating real butter they're not eating can't believe it's not butter should have could have been butter whatever they're eating the best butter I think they've got the priorities entirely right they're chic and I just love France and I think that's probably my happy place especially just because it's so beautiful so lovely you need to put your holiday and I love an American road trip as well and that's kind of fun because the kids love that Yeah.

33:12Have you done it? Yeah. Even a trip around Target is like, woohoo, off we go. My kids love that. Yes. I did a road trip with Reggie years ago, but it was for a TV show. So we sort of half holidayed, half were doing it for TV. But just the States is so fascinating because every state that you go to is like an entirely different scenario. So you're getting all these different cultural experiences, but on one holiday. It's wild, isn't it? And you can go wherever you want. That's a really fun trip. It's such a great experience. I know. I mean I've only done like the California coast I'd like to do a lot more Yeah just do the whole thing East to West So fun This is making me desperately want to go on holiday right now I can't bear it Same Should we just like ditch the rest of the day and go somewhere I was quite tempted this morning Like should I just get on a plane and ditch all responsibilities Yeah wouldn't that be great Yes please Yeah What's one thing you'll do to take your holidays more seriously Seriously I make a lot of lists before I go The list of what not to forget Yes Like you wouldn't forget your pillow.

34:10No. I mean, I respect that. Wish I'd get mine in my bag. I'm now inspired by you. Really going to try. Take it. Yeah, I make a lot of lists. So I try not to forget anything before. And I start that list about a week before. So if I need to shop for certain things, toiletries on the list. I mean, toiletries fill half my bag. No, same. Seriously. But I like that I'm a list person. And then it means the actual experience is stress-free. Yes. Because you've got everything covered. Yeah. But I am still doing the list the night before. I'm still packing the night before. No, same. I'm packing on the day.

34:39I am too. Yeah, because there's always a thing you forget and I'll still forget something. We've got an episode coming up soon and we're going to be really diving into the subject of food. Which country in the world would you want to go to, to holiday in purely for the cuisine? Oh, for the cuisine. It's got to be France. Yeah, France for me. I just love it because, I mean, number one, they're obsessed with dessert. Yeah. You know, it's just, you wouldn't go out and not have dessert. Patisseries, dedicated, they're like shrines to cakes. I stand outside and I worship because I've got very sweet tooth reading little colourful macarons Macaroon isn't it?

35:14Is it macaron? I'm just trying to sound a bit more French Do they say macaron? They probably do Me and my daughter is going You want a macaron? Oui I'm probably saying it so wrong Well I hope you get a holiday soon Thank you honey And thank you so much for being on the podcast Thanks for having me Are we done? We're done Tess Daly Let's talk more about holidays We love you we could just do it off my dogs with a pina colada pina colada and rose thank you thank you so much for that isn't test just the loveliest person she's exactly as you'd imagine when you see her on the telly and also i think me and test could do like a girl's breakaway wouldn't that be nice i think we've got the same sort of wellness on holiday vibe going on like a little bit of it here and there but also i'm having a margarita thank you very much if you want help taking your holidays more seriously then you know where to go British Airways holidays allow you to book with a low deposit and pay off your holiday in flexible installments they offer a 24-hour holiday helpline and all holidays include a generous baggage allowance per person what's more all British Airways holidays packages are at all protected so they've got you well and truly covered next time Richard E Grant's gonna be here I am beyond excited we're gonna be talking food, drink, extravagant dishes and tiny local restaurants.

36:38So I hope you'll be back here for that. In the meantime, a massive thanks again to Tess, to British Airways Holidays for making this chat happen, to the producer Anushka Tate at Happy Place Studios and to you because you're ace.

37:03Thank you.