TV presenter Katy Hill exclusive chat to London Mums on World Book Day

Shopping Guides

Books

Published on Thursday, 06 March 2014 12:54

Last Updated on 06 March 2014

Monica Costa

0 Comments

TV and Radio Presenter, Blogger and mum of 2 Katy Hill talks exclusively to London Mums on World Book Day about her favourite books, her TV career, family and her love for Italy.

What’s your favourite book of all time?

My favourite children’s book is The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I LOVED it as a child and I still have my childhood copy. I love that, when I read it to the kids they put their fingers in the holes exactly like I used to! That’s what I love about books. They’re so timeless. My favourite adult book is Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. We can learn so much from the bravery of past generations and it’s so important we never forget.

What are your kids’ stories at bedtime?

My daughter Kaya is 7 and loved the Captain Underpants series! She’s currently into Roald Dahl – we’ve just finished Charlie & The Chocolate Factory and she was excited/shocked in equal measure when I showed her an old episode of Blue Peter when I dressed as Mrs Twit and acted out a scene!

My son Akira loves all Julia Donaldson books and they’re both obsessed with superheroes right now.

If your children would like to follow your step and go into Television what would you advise them?

I’m not sure they’ll want to! They see the realities of early morning pick-ups! If they did decide to go that route I’d support them all the way, provided they were in it for the right reasons. There’s a worrying trend of wannabes these days that want to be “famous” and see that as a career. For me, presenting was what I desperately wanted to do. The “fame” side was an inconvenient part of that, not a career path!

While filming, you have been involved in lots of interesting activities. What was your favourite / most memorable part of your career so far?

I’ve had so many highlights it would be really hard to pinpoint one. Flying displays with the Red Arrows, Bobsleigh and Skeleton runs, living in a yurt in Mongolia, presenting from The Thames to see in the new Millennium – all the stuff of dreams to be honest!

How do you balance your work life and your family life?

When my daughter Kaya was born 7 years ago I’d been working flat out for years and I didn’t want anybody but me raising my child. So I took a massive career break. And I haven’t regretted the decision for a second. Both being in the same industry and self employed my husband and I cover each other when work happens and I’ve loved becoming a blogger (KatyHill.com KatyHill.com/ > > ) and adding a whole new element to my life. My son Akira starts school in September so this is my year for getting back into things.

If you were Mayor of London for the day what would you change in the Capital to make it more child and family friendly?

Most things! The UK is pretty shocking on the Family Friendly front!

On a personal note, you seem attracted to Italy where your husband proposed and you got married. What do you love the most about Italy and the Italians?

We LOVE Italy. We got engaged in Venice and married in Tuscany at a magical place called Villa Fontelunga with 18 immediate family and friends. We love the landscape and laid back attitude over there. We haven’t actually been to Italy with the kids yet but we promise ourselves we’ll go back one day and show them where we got married, which would totally make me lose it.

Katy is also a fruitful mummy blogger and you can read her blogs at katyhill.com

Image Credit: Katy Hill reading a story to children at a Sainsbury’s store.