This much I know: Miriam O’Callaghan

I didn’t set out with a great career plan firmly mapped out in front of me.

I was a really boring child and teenager, honestly, incredibly boring. I was a total swot, but also, according to my mum, a very good kid.

I was ready to do my Junior Cert at 13, only they held me back as I was too young. But I did my Leaving Certificate and started studying Law in UCD when I was only 16.

The thought of following a career in journalism never even crossed my mind. I’d love to say I chose Law because I was determined to change the world, but I really didn’t know anything about the world. I simply did Law because I had a whole load of points and back then, if you did well in your exams. they’d say, ‘Oh you should be a doctor or a vet or a lawyer with all those points’.

I am very hard-working. People who know me say they feel exhausted just watching me. I suppose I must be quite a driven person and think it comes from wanting to do well in life.

I moved to London and began my media career working on This Is Your Life, presented by Eamonn Andrews. It was great fun — I’d say it was my happiest job in television — but I realised I couldn’t stay there enjoying myself forever so I moved on to research other shows and then I trained as a producer at the BBC.

I’d never particularly wanted to be a presenter, it just sort of happened. I’m glad it did as I love it. My younger kids think it’s eccentric when people recognise me though.

I’m interested in other people and their lives and what makes them tick. You have to be, if you’re going to present any type of chat show.

Having my first child when I was 26 definitely made me more focussed. I realised that if I wanted to survive in the world of television journalism then I was going to have to work 10 times harder than my male counterparts.

I’m pretty good at time management although it’s always a struggle to juggle work and home life. I plan my days so that I get the time I need with our two older boys who are 14 and 15, as well as with the younger kids.

I’ve been in some very hairy situations on air, but the trick is to never show the panic. Everyone else may be having a crisis but my job is to go on and look very calm.

I remember doing a piece on army deafness and I was supposed to interview a consultant from Canada on the subject. As the interview progressed it became clear that he wasn’t actually an expert in that area — he was an obstetrician — but I managed to keep the item going for 10 minutes.

There are so many things I’d change about our society, if I could. One is our health service. I realise that it may never happen, but in my Utopia there would be equal access to services for all.

I’ve a real soft spot for Kerry, especially Dingle. One of my favourite views is looking out over Slea Head.

There is nothing wrong with a bit of self-doubt, without it, people are in danger of becoming arrogant. The world may see me as a confident person but, starting out, I was a ninny. I had no confidence.

I’m not sure if I believe in fate because it suggests things are almost predestined for us and we have no say over what is going to happen. Although, having said that, I’m not convinced that we do have a lot of say over what does happen!

I’d love there to be an afterlife. It would mean I could see my sister and my dad again. But I still need someone to convince me. I’m 99% sure it doesn’t exist.

I want to be on time but I’m often not. I’ve tried to rectify this but I’m usually “the mother who is late”.

So far life has taught me to value the importance of kindness. It is hugely underrated.

Miriam O’Callaghan presents Prime Time, on RTÉ 1 and Miriam Meets on RTÉ Radio 1, Sundays at 10am.