This much I know: Lucy Kennedy, TV presenter

I have a shy side. I’m not great on red carpets.

I was the kind of child who changed her mind 15 times about careers. I wanted to be everything from pilot to journalist to vet to psychotherapist.

My career guidance teachers were very patient, treating every career with the same interest.

I was a very outgoing child, the middle of three girls. but I was shy about any type of performing.

I was more likely to be found behind the scenes than on stage and my first jobs in television were indeed behind the scenes, as a production assistant and then as a contestant researcher.

Being on camera didn’t come naturally. I may give the impression that I share a lot but actually I keep what means the most to me close to my heart.

I was self conscious, almost embarrassed at being the centre of attention.

When I began hosting the Podge and Rodge show, in front of a live audience of 200 people staring back at me, I felt physically sick. But I persisted and the more I practiced, the better I got. I gained confidence until, finally, I started to believe I was good.

The only real skill I have is with people. I’m able to disarm them and help them to relax quickly.

My biggest fault is over-talking, and my laugh, it’s like a donkey in labour. I have tried to tone it down.

My biggest challenge has been having an emergency section with my son Jack. I was oblivious to the fact that such a thing might happen to me. He is now six, and Holly is three.

Being a working mum and a Taurus, I’m good at compartmentalising.

When I began doing the Seven O’Clock show on TV3 I was exhausted for the first month. But, I’m a naturally organised person and it didn’t take me long to develop a strict routine.

I’m up at 7.15am, spend time with the kids until 8.20am, then I do whatever work I have on during the day — from corporate or voice- over work to putting on the Marigolds and scrubbing the house.

Then I collect the kids, fly home, leave them with the childminder at 4pm, having prepared their food and everything way in advance, and I head off to work at TV3.

When we come off air I’m full of beans, but I have to go to bed early to start the whole routine again the following day.

I am a grounded person. I’m not cocky but since becoming a mum I have become more self assured. As I get older I couldn’t care less what people think.

If I could be someone else for a day I’d like to be Graham Norton because he gets serious A listers. Like Jamie Dornan.

I don’t understand homelessness and if I could change one thing, that is what I would target first.

I’m a Catholic although I’m not great at going to mass. I do have massive faith. I pray every night and I believe in an afterlife.

I have been on a diet my whole life. I adore food and love cooking, although I’m not great at it.

My first job was a flight attendant with Cityjet. I still think airplanes are the most wonderful invention although I have become more fearful of them since I’ve had kids.

One of the best pieces of advice I ever heard was to marry your best friend. And I did.

I knew Richard for years before we started going out after meeting at his sister’s wedding when I was 23. I couldn’t imagine being married to someone in this business. He is a management consultant.

I cannot stand rudeness. I firmly believe you should treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.

The person you were rude to 10 years ago could turn out to be your future boss.

So far life has taught me that I am definitely one of the lucky ones.

* Lucy Kennedy has teamed up with GloHealth to launch its 24/7 accessible GP service, GloDoc