The shape I'm in: Katherine Lynch, comedian, singer and actress

The grand-niece of Patrick Kavanagh, Katherine Lynch enjoys reading poetry.

A WOMAN of many parts — comedian, singer, TV presenter, actress, writer and producer — Katherine Lynch is in the process of adding another role to her extensive CV: celebrity dieter.

Joining RTÉ’s Celebrity Operation Transformation, she is on a mission to drop weight and get fitter, along with Karl Spain, Gerald Kean, Elaine Crowley, and Brenda Donohue.

“It’s going great. I’m sticking to the plan,” she says.

“I’m doing my exercises and the food is absolutely delicious. I’m probably eating more because my habits would have been very bad.”

Her goal is to lose a stone.

“It’s a lot in a month. But already I have changed my habits. I’m mindful of everything that goes into my mouth.”

From Mohill, Co Leitrim she shares her time between her home in Dublin’s Temple Bar and Athenry, where her boyfriend lives.

“Ger is great. I’ve always had boyfriends and always had gay friends. But the boyfriends have to be able to fit in and accept everyone and he does.”

And she is happy to embrace their different career paths.

“He is a very creative IT person working on a start-up at the moment, it’s all about encryption. He’s going for gold. He is going to be the one buying the house in Malibu. I’ll be a Malibu Barbie.”

Celebrity Operation Transformation RTÉ One, Wednesdays, 9.35pm

What shape are you in?

I’m just slightly over 13st, which is a lot. I’m 5ft 5in. Karl [Henry] sends a resistance video every second day.

In between, I’m having fun exercising, like going for a hike with a friend. I just climbed Burnham hill in Dingle with my boyfriend. It doesn’t all have to be miserable.

What are your healthiest eating habits?

We are eating like we used to eat long ago. I’m having a breakfast, a lunch, and a dinner.

I’m having one egg and a slice of toast in the morning. That’s what I used to eat going to school. Then I’d have for my lunch a small salad — a tuna salad or maybe a small omelette — that’s also what we used to have for lunch.

I’ve just copped on that as a nation we’ve started to eat way too much.

What are your guiltiest pleasures?

Eating chocolate and watching the Kardashians’ bums getting bigger. It makes me feel good about myself!

What would keep you awake at night?

Nothing. A Traveller man, who was a kind of fortune teller, once told me I had nothing on my conscience — that I was well able to sleep. I have to agree with him. I never lose a night’s sleep over anything.

How do you relax?

I walk to relax. Before I started with Operation Transformation, I would walk every day. I love walking down the docks in Dublin, past the Jeanie Johnston and the other boats.

Also, spending downtime with my family and boyfriend.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Jack Nicholson for the fun, Michael D Higgins so that he could keep a little control over the proceedings. Bette Midler and Ger — he’s brilliant, he talks to everyone and he’ll remember everyone’s name — and the whole of Mohill.

What’s your favourite smell?

In nature, it’s fresh grass. And in perfume it’s Narciso Rodriguez — it’s very old fashioned but fun.

When is the last time you cried?

I cry a lot. My kidneys are placed right behind my eyes. It could be anything — for somebody I miss, for a junkie on the street, for something on the news. Thankfully, it means I still feel. But I need to do a bit of work instead of crying for Syria.

You are exposed to so much information and you’re devastated by it. The feeling of helplessness is horrific. And then there is the guilt from the switch off.

What traits do you least like in others?

Dishonesty.

What traits do you least like about yourself?

Hyper sensitivity.

Do you pray?

I do. But I’m a bit greedy when it comes to god. I’m only knocking on his door when I need something but I think he’s OK with that.

For spirituality, I read poetry because I believe that poets are prophets.

My favourite poet is Patrick Kavanagh, he was my granduncle. I’m totally proud about that. The pride runs through my veins.

What would cheer up your day?

I find joy in an awful lot of things. To hear friends are getting on well.

I like coffee with friends, that always cheers up my day. But these days it’s black coffee with no bun.