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

How good are you at switching off on holiday? Are you even any good at taking a proper holiday in the first place? Broadcaster Tess Daly reckons wellness is being physically and mentally able to turn up for everything in life that demands your time... And that includes prioritising time off from a busy schedule! Welcome to The Happy Place Guide To Holidays! In this chat – brought to you by British Airways Holidays – Fearne and Tess share their advice on how to take your holiday wellbeing more seriously, including making lists ahead of time, locking your phone away, having your feet rubbed, and eating delicious local bread and desserts. Plus, Tess reveals Strictly’s contingency plan for if things go wrong on the dancefloor, and the incredibly sweet vow renewal husband Vernon Kay organised for her… British Airways Holidays are ATOL protected, offer a 24hr holiday helpline, and allow you to book with a low deposit. All holidays include a generous baggage allowance per person. Go to Ba.com/holidays to find out more. Child on the line is a three-part documentary podcast series celebrating the Volunteer Counsellors of Childline, and the brave children & young people who contact the helpline service. Listen here: https://www.childonthelinepodcast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:00Speaker 00

  Hi, I'm Natalie Dormer and I'm proud to be an ambassador for Childline. This year, Childline turns 40. To mark it, I've made Child on the Line, a three-part documentary podcast. We hear why children needed a helpline in 1986, how it was built against the odds and the challenges children face today, from abuse and mental health to social media and AI. Search Child on the Line and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

• 0:28Fearne Cotton?

  Hello 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.

• 0:38Speaker 02

  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.

• 0:47Speaker 00

  I am the facilitator.

• 0:48Speaker 02

  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.

• 1:08Fearne Cotton?

  Now, 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, that is where I'm happiest. But the thing is, life can often do its thing and get in the way, can't it? You 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

• 1:51Fearne Cotton?

  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 obviously means something completely different to each of us. Maybe 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 towelling robe before dinner. Interestingly though, for lots of people, it can even influence choices before the holiday even begins.

• 2:37Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 3:23Fearne Cotton?

  Hello Tess Daly.

• 3:24Speaker 02

  Hi, thanks for having me chat.

• 3:26Fearne Cotton?

  Ah, thanks for coming on. First of all, massive congrats.

• 3:30Speaker 02

  Oh.

• 3:31Fearne Cotton?

  Because you went to Buckingham Palace the other day, didn't you?

• 3:33Speaker 02

  Well, I haven't been yet.

• 3:34Fearne Cotton?

  You haven't been yet?

• 3:35Speaker 02

  Haven't been yet.

• 3:35Fearne Cotton?

  So it's been announced, but you haven't been?

• 3:37Speaker 02

  But it's in the offing. No, yes.

• 3:39Fearne Cotton?

  Congrats.

• 3:39Speaker 02

  The shortlist is imminent, but I guess it'll be in the next couple of months. But thank you.

• 3:44Fearne Cotton?

  This is so exciting.

• 3:45Speaker 02

  Still can't quite believe it.

• 3:46Fearne Cotton?

  Absolutely. You're a broadcasting legend.

• 3:49Speaker 02

  Oh, it's just, oh, well, I wouldn't go that far.

• 3:51Fearne Cotton?

  No, you need to be honoured.

• 3:52Speaker 02

  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.

• 3:58Fearne Cotton?

  It's so amazing and so deserved. Now, the important question is, what are you wearing to the party?

• 4:03Speaker 02

  Don't ask. What do you wear?

• 4:06Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 4:13Speaker 02

  And is it a suit or is it a dress? Is it a high heel? Is it a wedge?

• 4:16Fearne Cotton?

  I'm going high heel, hat and like a dreamboat dress.

• 4:21Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 4:22Fearne Cotton?

  So excited for you.

• 4:23Speaker 02

  Thank you very much.

• 4:24Fearne Cotton?

  Has it felt like a bit of a landmark for you in terms of your career? Have you kind of stopped and gone, oh my god, let me look back on this whole career of mine?

• 4:32Speaker 02

  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 Bruce, he loved ballroom dancing, he would 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, I haven't, I haven't sort of looked back and thought, oh, it's for this, it's for this. But I have thought this, you know, it's, it's an incredible honour and um, 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.

• 5:14Fearne Cotton?

  Do you know who's doing it? Will it be Prince William?

• 5:16Speaker 02

  No idea yet. It could be King Charles, it could be Prince William.

• 5:20Fearne Cotton?

  Come on.

• 5:21Speaker 02

  It could be Princess Anne.

• 5:22Fearne Cotton?

  Love a bit of Princess Anne. I think you'd have like mega bants with her when she's doing it.

• 5:26Speaker 02

  She's wonderful.

• 5:27Fearne Cotton?

  She is so wonderful. Well, I'm so, so thrilled for you. You've now been doing Strictly, what, 20 years?

• 5:32Speaker 02

  20 years. Yeah, I was pregnant with my eldest child and she turns 21 in October, as does Strictly.

• 5:38Fearne Cotton?

  That is wild.

• 5:39Speaker 02

  It's unbelievable.

• 5:40Fearne Cotton?

  Does it feel like 20 years?

• 5:41Speaker 02

  Um, well, not really, but I was in my mid 30s, you know, 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 were 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's 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, it's been a massive part of our lives and, and they've loved it actually. And getting to work with Claudia, of course, is an absolute dream. Love her.

• 6:20Fearne Cotton?

  But you can tell from watching it, you both just love it and you still love it after all these years.

• 6:25Speaker 02

  I know. It's, it'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, 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.

• 6:51Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 6:51Speaker 02

  To be a part of that.

• 6:52Fearne Cotton?

  It is.

• 6:52Speaker 02

  And you don't take it, you never take for granted that people are gonna 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. Cause that's quite rare these days that people sit around, they tell you together as families, you know.

• 7:05Fearne Cotton?

  It is, that's what I like about, you know, my kids are now about to turn ten and twelve and you look for those moments where you can sit together because otherwise one's on a Playstation, one's watching YouTube. But actually, those moments where you congregate.

• 7:19Speaker 02

  And they're not even in the same room.

• 7:20Fearne Cotton?

  Not in the same room.

• 7:21Speaker 02

  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 gonna be there, you weren't gonna miss it. There was, obviously there was not social media there and 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.

• 7:49Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 7:50Speaker 02

  That was part of my childhood growing up. And of course, now it is really different because there's a lot more choice.

• 7:54Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 8:06Speaker 02

  It is wonderful.

• 8:07Fearne Cotton?

  Willing it on.

• 8:08Speaker 02

  People's magic. Of all ages, you know, and so that is, it's a gift really. It's quite rare.

• 8:13Fearne Cotton?

  It's so rare and it's getting rarer and rarer, but Strictly just feels like it's in like a world of its own, it would just keep on going.

• 8:19Speaker 02

  Well, it is joyful, it's warm, it's entertaining and, 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.

• 8:31Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 8:31Speaker 02

  Into a pas de deux.

• 8:32Fearne Cotton?

  Has that happened?

• 8:33Speaker 02

  No, but I think, I think, I'm sure someone did get stuck. I'm, I'm on standby with like a contingency card.

• 8:38Fearne Cotton?

  I bet you are.

• 8:39Speaker 02

  Every single routine, just in case something goes wrong, in case the music doesn't go right the first time. 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.

• 8:50Fearne Cotton?

  It's like quite stressful.

• 8:51Speaker 02

  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. So I have to like canter in those heels at speed.

• 9:06Fearne Cotton?

  Oh my god.

• 9:07Speaker 02

  Poised with a contingency card, just in case. Something happens.

• 9:12Fearne Cotton?

  That's stressing me out.

• 9:12Speaker 02

  All the props aren't ready. This, because the props guys who are absolutely legends, create those sets in literally about 90 seconds. Sometimes we time in the dress run and it's like 95 seconds. And you're, I'm thinking, just go on.

• 9:26Fearne Cotton?

  No.

• 9:26Speaker 02

  Go 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.

• 9:36Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 9:41Speaker 02

  And it's slick.

• 9:41Fearne Cotton?

  It's also show busy and gorgeous, but actually there's so many people running around, stressed beyond in the background, making this stuff happen.

• 9:49Speaker 02

  Yeah. I mean, it's a, it's a huge machine and a lot of people involved. And it's our director who makes it, Nikki Parsons. She makes it look that slick because it's like, yeah, we're all running behind the scenes just to deliver it on time.

• 10:02Fearne Cotton?

  And Grace wants to swallow the surface and the legs are kicking on the bath like crazy.

• 10:06Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 10:06Fearne Cotton?

  Also alongside that, another of your projects is your own business that you own, your swimwear business. You have got a lot going on in the grand scheme of things.

• 10:14Speaker 02

  Is, I mean, I'm really proud of it because we've really grown it 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.

• 10:23Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 10:25Speaker 02

  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 smoothly. You want to grow. 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 with 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. Forget it. That caftan's coming out. It's not creased.

• 11:07Fearne Cotton?

  I don't think I've ironed anything in the last 20 years.

• 11:09Speaker 02

  That's what I mean. The most I've done is stick it on a hunger in the shower and turn that on really hot for a day.

• 11:12Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, that's a great hack.

• 11:14Speaker 02

  That works.

• 11:14Fearne Cotton?

  We love that life hack.

• 11:15Speaker 02

  You don't do anything. Exactly.

• 11:17Fearne Cotton?

  But I mean, you have got a lot going on. And as you say, with a business, you can't switch off. You know, you, you try and sleep and there's 10 problems you're trying to solve in your head.

• 11:25Speaker 02

  Yeah, of course.

• 11:26Fearne Cotton?

  Wondering what the next move is. It is, and then obviously when you're doing, throwing live TV into the mix and a show is demanding a strictly where it's multiple days a week and there's a lot of preparation involved. Are you naturally good at switching off, would you say?

• 11:39Speaker 02

  No, I'm terrible at it. I am. I just like live and breathe it. Whatever the project is at the time, there's often multiple projects that, I mean, I think we're all wearing many hats, aren't we, these days? And so I can't, I don't really switch off. No, I'm terrible. I'm like a night owl and I'm right. So I go to bed like midnight, but then I wake up like five or six.

• 11:57Fearne Cotton?

  Really?

• 11:58Speaker 02

  Ready to go.

• 11:58Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 12:06Speaker 02

  Constant snacks. I know.

• 12:07Fearne Cotton?

  My personality dies at eight.

• 12:08Speaker 02

  Does it?

• 12:09Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 12:09Speaker 02

  What time do you go to bed?

• 12:10Fearne Cotton?

  I mean, I try to get in bed for half nine, sleep by 10.

• 12:14Speaker 02

  What?

• 12:15Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah. That's on a good day.

• 12:17Speaker 02

  I wish I could do that.

• 12:18Fearne Cotton?

  A bad day is like half 10. If I'm creeping towards 11, I'm panicking.

• 12:21Speaker 02

  Really?

• 12:22Fearne Cotton?

  I am panicking.

• 12:23Speaker 02

  Are you?

• 12:24Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah. I've just got nothing to give past 8pm. 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.

• 12:36Speaker 02

  I can't speak.

• 12:36Fearne Cotton?

  Eject me. Now I need a cab. This, like, two seconds ago, I should have been in a cab.

• 12:42Speaker 02

  Well, how many, how, how many hours a night then do you get average?

• 12:45Fearne Cotton?

  Well, I'm waking, I probably wake up between five and six.

• 12:47Speaker 02

  Okay, wow, that's impressive. Yeah.

• 12:49Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, but then I have quite broken sleep.

• 12:51Speaker 02

  Mine's more sort of six, six. Yeah. Yeah, I know what you mean, broken sleep.

• 12:55Fearne Cotton?

  Weeing lines. A kid in the bed, so it's just like a lot of that going on.

• 13:00Speaker 02

  No liquids an hour and a half before bed is the key.

• 13:02Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, I still go though.

• 13:04Speaker 02

  Do you?

• 13:05Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, like twice a night, every night.

• 13:07Speaker 02

  Maybe it's just too much liquid.

• 13:09Fearne Cotton?

  Just like no pelvic floor, weak bladder, like really bad combination of all the things. So you're not great at switching 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.

• 13:23Speaker 02

  How can you just, I tell you who can switch off, men. They can switch off.

• 13:27Fearne Cotton?

  They're so good at it.

• 13:29Speaker 02

  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.

• 13:37Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 13:37Speaker 02

  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.

• 13:49Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 13:49Speaker 02

  Maybe, I know I'm generalising, but.

• 13:51Fearne Cotton?

  I think it's a pretty solid generalisation right there. It's really tough. What, um, what does wellness mean to you? That's quite a broad question because I mean, even with Happy Place, we are, 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 do you, what does it mean to you?

• 14:14Speaker 02

  For me, wellness means feeling good in yourself.

• 14:17Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 14:18Speaker 02

  Feeling energised, feeling positive, feeling able and capable to manage everything in your day. Turn up for everything in your life. That's no mean feat.

• 14:28Fearne Cotton?

  Nope.

• 14:29Speaker 02

  For everybody who needs you.

• 14:30Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 14:30Speaker 02

  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, it, it, 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, whether that's paying the car insurance or sorting out the school stuff. Or whatever it is. Um, finding the water bottle and, you know, all the little things that we need to do. I try and do it all the night before. I try really hard to be really organised, but there's always something that escaped my notice in the morning.

• 15:01Speaker 02

  I make notes on my phone or it's ridiculous. I do little alarms on it like all day long. I have little notes like that, like I like I spring to attention.

• 15:08Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, what have I set this alarm for? I can't remember.

• 15:09Speaker 02

  What am I doing? What am I doing? Okay, there's a note for you. I left a note with that one. I'm 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. Demands your time, demands your attention and it's feeling good doing it. And 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.

• 15:32Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 15:34Speaker 02

  So wellness to me is it's it's been 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, I'm not a saint. It's eating whole foods because I love whole foods, healthy foods. I haven't eaten red meat for, 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, I need, I need to sort of occasionally lift a few weights or else I get too sinewy. I 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 I mean, there are certain things that I need to do, little hacks for myself I need to do.

• 16:17Speaker 02

  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 drag myself out my chair. Flexibility for me is wellness.

• 16:33Speaker 02

  Knowing I can run upstairs, fly upstairs and, and just kind of, yeah. Keeping yourself mentally and physically well, not obsessing about it. I refuse to obsess about anything.

• 16:44Fearne Cotton?

  Good.

• 16:44Speaker 02

  It's all in moderation.

• 16:45Fearne Cotton?

  I agree. I think that is.

• 16:47Speaker 02

  Moderation for me is key.

• 16:49Fearne Cotton?

  Wellness is, is like whatever makes you feel well.

• 16:52Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 16:52Fearne Cotton?

  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 wanna go out and drink margaritas and laugh heartily with my friends, which I know 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.

• 17:17Speaker 02

  And then I think you're not gonna stick to it realistically. You know, it's like, a lot, a lot of diets, a lot of people fall off the wagon because you can't stick to that. There's too, there are too many conditions to satisfy that are not practical 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're getting a bit of extra protein. Whatever it is that works for you, it's just kind of, it's looking after yourself and it's allowing yourself little, you know, a little bit of slack as well.

• 17:47Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, too, right.

• 17:48Speaker 02

  A little bit of what you fancy.

• 17:49Fearne Cotton?

  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?

• 17:54Speaker 02

  I would like to have more holidays, but I am, you know, fanatical about having at least one, two a year, hopefully. I would like more. But it's tricky, you know, doing the schedules together. Vernon's very busy. Um, 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.

• 18:16Fearne Cotton?

  It's quite exciting as well, though. Like, oh, I booked a holiday and I'm going next week. I like that feeling.

• 18:22Speaker 02

  But then I've got friends who book theirs like a year and their bands and they're, they're counting down, looking forward to it. And that's quite nice, having that little carrot dangling, you know. When it all gets chaotic, it's quite nice. But I've never been that, that organised.

• 18:34Fearne Cotton?

  British Airways 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 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 disciplined and switching off?

• 18:56Speaker 02

  I'm livid if I get an email when I'm away.

• 18:58Fearne Cotton?

  Do you do an out of office?

• 18:59Speaker 02

  I'm like, no, I don't. When I want to. I, I inscribe to basically everything I'm subscribed to. But if anyone sort of eaves, 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 wanna talk about work personally on a Sunday. I want to have a day of rest. I wanna 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.

• 19:37Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, heaven.

• 19:38Speaker 02

  You know, it's just gorgeous. Or 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. 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.

• 19:56Fearne Cotton?

  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 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. Whatever next. What a novel thing to do.

• 20:14Speaker 02

  Did you put them in a drawer?

• 20:15Fearne Cotton?

  I've never looked at them since. But it was so nice not to, 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.

• 20:26Speaker 02

  You're gonna send a photo to everyone you know, because you've got a cute photo of the kids. And you need to, you know, you need to share that with your mum.

• 20:31Fearne Cotton?

  And then you're on it.

• 20:32Speaker 02

  And then you're on it. And then you're sucked into that. Because you're like, oh, yeah.

• 20:34Fearne Cotton?

  I know. 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.

• 20:49Speaker 02

  The cats are fine. It's going away for the evening.

• 20:51Fearne Cotton?

  That means I can now.

• 20:52Speaker 02

  That takes real discipline to do that, though.

• 20:54Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah. But it's good. Well, I think it was three days in, I thought, I actually don't care about my phone at all.

• 20:59Speaker 02

  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.

• 21:04Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, that's great.

• 21:04Speaker 02

  I just don't even look at it.

• 21:05Fearne Cotton?

  No.

• 21:06Speaker 02

  And then it's like, oh, there's Instagram. Who knew? What a novel concept.

• 21:10Fearne Cotton?

  I know.

• 21:10Speaker 02

  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 someone 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.

• 21:21Fearne Cotton?

  I know.

• 21:21Speaker 02

  I've missed the sunset.

• 21:23Fearne Cotton?

  It 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.

• 21:32Speaker 02

  Forget everything else as much as you can, you know, these days because obviously it follows us.

• 21:37Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, but we need that. We need a brain break.

• 21:39Speaker 02

  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.

• 21:53Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, they need that.

• 21:55Speaker 02

  They need it.

• 21:55Fearne Cotton?

  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 it's, you just need to take the, you know, your foot off the gas and just do nothing.

• 22:06Speaker 02

  Yeah, and that is the ultimate treat, I think.

• 22:08Fearne Cotton?

  It's a treat. It is, and it shouldn't be.

• 22:10Speaker 02

  That is wellness for me. That's just chilling out.

• 22:12Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 22:13Speaker 02

  You know?

• 22:13Fearne Cotton?

  Do you do, like, if you're away, do you work out? Do you do yoga? Or are you just totally letting loose?

• 22:19Speaker 02

  Sometimes I'll do, if they've got a nice little like sunset yoga class and I see them the day before stretching, they look very kind of mellow and happy. I think, oh.

• 22:28Fearne Cotton?

  I'll have a bit of that.

• 22:28Speaker 02

  Might get involved with a downward dog whilst looking at the ocean as 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.

• 22:38Fearne Cotton?

  Oh, yeah. What are you going for?

• 22:39Speaker 02

  A massage for me. It would be like a stretchy shiatsu, Thai type, anything that gets deep into the muscle.

• 22:44Fearne Cotton?

  Mmm.

• 22:45Speaker 02

  Get an elbow in my buttock and I'm happy.

• 22:47Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, or reflexology I love.

• 22:49Speaker 02

  Reflexology I love as well.

• 22:50Fearne Cotton?

  Someone touching my feet is.

• 22:53Speaker 02

  Oh, I love it.

• 22:54Fearne Cotton?

  The greatest sensation.

• 22:55Speaker 02

  Yeah, it is.

• 22:55Fearne Cotton?

  Of all time.

• 22:56Speaker 02

  But only if it's done really well.

• 22:57Fearne Cotton?

  Really well.

• 22:58Speaker 02

  Because it's done gently, like someone's rubbing lotion into your body. It feels really kind of.

• 23:01Fearne Cotton?

  No, you're always doing something.

• 23:03Speaker 02

  And I'm like, oh, no, don't. Just, please do it meaningfully.

• 23:06Fearne Cotton?

  Get stuck in.

• 23:06Speaker 02

  Yeah, get stuck in.

• 23:07Fearne Cotton?

  With feeling.

• 23:08Speaker 02

  And then it's an absolute treat, isn't it? It's really relaxing. Otherwise, it's the opposite of relaxing.

• 23:13Fearne Cotton?

  And how about cuisine? What are you going for food-wise on holiday?

• 23:16Speaker 02

  Oh, yeah, food. Well, this is, I mean, I have, I have to say, apart from gazing at the ocean of sunsets, doing the odd downward dog.

• 23:23Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 23:23Speaker 02

  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.

• 23:38Fearne Cotton?

  Yep.

• 23:39Speaker 02

  But when you're away, that pressure has gone. And I just love that everyone can have what they want and you can just choose.

• 23:46Fearne Cotton?

  And you haven't got to do the dishwasher afterwards.

• 23:48Speaker 02

  And you don't have to do anything.

• 23:49Fearne Cotton?

  My favourite bit.

• 23:50Speaker 02

  I hate loading the dishwasher.

• 23:51Fearne Cotton?

  That's what I mean.

• 23:52Speaker 02

  Hate it.

• 23:52Fearne Cotton?

  That's why I kind of prefer hotels to villas. You know, self catering's brilliant. It's all I had growing up because you've got your own space.

• 23:59Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 24:00Fearne Cotton?

  A lot more space to run around in, but I just love not having to start the dishwasher and, you know.

• 24:06Speaker 02

  Have to lift a finger.

• 24:06Fearne Cotton?

  Fold a teatard. I love that.

• 24:08Speaker 02

  It's absolutely dreamy, isn't it?

• 24:09Fearne Cotton?

  Take the bins out, forget it.

• 24:10Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 24:11Fearne Cotton?

  None of that.

• 24:12Speaker 02

  Are you like, I'm just gonna, I'm gonna eat local cuisine, I'm gonna eat whatever the hell I want. What are you going for food wise?

• 24:18Fearne Cotton?

  Well, for me, the ultimate pleasure on holiday is a buffet breakfast.

• 24:23Speaker 02

  I love a buffet.

• 24:23Fearne Cotton?

  I do too. I just love like having a little bit, like about six courses of.

• 24:28Speaker 02

  Yeah, yeah, yeah.

• 24:28Fearne Cotton?

  Fruit.

• 24:29Speaker 02

  And none of them match, but they're all on the plate at the same time.

• 24:31Fearne Cotton?

  Porridge, maybe a few, a couple of boiled eggs.

• 24:32Speaker 02

  Yes, exactly.

• 24:33Fearne Cotton?

  Hmm.

• 24:34Speaker 02

  And like, oh my, and just, oh frothy coffee. Like, I don't drink coffee very often.

• 24:38Fearne Cotton?

  Do you not?

• 24:39Speaker 02

  No, I always have builder's tea at home.

• 24:40Fearne Cotton?

  Really?

• 24:41Speaker 02

  That's how I wake up, can't wait for that cup of tea.

• 24:42Fearne Cotton?

  I'm like that with coffee.

• 24:43Speaker 02

  Gets me out of bed. I'm like, I can't wait for that first sip of tea.

• 24:46Fearne Cotton?

  Same. 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.

• 24:55Speaker 02

  No, honestly, that galvanises me out.

• 24:57Fearne Cotton?

  Absolutely.

• 24:58Speaker 02

  I fly out for it and I take my own tea bags on holiday as well.

• 25:01Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, that's, that's a must, yeah.

• 25:03Speaker 02

  We do, yeah.

• 25:03Fearne Cotton?

  I take my own pillow.

• 25:05Speaker 02

  Yeah, do you?

• 25:06Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 25:06Speaker 02

  Because I really want to do that because I have a neck, my neck locks a lot.

• 25:10Fearne Cotton?

  I take my own pillow because I can't tolerate other people's pillows.

• 25:12Speaker 02

  No, I get that.

• 25:13Fearne Cotton?

  My, I take my earmuffs, my earplugs.

• 25:14Speaker 02

  Same.

• 25:15Fearne Cotton?

  Take my own coffee, the type that I like.

• 25:17Speaker 02

  Good.

• 25:17Fearne Cotton?

  I like very niche with all the things that I have to take with me on holiday.

• 25:20Speaker 02

  Lot of luggage.

• 25:21Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 25:30Speaker 02

  Have you got your rug?

• 25:31Fearne Cotton?

  Literally all of it. Like the sofa comes.

• 25:33Speaker 02

  What about the cats?

• 25:33Fearne Cotton?

  The cats, they sadly don't come. But I think this is the, this is the, I feel like we have a similar holiday experience. Like we wanna let loose and relax.

• 25:42Speaker 02

  And just chill out and just, yeah.

• 25:43Fearne Cotton?

  Chill.

• 25:44Speaker 02

  Take your foot off the gas.

• 25:45Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 25:50Speaker 02

  And you know, I'll get on a paddleboard if.

• 25:52Fearne Cotton?

  Love paddleboarding.

• 25:53Speaker 02

  Love a paddleboard.

• 25:54Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 25:54Speaker 02

  Because it's funny, you can, you don't feel like you're doing anything workout wise. It's just sort of.

• 25:57Fearne Cotton?

  But you are, the core.

• 25:58Speaker 02

  Leisurely. Well, 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 paddleboard.

• 26:03Fearne Cotton?

  Such a shock. What's the best holiday?

• 26:05Speaker 02

  It's probably as strenuous as I get on holiday as a paddleboard, to be honest.

• 26:08Fearne Cotton?

  What's your, what was your best of a holiday? So one that sticks out.

• 26:11Speaker 02

  That's a really good question. Hmm, 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 and I didn't know they were coming and the morning of our anniversary, we'd only been away for a day. We were away for a long weekend for, for this 10, 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 renew 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.

• 26:48Fearne Cotton?

  Did so good.

• 26:49Speaker 02

  He did really well, actually. Yeah, that was, and it was such a surprise and I hadn't had to organise it, which was the first. So I usually organise everything to do with holidays.

• 26:56Fearne Cotton?

  And did he do it right?

• 26:57Speaker 02

  Microscopically. He did.

• 26:59Fearne Cotton?

  Well done, Vernon.

• 27:00Speaker 02

  Yeah, he even brought a dress and shoes for me.

• 27:02Fearne Cotton?

  Oh my God, did you like the dress and shoes?

• 27:04Speaker 02

  Loved it. Yeah, he did. It was a big tick.

• 27:07Fearne Cotton?

  Oh my God, well done.

• 27:08Speaker 02

  And I had a choice of two.

• 27:09Fearne Cotton?

  Imagine if you'd gone, don't fancy renewing.

• 27:11Speaker 02

  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 went in 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 bootcamps and they do all this sort of stuff. And I always, I would look at it and I think, hmm, I buy magazines dedicated to healthy holidays and I feel like I'm almost there, you know, I'm like there.

• 27:37Fearne Cotton?

  So close.

• 27:38Speaker 02

  Almost, so close.

• 27:39Fearne Cotton?

  So close, just not there.

• 27:40Speaker 02

  I'm Googling the resorts and then into their lives, 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.

• 27:54Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 27:54Speaker 02

  Because I'm, you know, I need to let go actually.

• 27:56Fearne Cotton?

  You could almost do a wellness holiday with them.

• 27:58Speaker 02

  They're 35, but, no, they're not.

• 28:00Fearne Cotton?

  But there are ages where you could take them and they'd probably really like it.

• 28:03Speaker 02

  Very true, yeah.

• 28:04Fearne Cotton?

  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. It hasn't happened. I haven't had the opportunity to do it, but I'd love to do that.

• 28:20Speaker 02

  Been the right time.

• 28:21Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, but I'd love to do like a proper wellness break where you just dedicate that time to you feeling well.

• 28:26Speaker 02

  Yeah, I mean, imagine.

• 28:28Fearne Cotton?

  Imagine.

• 28:28Speaker 02

  The luxury.

• 28:30Fearne Cotton?

  You've got to do it sometimes.

• 28:31Speaker 02

  Thinking of yourself.

• 28:32Fearne Cotton?

  I can't even imagine.

• 28:33Speaker 02

  I haven't done that since 2003.

• 28:35Fearne Cotton?

  No, not allowed.

• 28:37Speaker 02

  Not allowed.

• 28:37Fearne Cotton?

  But you're so close, like they are.

• 28:39Speaker 02

  Everyone is going, I hear you.

• 28:40Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, I know.

• 28:41Speaker 02

  Because I'm the same.

• 28:42Fearne Cotton?

  You're nearly at the age where they're off doing their thing.

• 28:44Speaker 02

  I know, true. And then I'll be a wreck.

• 28:46Fearne Cotton?

  And then you'll be like, come back.

• 28:47Speaker 02

  I know. I'll be crying into my pina colada.

• 28:50Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 28:50Speaker 02

  I know, there won't be one in my wellness retreat. It'll be a virgin.

• 28:53Fearne Cotton?

  Green juice.

• 28:54Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 28:55Fearne Cotton?

  Neither of us have been on a retreat. We might rectify that one day, but I think it is still easy enough to have a holiday where you implement small little wellness practices. I definitely do a bit of yoga on holiday. Absolutely love it. Sometimes I'll go for a run early doors if it's not too hot.

• 29:11Speaker 02

  So you pack your running shoes.

• 29:12Fearne Cotton?

  I pack my running shoes because I think actually to go and see a local area properly, you've got to walk or run.

• 29:17Speaker 02

  True.

• 29:18Fearne Cotton?

  So like a little light jog before it gets too hot. How about you?

• 29:21Speaker 02

  Smart. Well, I pack my, the one thing I, I would do not apart from my vitamins, which I always take with me, my supplements, but I take an exercise band with me.

• 29:30Fearne Cotton?

  Oh, nice.

• 29:30Speaker 02

  Because it weighs nothing.

• 29:32Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 29:32Speaker 02

  It folds up, fits in your bag.

• 29:33Fearne Cotton?

  And you're doing this kind of action with the arms and legs?

• 29:36Speaker 02

  Yeah, I use that just for like arm, you know, arm and leg stretches. You know, you do the cowboy like things to the side. You tie it around your ankles.

• 29:41Fearne Cotton?

  Oh, right. I've never done that.

• 29:42Speaker 02

  Like a crab. You move sideways like a crab.

• 29:44Fearne Cotton?

  And you can do that in a hotel room?

• 29:45Speaker 02

  You can do that in a hotel room in five minutes.

• 29:47Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 29:48Speaker 02

  So I can do, because I don't want, really want to be going to the hotel gym. I've got to be honest with you.

• 29:51Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 29:52Speaker 02

  It's not my idea of fun.

• 29:53Fearne Cotton?

  I don't like gyms.

• 29:54Speaker 02

  No, full stop.

• 29:55Fearne Cotton?

  I haven't been to a gym in years.

• 29:55Speaker 02

  I don't like sweating.

• 29:56Fearne Cotton?

  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. And they're on screens and I put out a little yoga mat and 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.

• 30:18Speaker 02

  That is like a holiday, isn't it? It's like a little holiday in your mind.

• 30:21Fearne Cotton?

  On holiday.

• 30:21Speaker 02

  It is.

• 30:22Fearne Cotton?

  If you're holidaying with kids, you do need like 30 minutes.

• 30:25Speaker 02

  True.

• 30:25Fearne Cotton?

  Where no one's saying mum.

• 30:26Speaker 02

  Because then you come back and you're sort of rejuvenated, refreshed and ready to give again.

• 30:30Fearne Cotton?

  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. Holidays for me, like certainly my twenties,

• 30:42Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 30:42Fearne Cotton?

  were about going out as much as I could, probably didn't sleep very much, then just basking in the sun all day.

• 30:48Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 30:49Fearne Cotton?

  I think actually motherhood's changed things massively for me in terms of I do wanna feel refreshed when I get home. I don't wanna go home more tired than when I arrived.

• 30:57Speaker 02

  True, true, true, true.

• 30:58Fearne Cotton?

  Eating good, doing a bit of exercise, they are the musts for me.

• 31:02Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 31:03Fearne Cotton?

  How, how's it evolved for you, would you say?

• 31:04Speaker 02

  Um, 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.

• 31:16Fearne Cotton?

  I am the facilitator. Yes, you are.

• 31:20Speaker 02

  Like every mother of working woman I know. 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, 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.

• 31:39Fearne Cotton?

  It's really rare that happens though, isn't it?

• 31:41Speaker 02

  It is rare.

• 31:41Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, everyone's waking up at different times at home or out the house or at school.

• 31:46Speaker 02

  And I'm like hyper vigilant about getting us all around the table because that's how I grew up. And 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.

• 32:03Fearne Cotton?

  No.

• 32:04Speaker 02

  But then you bring them in or you might pull out a card game, a bit of Uno or whatever is at the table.

• 32:08Fearne Cotton?

  We play so much Uno on holiday. I bloody love it. It gets quite competitive.

• 32:12Speaker 02

  Tell me you've got Uno Extreme.

• 32:13Fearne Cotton?

  No, no.

• 32:14Speaker 02

  The one that you put the batteries in, it spews the cards out.

• 32:16Fearne Cotton?

  I've not got that.

• 32:17Speaker 02

  When you can't go, you've got to hit the button and it may spew out five or six cards.

• 32:21Fearne Cotton?

  Oh, wow. Oh no, we've just got regular Uno.

• 32:23Speaker 02

  Uno Extreme is the bomb.

• 32:25Fearne Cotton?

  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, I'd really underestimated the three times at a meal table thing. It's so lovely and so important.

• 32:39Speaker 02

  It is because it just brings you together.

• 32:41Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, it's gorgeous.

• 32:41Speaker 02

  You know, and I love that. Yeah, so definitely, Uno Extreme, that's what you need on your next trip.

• 32:45Fearne Cotton?

  Um, where would you say your holiday happy places? It can be a location or it can be a scenario.

• 32:51Speaker 02

  Mm-hmm. Um, 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.

• 33:20Fearne Cotton?

  Sheik.

• 33:20Speaker 02

  Entirely, entirely right. They're chic, they're chic. And I just, yeah, I just love France and I think that's probably my happy place, had the France. Especially just because it's so beautiful.

• 33:31Fearne Cotton?

  So lovely.

• 33:32Speaker 02

  Oh, I love it.

• 33:33Fearne Cotton?

  You need to book your holiday.

• 33:34Speaker 02

  And I love an America road trip as well.

• 33:36Fearne Cotton?

  Yes.

• 33:37Speaker 02

  And that's kind of fun because the kids love that.

• 33:39Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah. Have you done it?

• 33:40Speaker 02

  Yeah, even a trip round Target is like, woo hoo, off we go.

• 33:43Fearne Cotton?

  My kids love that.

• 33:44Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 33:45Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 34:03Speaker 02

  It's wild, isn't it?

• 34:04Fearne Cotton?

  And you can go wherever you want. That's a really fun trip.

• 34:06Speaker 02

  Great experience. I know. I mean, I've only done like the California coast. I'd like to do a lot more.

• 34:10Fearne Cotton?

  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.

• 34:18Speaker 02

  Same.

• 34:19Fearne Cotton?

  Shall we just like ditch the rest of the day and go somewhere? I was quite tempted this morning, like, shall I just get on a plane and ditch all responsibilities and go somewhere?

• 34:25Speaker 02

  Wouldn't that be great?

• 34:27Fearne Cotton?

  Yes, please.

• 34:27Speaker 02

  Yeah.

• 34:28Fearne Cotton?

  What's one thing you'll do to take your holidays more seriously?

• 34:31Speaker 02

  Seriously, I make a lot of lists before I go. The list of what not to forget.

• 34:36Fearne Cotton?

  Yes.

• 34:36Speaker 02

  Like you wouldn't forget your pillow?

• 34:38Fearne Cotton?

  No.

• 34:38Speaker 02

  I mean, I respect that, which will get mine in my bag. I'm now inspired by you, really gonna try.

• 34:43Fearne Cotton?

  Take it.

• 34:44Speaker 02

  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 toiletries on the list. I mean, toiletries fill half my bag.

• 34:54Fearne Cotton?

  No, same.

• 34:55Speaker 02

  Seriously.

• 34:55Fearne Cotton?

  But I like that I'm a list person and then it means the actual experience is stress free because you've got everything covered.

• 35:01Speaker 02

  Yeah, but I'm still, I am still doing the list the night before. I'm still packing the night before.

• 35:05Fearne Cotton?

  No, same. I'm packing on the day.

• 35:07Speaker 02

  I am too.

• 35:08Fearne Cotton?

  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?

• 35:20Speaker 02

  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.

• 35:27Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah.

• 35:28Speaker 02

  You know, it's just, you wouldn't go out and not have dessert. Pâtisseries, they're like shrines to cakes. I stand outside and I worship because I've got a very sweet tooth.

• 35:38Fearne Cotton?

  We're eating little colourful macarons.

• 35:39Speaker 02

  Mmm.

• 35:41Fearne Cotton?

  Macaroon, isn't it?

• 35:42Speaker 02

  Is it macaron?

• 35:43Fearne Cotton?

  I'm just trying to sound a bit more French.

• 35:45Speaker 02

  Do they say macaron?

• 35:46Fearne Cotton?

  Macaron.

• 35:46Speaker 02

  They probably do.

• 35:47Fearne Cotton?

  Yeah, me and my daughter is going, "You want a macaron?"

• 35:49Speaker 02

  Mwee. I'm from Wales.

• 35:51Fearne Cotton?

  I'm probably saying it so wrong. Um, well, I hope you get a holiday soon.

• 35:56Speaker 02

  Thank you, honey.

• 35:57Fearne Cotton?

  And thank you so much for being on the podcast.

• 36:00Speaker 02

  Oh, thanks for having me. Are we done?

• 36:01Fearne Cotton?

  We're done, Tess Daly.

• 36:02Speaker 02

  We could talk more about holidays.

• 36:03Fearne Cotton?

  We love you.

• 36:03Speaker 02

  We could just turn down my dogs.

• 36:05Fearne Cotton?

  With a pina colada.

• 36:06Speaker 02

  Pina coladas.

• 36:07Fearne Cotton?

  And rosé.

• 36:08Speaker 02

  Yes.

• 36:08Fearne Cotton?

  Thank you. Thank you so much for that. Isn't Tess just the loveliest person? She's exactly as you'd imagine when you see her on the telly. And also, I think me and Tess could do like a girls' 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 instalments. They offer a 24-hour holiday helpline and all holidays include a generous baggage allowance per person. What's more, all British Airways

• 36:50Fearne Cotton?

  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. So 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.