Early newsreaders and late-morning feasters all start the day smart
I learned early on after starting on the Today programme that you do need to eat before going on air otherwise stomach rumbling may well be picked up by studio mics. However, no one wants to get up earlier than absolutely necessary for a 4am arrival in the newsroom and therefore it’s a question of breakfast al desko sometime before going on air at 6am. John Humphrys had a routine you could set your clock by: done with writing cues by 5.30 and on to the newspapers with a china bowl and some granola stored in a filing cabinet. Given documentary evidence of mice in New Broadcasting House, I am too queasy to store any supplies on site, so for me it’s a packed breakfast. I have gone through bircher muesli phases – delicious but freshly grated apple is a must and that makes it rather laborious – and once foolishly followed Justin Webb’s lead on those porridge pots made with boiling water. I’ve now settled on Greek yoghurt and berries: the yoghurt goes into Tupperware of precisely the right size for my handbag the night before, topped with some berries from the freezer and a tablespoon of nuts and seeds. Overnight, the berries gently defrost. It doesn’t take long to prepare, but even so there are nights when I can’t be bothered. Then, it’s a fridge raid before I leave for work, or worse, a trip to the 24-hour cafe at New Broadcasting House, resulting in a cappuccino and a bar of chocolate.
