The 5-minute Interview: Kay Burley, Journalist

'I'm a softie who loves nothing better than sharing with friends'

Kay Burley, 46, presents the 'Lunchtime Live' programme on Sky News.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Making bread or in my herb and vegetable garden. I've become all Felicity Kendal in a Good Life way. My boys take the mickey, but they ate my rocket for the first time the other day and were quite impressed. The potatoes should be ready by next week.

A phrase I use far too often...

"Alfie will you get off the bed." He is the youngest of my three Irish setters and the naughtiest dog I have ever had. He likes nothing better than rolling in the mud then bolting through the door and running upstairs to jump on the bed before anyone can stop him.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Animal welfare. When dumb people get their paws on dumb animals then the combination can be devastating for all. Mistreatment of animals makes my blood boil.

The most surprising thing that happened to me was...

That I didn't strangle Jason from Dancing on Ice. He was so rude. You couldn't even print what the contestants referred to him as behind the scenes.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm a hard-bitten journalist. I'm a softie really who loves nothing better than sharing with loved ones and friends. In fact I'll soon have so many carrots to give away; I'll be able to do just that.

I am not a politician but...

If I was I'd give a straight answer. Even when asked over and over again, they never want to answer the question. I wonder why that is?

I'm good at...

Hoarding, backgammon, racketball and ceroc dancing, which is a cross between jive and salsa.

I'm very bad at...

Letting things go or being patient.

The ideal night out is...

A night in with my boys (two human, three animals), cooking on the barbie, eating in the garden and relaxing.

In moments of weakness I...

Eat chocolate, lots of it.

In another life I'd have been...

An athlete, which was a passion as a child. I am very lucky to be covering the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games for Sky News, so that's close enough for me!

The best age to be is...

Whatever age you are. Make the most of every day.

My philosophy is this:

Live every day as if it was your last. One day it will be.

Alice-Azania Jarvis