The 5-Minute Interview: Emma Forbes, TV presenter

'I love needy people. I'm good at chicken soup and sympathy'

Emma Forbes hosted a lunch and fashion show yesterday at Stoke Park Club in Buckinghamshire, which is expected to raise £10,000, for NCH, a children's charity.

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

Getting my daily caffeine fix before getting to the shop that I run with my sister; we sell bespoke party bags for children's and adults' parties. In the scheme of addictions I forgive myself my coffee habit. It could be worse.

A phrase I use far too often is...

Life's too short. There are so many awful things going on around us all the time and missed opportunities and you just think, life really is too short.

I wish people would take more notice of...

Global warming. It probably is the most serious issue we have and that's not just because it's the current favourite. I think time's running out.

The most surprising thing that happened to me...

How old I was before I grew up, which was only four years ago. I'm a very late developer.

A common misperception of me is...

That I'm nice and sweet and in fact I'm much stronger than people give me credit for. I am also quite stubborn and determined - a true Taurus.

The ideal night out is...

Sitting in close proximity to someone singing with an amazing voice.

I'm good at...

Chicken soup and sympathy. They come together. I love a good problem. I'm always the person who will come round at four in the morning and sit and chew the fat. I love needy people.

I'm very bad at...

Saying "no". If I'm put on the spot 99 per cent of the time I'll say, "yes".

The best age to be is...

Pre-40 or after 40. Everybody says life begins at 40. But I didn't like it. It's too depressing. Life was much better before 40 and is much better now I'm 41.

Sara Newman