My Life in Ten Questions... Louise Redknapp

'I'm still scared of the dark'

Former member of girl group 'Eternal' and sometime television presenter Louise Redknapp -wife of footballer Jamie Redknapp-, spoke to The Independent about having kids, dental hygiene and why at 36 she's still afraid of the dark.

What would you normally be doing if you weren’t talking me?

At the moment I'm on holiday so I would probably be reading my book, sitting in the sun or running around after two kids.

What’s the most surprising thing that’s ever happened to you?

To be honest, being given the opportunity to be in this industry has always remained the most surprising thing. I come from a very normal background and if someone had told me what I was going to do I would have said "what the hell?!". Having two kids is also quite a big surprise.

Do you have any hidden talents?

I can play the piano. I started off with lessons and then, as we always had a piano in the house, I would play around and became quite good.

In moments of weakness, what do you turn to?

Tea and biscuits! Or my family - depending on the crisis.

Describe the house you grew up in.

I grew up in a few houses because my dad was a builder so we used to build and sell quite a lot. The one I can mainly remember was cottage-like, up a little lane in the countryside and had a nice garden which overlooked a field of cows. They used to look at me through the window during Sunday lunch and that's what turned me into a vegetarian.

Is there a movie that changed your life?

Flashdance. As a young girl who wanted to be a dancer it really made me want to go to stage school and push to be in the music industry. I think it's the same for a lot of girls.

What advice do you wish you’d received when you were younger?

I wish I was told to look after my teeth when I was younger. My smile is really important to me and one of my biggest assets so I'm very conscious that I need to keep it in top condition. My secret weapon has always been chewing gum though - as long as you chew discreetly I don't see a problem with it.

What one thing would you save if your house was on fire?

Aside from the obvious being my family, it would be my handbag. My favourite is Herves - my latest addition. Oh and of course I would save my dogs!

What’s your greatest regret?

My greatest regret is not being more confident. As a 20 year old in the industry I let my inhibitions hold me back. I was quite careful and that's the time in life that you should throw caution to the wind.

Name something you are embarrassed to admit…

I'm embarrassed to admit that I'm still scared of the dark. I have to have a light on all night. It's completely irrational and my son is the same. I just hate the dark.

Louise Redknapp is supporting Wrigley's Worth Chewing Over campaign