"I have no doubt there are very good reasons for people’s fear about unaccompanied children but I feel maybe that fear has turned into an obsession."

You raised three boys during the 60s, 70s and 80s. What is your view on modern parenting?  

Things have moved on. Children are much more enslaved by technology that they ever were before. My problem as a father and Mary’s as a mother was in making sure our children spent as much time at school as playing sport. Nowadays it is very difficult to get children to play any sport at all. One difference, but a significant one. Moreover in the sixties particularly we did not have the fear that parents have nowadays in letting their children out to play or walk to school. I have no doubt there are very good reasons for people’s fear about unaccompanied children but I feel maybe that fear has turned into an obsession.  

You have eight grandchildren. My paternal grandmother was once of the greatest influences on my life. What role do you play in the life of your grandchildren?  

The role of a grandparent is a distillation of all you have learned as a father, mother and a human being experiencing seven or eight decades of life. We play an active role with our grandchildren in that we see them whenever we can find the time and to influence them by just being based in a home full of paintings, books and things to do. My grandparents were loving but immobilised by old age and illness. We are healthy and able to play a vigorous part in our grandchildren’s lives.  

We live in an era where celebrity’s images are incredibly manufactured. They are closely guarded by agents and PR companies who try to control everything. What was it like when you first started out? Was it a lot easier to approach celebrities and were they a lot more open in their interviews?  

When I first started in journalism the notion of a star being surrounded by a protective cordon of agents, press officers, soothsayers and gofers was absurd. The great stars like Astaire, Cagney and Crosby arrived without an entourage. They would have felt foolish if they had had someone else to take them from A to B. Today is very different. As to them being more open in their interviews, I think when I first started interviewing, people had little idea how to respond except by telling the truth or answering a question. Nowadays people are much more wary and evasive.  

"When I first started in journalism the notion of a star being surrounded by a protective cordon of agents, press officers, soothsayers and gofers was absurd."

 You love cricket. So do I. The big difference is that you are English and I am Australian. England has won two of the past three Ashes series. Was it a fluke? What is your prediction for the next series in Australia? Do you worry about the future of test cricket? 

My prediction for the Ashes series in Australia is it will be a very close run thing and I think the odds slightly favour the home team as they always do in these games. Whenever I am sitting watching an Ashes series, whether in Australia or England, I have no worries about the future of test cricket. On the other hand when I see the increase in popularity of 20/20 cricket and the way test cricket is fading around the world I worry greatly. If cricket existed only in the 20/20 format I would never watch another game.  

You’ve been married to your wife Mary for 51 years. What would you say has been the biggest challenge you have faced as a couple?  

Being married for 51 years is regarded as an achievement but I fail to see why. Like most couples we made our choice early on, and simply got on with it.  

Why do you think the divorce rate is higher than in previous generations?  

The notion of marriage has been cheapened. Some young people nowadays feel marriage is old fashioned and outdated. Personally I don’t give a fig whether people are married or not. But I do know children have a far better, happier and successful childhood if they have two parents. Old fashioned maybe but a principle that stands the test of time.  

Your autobiography was published in 2008. How would you describe the journey of writing it? Was it odd focusing on yourself when you had spent decades exploring the lives of others?  

I was rather proud of the fact that I was in my seventies when I wrote my autobiography. Some are on their fourth or fifth version of their life story before they even reach their sixties. I took the view it should be a summing up of a career. I made it a celebration of a life and I think a lot of people found it interesting, enjoyed it and had a laugh.  

In May 2009 you said you were fed up of the rise of celebrities hosting shows, ridiculously titled documentaries and property shows, saying “In my television paradise there would be no more property programmes, no more police-chasing-yobbos-in-cars programmes and, most of all and please God, no more so-called documentary shows with titles like My 20-Ton Tumour, My Big Fat Head, Wolf Girl, Embarrassing Illnesses and The Fastest Man on No Legs.” Are there any reality shows that you think are ok – or do you loathe them all?  

As to modern television, I loathe all so called reality shows, all programmes based on the embarrassment and defiling of human dignity and the programmes which substitute gross language for real humour.  

In 2009 you hit out at the media’s treatment of Jade Goody. You said she had become property of the media “to be manipulated and exploited ’til the day she died”, and that she represented “all that’s paltry and wretched about Britain”. Were you surprised by the amount of support you received?  

Jade Goody was a much manipulated, exploited and, in the end, tragic figure and if she has a place in the history of television it is as a warning to all those people who seek the easy way to fame and fortune.  

Speaking of television, are we going to see you back on the small screen soon?  

I shall be back on the small screen in the autumn promoting my DVD of the best of the 800 talk shows and also a book of interviews which compliments it.  

You and your son Nick own a pub called “The Royal Oak” in Maidenhead which was recently awarded a Michelin Star. What’s your favourite dish?  

to my favourite dish at my pub, the Michelin starred Royal Oak, my favourite is just about everything on menu but if pushed I would choose melon and tomato salad, potted rabbit and a plump, line caught plaice with chips – delicious and highly nutritional and anyone who says otherwise should be made to eat only lettuce for the rest of their lives!

Sacha, my English husband is the love of my life.  But when it comes to cricket -- the gloves are off.

On a recent holiday with my husband Sacha and my daughter Sydney. I need to pay almost £1000 and pass a test in order to be with them.

  It was one of the hottest issues in the UK election.

Immigration.

Everyone seemed to be against it – and to be fair, I can understand why.

Britain is overcrowded – bursting at the seams. I won’t argue with that.

But unfortunately the answer isn’t as simple as making tougher laws and stricter policies.

You see people from two different countries can fall in love.

It happens.

It happened to me.

I’ve been with my British partner for almost ten years. We’ve been married for two, and we now have a ten month old daughter, who is British.

In spite of this I still need a visa to be able to be with my family.

Two years ago, when we moved over from Australia, I entered on a two year spouse visa. I enquired about getting one that lasted longer, but that was all that I was eligible for. It cost around 650 pounds.

My visa is now about to expire, so I have to get another one. This time I’m allowed to apply for what’s called “indefinite leave to remain” status. It’s going to cost almost a thousand pounds and I have to sit a test, so the authorities can find out how much I know about Britain. The test costs money and so does the book you need to buy to study for it. I’ve been told it’s really hard.

So what happens if I fail?

As I said before, I can understand why the laws on immigration are strict.

But when I have to go through such a rigorous and expensive process to be with my husband and daughter – it just seems a bit wrong.

My daughter Sydney May is 9 months old today. I can’t believe how quickly time has flown. She is such a cutie!  

Gordon Brown, the British Prime Minister, has been caught out calling a pensioner a “bigoted woman.” He forgot he was wearing a microphone – and his private conversation has been broadcast to the world.

 While Gordon shouldn’t have said what he did, I reckon many of us can relate to his experience. I certainly can. 

 The year was 2001. I was a young TV reporter and I fell head over heels for a politician.

 I met him in a bar.

 I can’t remember how we got talking, but we did. He told me he loved cheesy music and he asked me to dance. We danced for what seemed like hours but it was probably just a couple of songs.

After our dance, we said goodnight and went our separate ways.

 The next day I sent a detailed email to my flatmate – who coincidently had the same first name as the politician – and told him all about my encounter. I told him the songs that we danced to, the conversations we had and I told him all about the massive crush I’d developed.

 I sent the email.

 The read receipt popped up on the screen. To my horror – it told me that I’d mistakenly sent it to the politician.

 You see that morning, as soon as I’d arrived at work, I looked up the politician’s website. After a good scout around, I copied his email address into my contacts. I don’t know why I did it. It wasn’t like I was going to contact him or anything - but that’s what I did.

 So when I went into my contacts to find my flatmate’s email address – I clicked on the politicians instead – because they had the same first name (and I was desperately hungover).

 God I wanted to die. I ran around the newsroom desperately asking people if they knew how to retract an email. They didn’t.

 The politician never replied.

 I was hopeful that one of his minder’s checked his emails and discarded it before he got a chance to see it.

 So, just as I now triple check my emails before sending– I reckon Gordon Brown will ALWAYS make sure he’s not wearing a microphone in the future!!

Miranda's guilty pleasure is watching "What Katie Did Next" although she says Peter Andre is a nicer person

Miranda Hart is part of a rare club that includes John Cleese and Jerry Seinfeld. So what do they have in common? Well, they’ve all been  writer and star of a hit TV show. Miranda took time out from writing  the second series of her namesake comedy to speak to Paparazzimum.tv. 

When did you first know you were funny? 

My first experience of making people laugh was doing an impression of the headmaster of my primary school to my mother and sister when I got home from school  one day.  I remember feeling very pleased they had laughed!  And then at secondary school I think perhaps I was a bit of the class clown, always instigating pranks. 

Describe your first stand-up comedy experience. How did you find the courage? 

I initially did sketch shows at the Edinburgh festival and it wasn’t for a few years until I started doing stand-up within my sketch shows.  So it was a gradual process.  I never thought I would want to do stand-up but found I had created a persona that kind of worked.  When I first did stand-up proper, being introduced and taking the mic, that did feel like a whole different thing and quite nerve wracking.  But generally I don’t get that nervous performing.  In fact when I started doing stand up I had nothing to lose and so rarely got nervous, now, as the stacks feel a little higher I would probably be more nervous. 

All most actors have to do is learn the script and perform. You actually write as well as star in your own sitcom. That must put you under an enormous amount of pressure 

Yes, it really does.  Actors don’t know how lucky they are.  I would LOVE to be a jobbing actor and if the second series goes well, I hope it leads to that.  The pressure of writing a show and having your name in the title is of course rewarding, but I do get incredibly stressed and I don’t think it’s good for me! 

You’re like a female Jerry Seinfeld. Is he an inspiration? 

Well I am not sure I would say that.  I don’t think anyone can be compared to him – he is, well the sitcom, was in a league of his own.  But thank you for the compliment!  Actually no, he isn’t someone I have drawn much inspiration from.  I find Seinfeld very, very clever but have never laughed out loud at it.  Not sure why.  I know it is funny when I watch it, but it is too verbal and nuanced for me. I prefer things bolder and sillier. 

You star in the film The Infidel. What’s the movie about and tell us about your role? 

I actually just have a small cameo role.  One scene.  I play Mrs Keyes who works in an adoption agency and who tells Omid Djalli’s character (the lead role) that he isn’t a Muslim, he is in fact born Jewish.  So I like to think it’s a pivotal cameo as the information I impart is the crux of the film – a small but VITAL role! 

What did you wear to the Premiere? Any pics? 

If there were any pics I wouldn’t give  them to you – I hate seeing photos of myself.  Never look for them.  I went for the smart casual effect and wore black jeans, black top and jacket. It was at the Hammersmith Apollo and although there was a red carpet it felt fine being smart casual – phew.  Fashion faux pas are my worst nightmare – so I just normally wear black trousers and black tops of varying degrees.  Am not in to clothes at all. 

You are now a big time celebrity. Do you feel like one? Do people stop you in the street and ask for your autograph?

Again, that would be for you to say.  No, I don’t feel like one.  People do stop me in the street, point and whisper and all that stuff.  That feels odd, but because my career has been a very slow and steady build I have had hints of it along the way, so it hasn’t come as a major surprise.  It is just so lovely that people liked and watched the show and that’s what I take from it – that all that writing and hard work paid off – people enjoyed what I stressed and wept over! Such a relief.  No pressure on the second series then. 

How did you enjoy the million pound bike ride and who was your favourite co-celebrity and why?

 I only enjoyed it in retrospect!  The people were the only lovely thing about it.  The challenge itself was grim – didn’t enjoy any of it I don’t think!  All the team were great but I did get on very well with Russell and Fearne. 

You just won an award for best comedy performance at the Royal Television Society Awards. Did you ever imagine you’d have this kind of success? 

 I used to make acceptance speeches in the bathroom when I was younger, and at a very young age I think you can convince yourself that it might come true.  Its a way of escaping from your current problems.  ‘One day I will be happy and successful’.  But as you get a bit older reality sets in and you realise how slim the chances are etc.  But I was pretty tunnel vision about my career path – I knew what I wanted to do and worked as hard as I could to see if it could actually happen.  I can’t believe it has. 

You’re from a posh background. Do you think that is part of your appeal? Are there many posh people who are actually funny?  

The British class system has been a key part of our comedy history and I think stereotypes from every class are always funny.  Although I hope I am not a posh stereotype – I wrote that for Patricia Hodge’s character in my sitcom.  I have no idea if being middle class is part of an appeal but I suppose it is all part of who you are so must have some bearing.   But actually although I don’t deny my roots, I tend to play the every woman and comment on the extremely posh/upper class and how ridiculous they are.  My boarding school experience exposed me to some of those types but I am not quite that ‘gung-ho’ but at least it means I have the joy of commenting on that side of British eccentricity.  

Finally – Team Jordan or team Peter Andre? (feel free not to answer this!) 

Oh, I am quite happy to answer this.  My guilty pleasure is What Katie Did Next!!!  My answer is Team Jordan in terms of making the best telly and Team Andre in terms of being the nicer person. See, I have given it some thought and everything.

A few weeks ago I premiered my first paparazzimum.tv investigation called Pram Wars. At the end of it I asked for more story ideas.  Well, mum of two, Kate Doyle asked if I could take a look at society’s attitudes towards breastfeeding in public. She says she’ll never forget the time she saw a man on the tube, flicking his tongue at a woman who was trying to feed her baby.

 So in my lunch-hour, I decided to head to Southbank and gage a few opinions. I learned a lot. I found there are still those out there who think breastfeeding is some kind of sex act and I learned that many women still don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in public. I also didn’t realise how many women bottle fed from the very beginning (the statistics I include in the piece were researched after my filming).

 Just in case you’re wondering. I breastfed for three months and I felt really guilty giving it up.

So why did I? I was heading back to Australia for a 6 week holiday and I wanted to make the most of the novelty of having a support network. I also wanted to drink.

 Did I feel judged for giving it up so early? Absolutely.

 When my baby got a cold I remember someone making the comment (to the baby of course) “oh is it that funny milk she’s feeding you.”

 People feel so passionate about this issue and I know breastfeeding gives a baby a great start in life – but if you really want to go after bad parents, why not pick on the women who let abusive partners into their homes, or the drug addicts whose kids are born addicted to heroin? There are plenty of them to go around for all of us. (Did I mention I worked on the Trisha Goddard show?)

 I hope you enjoy Boob vs Bottle – the movie.

My husband and I have the opportunity to go away without our eight month daughter, but is 10 days too long?

My husband and I need some time alone.

Our daughter turns eight months this week and while she has been such a wonderful addition to our life, she’s also drained every inch of our energy.

I know that’s what babies do, but I’m a firm believer that mums and dads need to be more to each other than just parents.

My mother-in-law has offered to look after our little one so we can fly off somewhere romantic. She wants to take her to her holiday house in France – for ten days. She works, which is why she can’t take her while she’s in the UK. Her trip has already been organised. The ferries booked.

Ten days.

That’s almost one and a half weeks. Is that too long to go without seeing my daughter?

To be honest I think she’ll be fine. She’s a happy, sociable little baby who likes anyone who gives her attention.

I think the problem is me. Will I cope?

 I think it might be a case of priority. And the truth is that Sydney is fine. She’s happy. She eats. She sleeps (sort of) and she’s healthy.

My husband and I are fine too. But I think we really need this.

I was going to use this blog to ask for advice… but I’ve made up my mind.

We’re going to do it.

Please send all your “bad mother of the year” nominations to info@paparazzimum.tv

P.S – Have you ever seen the show Miranda on BBC2? Well it’s written and acted by a wonderfully talented woman called Miranda Hart. Tomorrow she speaks to paparazzimum about the first time she knew she was funny, her role in the movie The Infidel and her favourite celebrities from the Sports Relief bike ride.

I was really sad to read about Dawn French and Lenny Henry separating after 25 years of marriage. Their relationship was said to be one of the strongest in showbiz.

Last night comedian Jim Carrey also revealed (on his twitter page) that he and his partner of five years and ex-playboy model Jenny McCarthy had called off their relationship. They were said to be one of Hollywood’s most devout couples.

Last month Sandra Bullock and Cheryl Cole both left their husbands – and who would have thought that Peter Andre would leave Katie Price (aka Jordan) so soon after he romantically helped her to the finish line of the London Marathon?

 Should celebrities just not bother? Are they doomed from the start?

 When the cheating allegations surfaced about Cheryl Cole’s husband Ashley (some footballer) a couple of months ago, I felt really sorry for Cheryl. She’d already taken him back a couple of years ago and she must have felt so betrayed. For a while though, I felt that she was slightly better off than most other people who’d been through a similar ordeal. She had money for a start, and she had the support of a whole nation behind her. There are so many millions of women and men who have to go through this on their own. They stay living under the same roof as their partners, because they can’t afford to move out, and after a while, their small group of friends tire of hearing about their grief.

 But since news of Dawn and Lenny’s split, I’ve had a bit of a re-think. Apart from the obvious financial benefits of going through a divorce, I think celebrity break-ups can be just as painful – especially if one of the parties is unfaithful.

On the Lenny and Dawn split,  The Daily Mail said: “friends revealed their marriage never got back on track after Mr Henry was accused of spending the night with 26 year old blonde Merri Cheyne while touring in York in 1999.”

 Many mortal couples can survive an affair. Many don’t. But what I’m saying is, that if you have your husband’s alleged fling splashed all over the tabloids – it not only makes it embarrassing – it makes it real. You see the other person’s face. You read their explicit details of what they apparently did.  I don’t know how you recover from that.

 I don’t think media scrutiny is the entire reason that celebrity couples don’t work but I think it plays a part. I think another reason is ego. Celebrities generally need a lot of reassurance and attention. When you have two celebrities in a relationship with two demanding careers, they generally don’t have much time to give the other what they need. And relationships are hard work – we all know that. Another reason why the split-rate is so high is opportunity. Celebrities travel. They meet lots of people (who want to jump into bed with them). I guess that makes it harder to keep two feet on the ground.

 So are celebrity relationships doomed?

No – but the odds of failure are certainly much higher.