Gretel Killeen

Q. You’re always doing something, whether it’s Big Brother, radio or writing. How do you fit it all in?
I like having things to do. I’ve just finished my first adult novel, and I did breakfast radio for three months before that, and now Big Brother. I had three months to write the book, and I really had to sit down and do it. And I think part of the process with that was I knew if I didn’t do it now, I probably wouldn’t get the chance to do it again for another couple of years.

Q. Are you a workaholic?
It’s not a negative force that drives me. Actually it’s a positive thing because I enjoy what I do. But when you earn an income by doing that, people think you never stop working - it’s just that you earn money by doing something you enjoy. I’m really opposed to the concept of being busy, but I enjoy creating. And it’s not that I have this ‘can’t sit still’ personality, it’s just that I like what I’m doing.

Q. Do you tend to become stressed?
I try to stay calm. Having said that, it’s hard to stay calm when you have book deadlines, and kids who have to be going places, and everything else. No matter how many hours you work, sometimes you feel you’re never going to fit it all in. But I find getting enough sleep helps.

Q. Do you watch what you eat?
I don’t want to put rubbish into my body because I think it works better with pure fuel. But I have chocolate every day because I don’t want to suffer. It comes back to the exercise regime. I want to have a lifestyle that is healthy and not extreme in the sense that one minute you’re on a diet and the next you’re not. I want to exercise every day, eat healthily and have a bit of chocolate every day. I do drink because I think it’s important to share a drink and a laugh with friends. In fact I think that’s one of the most important things you can do. I prefer not to eat red meat or chicken, but I would never announce at a dinner that I’m vegetarian. If I was at a dinner and someone served red meat, I would eat it. I think it’s about fitting in, and not alienating the people you’re with. None of my rules are strict.

Q. What is your health motto?
Happiness is really crucial for me health-wise. You can get to bed at three in the morning, but if you’ve been laughing all night and being a goose, the next day it’s not a burden. It’s when you can’t feel any joy that your body feels like lead, and nothing works properly.

Q. Do you have any particular health concerns?
Not really ... touch wood! I think the fact that I’ve grown up with asthma does influence your life. I don’t know if this will impact on me, but one of my grandmothers lived to 101, and the other is 100.

Q. How has asthma affected you?
I guess you grow up quite conscious of your body and whether it’s in tune or not. When I was a kid there wasn’t Ventolin or anything like that ... and asthma was also something to be ashamed of. There were nights you would lie awake and couldn’t breath, and nothing would make it go away. I also have a lot of allergies. With food I just eat anyway. I’m training my body to accept foods. I figure that in another 60 years I’ll be able to deal with them.

Q. Do you prefer traditional or complementary medicine?
We don’t often go to the doctor, just because we don’t need to. But I like our GP, and she’s very thorough. But I guess naturopathy exists in our lives. We have healthy, happy lives, and for me that’s our version of it.