Christine Bleakley's My London

The TV presenter goes on bar crawls with Frank Lampard and wants more Happy Hours

Home is…

I have two homes: London, and Newtownards in Northern Ireland where my parents live.

Where do you live?

Frank [Lampard] and I live just off Fulham Road, not too far away from Chelsea’s football ground. It’s villagey and homely, but it makes you quite lazy. I have to get out sometimes to remember I’m in London.

Last play you saw?

I took Frank’s little girls Luna and Isla to see Matilda. It completely blew me away. We don’t get into the West End enough, because our weekends are dictated by football.

What would you do if you were Mayor?

Create more Happy Hours. People need to let their hair down — the city can be a bit too serious and people work such long hours. It should be compulsory that on a Friday we all leave at 1pm and go to the pub. I’ll have a word with Boris.

Favourite shops?

One hundred per cent Zara — there is a brilliant one in Duke of York Square. I love Selfridges shoe department, and I get tea bags and biscuits from Harrods for my mum’s birthday. You can’t beat Westbourne Park for little boutiques, but to guarantee getting something quickly, I nip into Harvey Nichols or Matches. For food: Tom’s Kitchen does a lovely breakfast, and after dropping the girls at school we go to Aubaine for coffee.

Earliest memory?

Arriving in London at 28 and not knowing what the hell I was doing. I was in the K West Hotel for four months because I never thought I would stay, and then suddenly I got this contract and thought, ‘Oh my God, I have to find somewhere to live.’ Coming from Northern Ireland, I could have bought a massive detached house there for the rent I was paying here.

Most romantic thing someone’s done for you?

When Frank and I first got together, he took me on a posh pub crawl around the bars of the old hotels, like Claridge’s and The Dorchester. It was snowing, and stomping into these beautiful hidden places I thought: ‘Well, this doesn’t get any better.’

Best place for a first date?

In our early days we used to go to The Hollywood Arms. It’s been in Made in Chelsea, so they’re quite often filming in there.

At the moment you are...

Planning the wedding, but it all depends on how far England goes in the World Cup... I never thought I’d say that.

Favourite discovery?

We love walking in the evening, when people have got their lights on and you can be nosy and see them eating their dinner.

Last album you downloaded?

The other night we’d had a few tipples, and downloaded the Chas and Dave album and had a dance. Don’t ask why.

What do you collect?

Not shoes or handbags, but I’m a bit freakish about cleaning the house, and have an endless supply of kitchen roll and cleaning fluids. Frank thinks I’ve lost my mind.

Best meal?

I love the chilli dog and fries from the 24-hour restaurant Vingt Quatre. Trust me, at 2am it tastes fantastic.

Favourite pub?

I like older-looking pubs such as The Sun Inn in Barnes and Frank’s pub, The Pig’s Ear on Old Church Street.

Best place to let your hair down?

We had a completely wild night at Little Italy in Soho recently. It was one of those nights when you’re not going to go out for long and it’s a four-in-the-morning job — that’s the story of my life.

Building you’d like to live in?

The Mandarin Oriental.

Best thing a cabbie said to you?

Nowadays most cabbies want to talk football. And many seem to know a lot about my wedding, which I find quite bizarre.

Who do you call when you want to have fun?

My sister, or my two best mates from home, Elaine and Kate.

Best place for a nightcap?

Our kitchen. We bring everyone back with us, so it can get rowdy.

Building you’d like to spend the night in?

Number 10, because I didn’t get to be nosy enough the other night at a charity event there.

Animal you’d most like to be?

We have two robins in the garden who have befriended me. I’d like to be a bird, so I could go and converse with them.

The final of Dancing On Ice is on Sunday on ITV at 6.15pm

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