INTERVIEW: Janet Street-Porter reveals her 7 deadly sins

Everyone knows Janet Street-Porter - writer, broadcaster, and national treasure with a sharp tongue and an even sharper wit. From editing The Independent on Sunday to sparring on Loose Women, she’s been a trailblazer in British media for decades. Now, with four ex-husbands, a senior railcard and no sign of slowing down, she's back on tour - bringing comedy, candour and chaos in equal measure. Ahead of her show in Exeter on 22 January, Janet Street-Porter reveals her seven deadly sins to Exeter Living. 

LUST: Who or what do you find yourself lusting after today and why?

I only ever lust after a good night’s sleep, usually waking every two hours with joint pains. It’s only three weeks to my next knee replacement, and I can’t wait. On tour, staying in different places every night, the worse culprits are cheap hotel pillows! Today my neck is really stiff.

GREED: What should you be cutting down on (non food or drink) and why?

This is not a question I take seriously. I don’t believe in being sensible! I am considerate of others, yes, but I believe in having the best life possible, and if that means buying a painting or a nice coat, so what? It’s my money and I worked for it. I have a cheap car, have plenty of second hand furniture and I never buy anything unless I really am in love with it. I flog stuff on eBay and at auctions. I don’t want a bigger car, house, or any dumb gadgets.

GLUTTONY: What one thing could you happily eat or drink until you burst, and why?

Black pudding, but I wouldn’t want to explode from it! I love a good pie, filled with game - rabbit, venison and pheasant. Actually I love love love my own home grown vegetables, the tomatoes have been fantastic this year.

SLOTH: What should you be putting your back into now and why?

This quiz is hard work because I don’t believe in these so called sins. I should be doing some exercises so I can recover from my knee op and get back to work in three weeks, like I did the first time.

WRATH: Who or what makes you angry and why?

There’s TV anger for the benefit of the cameras on Loose Women when I might have a rant about Halloween, and there’s spontaneous combustion when I lose it over some stupid aspect of modern life like self-service checkouts. They are not serious and are forgotten in an hour. What makes me really angry are ugly buildings. I get furious when beautiful architecture is destroyed for no reason when it could have been repurposed and given a new lease of life.

ENVY: Who are you jealous of and why?

Absolutely no one.

PRIDE: What’s your proudest achievement and why?

Staying with the same long suffering (he says) bloke for over 20 years, winning a BAFTA, getting a CBE for my work in the media from the late Queen. I deserved it.

Janet Street-Porter is off the Leash is on at 8pm on 22 January at Exeter Phoenix; exeterphoenix.org.uk

You can read this interview in the Dec-Jan issue of Exeter Living here.