Clare Balding

On the beach, I take my clothes off under a towel.

Having thyroid cancer in 2009 really didn't change my life at all. I wish I could say that I had this epiphany. But I knew I was lucky before that, so it's not like I suddenly realised how lucky I am.

Particularly when you're young, you're terribly flattered by people who like you, so you think you love them.

I've always had a natural fear of the police, or abuse of their power.

I love being physical, but I am extreme either way. I can be superfit. And then I can be really lazy and ignore everything.

I'm considered homophobic and crazy about these things and old fashioned. But I think that the family - father, mother, children - is fundamental to our civilisation.