Janet is one of the most famous and outspoken journalists of our time. She has been a travel writer for the Observer and The Mail On Sunday, as well as restaurant critic for Vogue. In 2001 she was appointed editor of the Independent on Sunday and accredited with turning around the fledging readership. She still writes two columns a week for the Independent. Janet, whose career spans across newspapers, TV and Radio speaks to asrecommended:
I’m a celebrity, Get me out of here! really raised your profile but do you think it has affected your journalism?
I have always spoken my mind but perhaps people did not quite realise to what extent. Now after the show people tell me they like the fact I am not shy of expressing my opinions in a forthright way. It’s both encouraging and surprising that middle aged women have someone to relate to, someone who represents the reality of turning 60 and living in the 21st century. That’s the crux of my new book really - "Life's too F**king short".
Do you find your frank opinions ever get you in trouble?
I have certainly had my fair share of arguments over time and there was even a BBC documentary about my time at L!ve TV but I’ve always been thick skinned and to me its like water off a ducks back. In fact, I was once nominated for an award for being the most outspoken women in TV!
How did you get into journalism?
I actually began training as an architect but took a job writing for a teenage magazine called P Petticoat and from then everything happened rather quickly! I was offered a job writing for the Daily Mail about fashion and three months later I had my own column. It was in 1975 that my broadcasting career took off when I hosted a daily show on LBC radio. This led to an offer to present television programmes and soon after I was working as a producer behind the camera as much as in front of it – at the same time continuing to write, which finally let to me being asked to edit the Independent on Sunday. I suppose looking back I have never stopped!
How has the world of journalism changed since you began?
When I first started people attributed an accent with intelligence. So I had to work bloody hard often holding down two jobs at the same time before I got my first break. It was tough but breaking into the media is still difficult today. It’s just a different set of challenges.
Growing old gracefully is a philosophy you’ve ignored. How do you plan to grow old?
I’m refusing to grow old. I’m still just as aggressive and competitive as I was when I turned 18. Recently I had to throw out the scrabble board because the competition was getting too intense! I still go out every night and I listen to stuff like Gnarles Barkley and Lily Allen. It’s not because I’m clutching onto my youth but it’s what I want to do.
Your new book is a guide to getting what you want out of life. Is it based on personal experience?
It’s a book which helps you to decide what you want out of life and tell you that you can do it all by yourself. It’s a rant against all the ‘self-help gurus’. Every day we are being fed contradictory messages about the best way to live and my book cuts through the crap. It advises women to take no notice of relationship gurus or life coaches because- let's be honest, anti-wrinkle cream does not work and your partner is never gonna take out the rubbish!
You are obviously London born and bred but do you ever manage to wind down from the hustle and bustle?
I love walking and am vice president of the Ramblers Association. I’ve spent hours walking all over Britain and have completed quite a few of the long distance paths. I especially like the Yorkshire dales where I have my own place. I’ll spend Christmas there and it’s where I go to get away from the stress and noise of London.