20 questions with writer, television personality and co-founder of Body Gossip Natasha Devon
The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force?
Two stories to keep beside you
Katie Hopkins: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
20 questions with social commentator, author and former ‘I’m a Celebrity’ and ‘The Apprentice’ candidate Katie Hopkins The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? “Get a Grip”: I am a woman that believes in hard work. Everything else is gratuitous emotional drama employed by the weak for attention. I don’t […]
Alexander Kassandrinos: “What’s on your mantelpiece?”
20 questions with international lawyer Alexander Kassandrinos The Steeple Times shares “wit and wisdom”. What’s your guiding force? My guiding force is my well being and enjoyment of life. If I am well and enjoying life, everything is fine, so I make it so. It’s a painfully easy concept to live by. “Don’t […]
I’m driven by a desire to make everything fair (and to silence the people who would have us believe that injustice can be explained by that irritating platitude – “life’s not fair”).
“Don’t get even, get medieval” is, in our humble opinion, a great motto. What’s yours?
I nicked one from Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself, everyone else is taken”.
Kerry Katona was considered unacceptable in 2007. Who or what is unacceptable in 2013?
Two words: Michael Gove. I don’t think he was ever a young person. I think he emerged from a pod somewhere that manufactures fully grown elitist morons.
Tony Blair misses being Prime Minister. What do you miss most in your life?
Running. When I was a child I used to run like an absolute idiot and not even care. Since the development of my almighty bosom – circa 1998 – I’m restricted to brisk walking lest I knock myself (or others in my path) out.
What might you swap all your wealth for?
I should preface this by saying that all my wealth is tied up in shoes. I’d swap them for an hour trapped in a lift with David Bowie.
Donald Trump was once a case of: “If you owe the bank a thousand, they close you down; but if you owe the bank a billion, you own the bank”. What’s your view on the banking crisis?
It’s my observation that there’s a huge drug culture in the banking world. The only difference between your average banker and a junkie on the street is a private education, a pinstripe suit and a belief in their own invincibility. And they’re in charge of our money. Terrifying.
What phrase or word do you most loathe?
“Basically…”
In the UK, some people consider charity to “begin at home”. What’s your view and what causes do you personally support?
I have to use a lot of public transport for my job (dashing around the country teaching self-esteem to teenagers). I spend about a quarter of my life on trains and I witness all the worst facets of the human condition: Women with a pushchairs struggling down staircases while great big burly men hustle past, people shoving someone on crutches out of the way in their haste to dismount and young people sitting while elderly people are made to stand. My personal pet hate, though, is people pushing onto the train before others have had time to get off. Nothing is that important or urgent that it justifies that degree of twattery. It strikes me that we can all be more charitable with our time and energy by spending five minutes a day making the effort to be nicer and the world would be a much better place. And it’s more spiritually rewarding than being cornered by a chugger.
The judge in Law Abiding Citizen states: “I can pretty much do whatever I want” before being blown up whilst answering her mobile phone. What’s your view on the appropriate use of such devices?
It’s probably futile to attempt to resist the invasion of technology into our everyday lives. However, the rule should be that mobile phones never take precedence over real, three-dimensional human interaction.
If you could fill a carriage on The Orient Express, who would be your fellow passengers?
Sir Ken Robinson, David Bowie and Eddie Izzard. A holy intellect-musical-creative-genius trilogy of magnificence.
If you were unfortunate enough to end up on death row, what would be your last meal and where would you eat it?
It would be Nandos – a half chicken, extra spicy with Peri-Peri chips, and coleslaw. I have a theory that Nandos is the cornerstone of a truly utopian society – everyone from Beyonce to the bloke that just mugged you eats in there. It’s also delicious. I’d eat it al fresco somewhere with a view. My uncle has a rather magnificent veranda at his house in the Cotswolds that overlooks all the rural gorgeousness. I’d probably ask if I could go there.
What time is it acceptable to consume the first drink of the day?
I tend to work on the basis that it’s always cocktail hour somewhere in the world.
A Negroni, a martini or a cup of tea?
Tea. Martinis are vile and anyone who pretends to enjoy them is lying to appear more sophisticated and James Bond-like than they actually are.
Whose parties do you enjoy the most and why?
Those organised by Ruth Rogers, an actress who co-founded Body Gossip with me. She’s been my friend since school. Her parties invariably begin with quiche and intelligent discussion and descend into dancing barefoot on the patio to the Lion King soundtrack whilst wearing a comedy wig.
Who is the most positive person you know?
Grace Barrett: She’s an incredibly talented musician and one of my very best friends. She’s a little ray of relentlessly enthusiastic sunshine (with a gigantic Afro). Sometimes I am so overwhelmed with love for her I want to squish her into jam, spread her on toast and eat her.
What’s your most guilty pleasure?
Occasionally I’ll spend an entire day in bed watching True Blood box sets whilst biting the tops off Walnut Whips and sticking my tongue in the hole.
If a tattoo were to sum you up, what would it be of?
I have three tattoos. The one on my upper back sums me up totally (although I couldn’t explain why). It’s a David Bowie lyric, written as if typed on an old-fashioned typewriter:
“My essays laying scattered on the floor fulfill their needs just by being there”.
If you were a car, what marque would you be?
Oh, I don’t know. That’s a Y chromosome question.
Cilla Black presented Surprise, Surprise. Tell us the most surprising thing about you.
Despite being a card-carrying feminist, I really, really cannot bring myself to oppose The Sun’s ‘Page 3’.
What’s currently sitting on your mantelpiece?
I don’t have a mantelpiece. I feel that’s a disappointing answer so I have envisaged a time when I might have a mantelpiece in the future and tried to imagine what I’d put on it. Probably my Cosmopolitan Ultimate Woman of the Year award and several thousand kirby grips.
Writer and television personality Natasha Deon is a co-director of the Body Gossip campaign. She was named one of Cosmopolitan’s Ultimate Women of the Year in 2012 and regularly writes for The Independent.
Follow her on Twitter @bodygossiptash
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Readers have their say
161 comments · showing the latest 100
Devotchka…what a charming name…is it, per chance, Moldavian in origin?
And…I alway prefer to use the French way of using cliche’d…so much more elegant, though I suppose being from Moldavia(or the Russian Steppes) elegance and you are not good bedfellows…..
OWStirling…would you forgive me please…I had rather a fine lunch at Cote in Sloane Square and I just cannot bestir myself to bother riposting. I am sure you know what you are talking about. Well done!
Wow…what can one say? Had you thought of asking Mr Gove for a job on the Times? I am sure I can imagine his response based upon this sample!!
Message from Natasha to her groupies…
Hi Gang…Natasha here….there is a horrid man called Pete Wayde being beastly about me. Can you all sat=y nasty things about him please. Calling him a troll would be a great.
Cheers Nat
Hi Peter
Govie baby here
Keep up the good work, why dont you tell them all to manage their money better, then we can stop talking about food banks and talk about my friends the bankers
Hilarious….had you thought of a career as a stand up comedian? I can see quite a few rotten eggs coming your way….
“Whilst not tolerating any criticism of banking. Do yourself a favour and read Peter’s comments on investment banker “Rich Ricci” an article Steeples Times published a few weeks ago. It is hilarious.
The attempted character assassination of an old age pensioner is comedy of outrageous proportions.
Peter got it completely wrong regarding Natasha, but it is not a hanging offence. Why go over the top?
You’re never too old to learn a lesson – life is a big learning curve. So if Peter should admit he was wrong to judge Natasha based on the fact that she is a woman, her degree is from UWA and she ( rightly) termed Michael Gove a moron based on her front line experience and we can all go home.
Thank you Chaim…though I have to disagree with you assessment of Miss Devon…..clearly love is not blind to her beauty and you have been seduced by that, rather than her brain!
List of people Peter W hates – women, those not educated at Oxford, people who work in beauty, fashion and advertising, Russians…. Anyone else to add to that list Peter? And for the record I interviewed Natasha once for my newspaper, was struck by her charm, wit and humanitarian nature and have supported her ever since. i am not and never have been an ‘attack dog’ (although the description is somewhat rich coming from a 95 year old who has nothing better to do than troll).
96 actually….my birthday was yesterday. And Zoe…I don’t hate those ‘working’ in those dubious professions….merely don’t take very seriously. Now…on to you. Do tell us the name of ‘your newspaper.’
Your attacks upon put me in mind of Dennis Healey’s brilliant assessment of being attacked by Geoffrey Howe…’like being attacked by a dead sheep’!
All I try to do is inject a little acid into these saccharine plaudits that Miss Devon seems to attract from her sycophantic groupies.
You horrid thing Delia….using your razor sharp wit on a poor old nonagenarian!
I think Matthew has indulged us all with great kindness and probably thinks we all have rather exhausted this topic.
Thanks Matthew for your patience and forbearance.
One of us has most definitely been indulged yes.
Zoe….and your newspaper with three million readership is ???? Why so shy about it…
(sorry Matthew…just couldn’t resist it!)
Not one that you read I’m quite sure. – I’m not at liberty to divulge the information about my employment on websites fir obvious reasons – especially since realising there’s no story here just a troll whose ideas are firmly stuck in the past and is therefore unable to appreciate vision. Have work to do now. Tara.
A good journalist must at least have a fair comprehension of the mental processes and emotional reactions of human beings including a understanding of the dynamics of the older person.
It is pointless, why should he have vision and they are all stuck in the past. Volunteer and go and do work in a care home. Your editor must take note.
or anyone would read…..judging by your extreme reluctance at ‘not being at liberty to divulge’ !!!!
Mondaine? Are you sure? …Dennis Healey?
Again, hilariously moronic, but alas unintentionally so. I fear that your comedic leanings may be compromised by the same lack of thinking skills that blight your writing. Naïveté is only endearing for so long; sooner or later you’ll need to find the insight and clarity to sustain the attention you crave.
Signing off permanently now, or until you attain genuine subtlety and wit worth replying to.
Andy…’Signing off permanently’…..excellent news….
Still pondering? I hope so. You clearly have a lot more thinking to do and a lot less trolling. Like Andy, I’m hopeful that the fewer self-perpetuated reminders on here of your fecklessness, the more encouraged you may be to engage brain. Use your newly available time wisely; it’s never too late to create purpose and meaning in a life, even for the habitual moron you play so convincingly. Step away from that reply button…you CAN do it. I’ll hang up first to protect your honour. Good luck.
My dear fellow…..you are clearly deeply in love with Miss Devon. Why not ask her out on a ‘date’?
I have no doubt you would get on frightfully well. It is sweet that you defend her honour in this way: I am moved to tears at such gallantry!
Oh dear. You seem to have proved me right.
Has anyone considered that Peter might be in love with Natasha? He keeps accusing others of being so when his arguments have been successfully squashed ….and being rude to people you fancy is a classic playground tactic…. I think we have found our explanation.
Sadly, no….I don’t find her attractive. There is something quite wrong with her mouth: far too large.
I am sure Natasha will be gutted about this and lose many sleepless nights, Peter.
Natasha Devon is a hero. David and Andy are righteous, articulate and open minded. LlBruce argues magnificently. Peter Wayde puts me in mind of that Chris Rock quote – ‘I look at you the same way I would a Betamax like ‘they still make you?’
Sorry, but I take little note of people called Gary….
Which puts you firmly in the realm of Katie Hopkins, who has similar views and is a professional troll. Congrats.
Sorry Gary….It’s only that I have never met a Gary before
You’ve not met or learned from many people at all it seems, or perhaps not many who would care to remember the occasion. Thank goodness that the internet provides you with opportunities to leave your mark.
Well, my dear chap…what on earth am I supposed to learn from you?
Judging by the evidence on this page, if you still have to ask, I’m afraid that you’ll never know my dear chap.
I am sure you are right….Now, I am sure you have some of world shattering import to do, rather than engage with an old fool like me….or maybe you don’t and have SFA to do all day?
You said it, old boy.
You mean you have SFA to do all day? Try to find some gainful employment….though your contributions might indicate some difficulty there….
My purpose was merely to hold a mirror to you. Your infantile attempts to provoke a reaction indicate that inevitably you don’t like what you see. Filling your days perpetuating a banale, supercilious online presence has kept you busy but not taught you anything.
Mr Jones
One thing it has taught me is how not to miss-spell banal….unless one is trying to be frightfully mondaine, but somehow I fear it was just ignorance on your part.
My, we are alike! You and I have both miss-spelled in our posts. You also accuse me of ignorance. We seem perfectly matched, albeit for your apparent delight in pleasuring yourself whilst online. All rather ungentlemanly, if I may say old boy.
No, I fear not…mine was a deliberately and intentional ploy to get you to react…and you did. Are you, per chance…one of the Surrey Smith-Jones?
And my ‘deliberately and intentional ploy’ (sic), was to make you lose all grasp of grammar. Quite endearing really. Surrey Smith-Jones…alas no, but if you’ve wronged them too, don’t worry I won’t tell them you’re here. Provided you take me to the movie theatre…and buy me some fruit gums. Stop teasing now, dear chap!
Did you all see Natasha’s piece in today’s Telegraph (not sure it will change his opinion but worth a shot if there’s one less moron in the world) – http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/better-sex-education/10344221/Better-sex-education-Dear-Michael-Gove-please-wake-up-and-join-the-21st-century.html
Gary mate…( if I can be matey) I am sure her views on sex are fascinating, but I will leave you to give us a synopsis…..
I was thinking the other day, that now we have a Royal with a ‘Gary’ uncle, it will be quite chic to call one’s offspring Gary
And thus Mr Wayde conclusively proves he would prefer to wallow in his own ignorance and engage in petty one upmanship than actually read something. Again. Congratulations.
You can call me Pete….my reading is very refined: Miss Devon is really not on my reading list.
I’m sure anyone reading your posts would all know what to call you by now, Mr Wayde.
I don’t agree with Natasha in all regards. Mr Gove is right to urge the focus on getting good results. Hardworking children are less likely to get into the afflictions she mentions in the first place. She has a point that of course people who are in a mess though need supports. I don’t want a row on that point but top marks kids are always going to be more stable.
I don’t think that ‘top marks kids’ are immune to performance threatening problems. Certainly, all young people could do with the understanding and support that this piece advocates, and even the most basic teacher training qualifications uphold the theory that learning cannot begin until some fundamental elements are in place regardless of a student’s aptitude, intelligence or potential.
As a now retired teacher let me assure you – eating disorders and competative exercising in particular are MORE prevalent in ‘high achievers’. No student is immune to needing some emotional support, in my experience.
When teachers cannot even spell competitive no wonder our children are illiterate
I’m dyslexic. And taught physical education. All my pupils turned out to be wonderful people, though. Which is more than can be said for some.
Gary I think your response is brilliant & anyone who has to dismiss the content in favour of focussing on spelling knows they’re losing the argument.
Perhaps you might have explained that your teaching was restricted to physical exercise, rather than anything academic…..
Why should I have to Peter? Like Natasha Devon I have frontline experience working with teenagers – I like and understand young people and am entitled to an opinion on the matter.
It’s not all about sex, please read it, we need to do something more for our young citizens
Nadia, you appear to be saying either that emotional and mental health issues in teens can be cured by learning Latin and Classics (Gove’s favourites) or that less academically well-performing kids are a lost cause and therefore not worth bothering with. Both arguments are equally daft.
Why distort what she said? She actually said, “Hardworking children are less likely to get into the afflictions”. Why lie and imply she suggested they should study the Classics?
Because we are talking about Gove. Who champions classics and poetry as the solution to Britain’s education issues (interestingly the poet laureate came out in the press yesterday to criticise his policies which speaks volumes). Also i think Nadine needs to clarify what hard worrying means in this context. There’s no evidence to back up her claims self-esteem issues affect people across the board. Including you it would seem, Mr Wayde, intent on goading all the people on here trying to talk some sense into you.
“Nadia, you appear to be saying either that emotional and mental health issues in teens can be cured by learning Latin and Classics” Read what she said:it was not what she said..
It will need those considerably brighter than you to talk some sense into me…
And what a fatuous dismissal of what Gove has posited: never has he said more than that the Classics can have an uplifting effect.
There is no one on Earth bright capable of talking any sense into you, Mr Wayde.
I’d like to take a moment to thank Mr Wayde. He’s given us all a good laugh in our offices this lunch time. (He’s a comedian, right?). As for Nadine ….there are no words. Mental and emotional health issues can affect anyone regardless of how ‘hard’ they work. I could list countless great authors and scientists of our time who struggled with such issues.
Shouldn’t you all be getting on with your little jobs, rather wasting time on the internet?
Shouldn’t you be getting on with having a life, Peter? Unless of course we can deduce from the amount of bile, snobbery and idiocy you’ve posted on here that you don’t have one?
Now Amy….don’t be bad tempered.
Peter Wayde is a NEET. Maybe the government are on to something after all with today’s policy announcement. His spending 35 hours a week at the job centre would certainly improve this web page.
Is Jim Kerr the same Jim Kerr from Simple Minds? He certainly seems simple minded from his comment.
Yes he is. Us 80’s pop icons meet regularly to discuss our former fan base, sharing notes on where they are now. Can I have my shoe back.
Midge….don’t jump to conclusions. I have not the slightest interest in ‘ ’80’s pop icons’
You’ve made my best mate Midge cry now. He hasn’t been able to jump at all since you stole his shoe during the closing bars of ‘Vienna’ at shepherds bush empire in 1988. We’re asking you one more time nicely before I send the ants round your gaff, mate.
Mr Wayde. Simon here. I believe you also have a bangle belonging to my bassist John Taylor. Enough’s enough, mate.
Mr Le Bon….I have no idea who you are, nor Mr Taylor. I prefer that you don’t call me ‘mate’ ….I don’t believe we have ever met, so I prefer we remain on more formal terms.
It’s not all about those clever 80’s kids using their early computers to trace the new owners of their stage garb. A lot of stuff went missing in the 70’s too, but I only had an etch a sketch, so until today I thought it had been lost for good. Mate, please post back my spangly tank top. You’ve had it for 40 years.
Roy….so good to hear from you. Sadly, I no longer have the spangly top with the vile sweat stains: it was sent to a Christies, S.Ken auction for memorabilia of tired old ’80’s bands….and sadly, it never made the £10 reserve so I threw it out..
While we’re at it Peter can I have the frosted fuscia lipstick you borrowed circa 1978?
Blondie….you are still alive?? Incredible
You bet she is. Albeit with less radiant lips than yours, no thanks to your light fingers. Whilst you’re at it, you’ve had my denim boob tube long enough. Hope you’ve treated it better than Roy Wood’s tank top.
What are Natasha’s views on teachers having sexual relationships with one another outside of marriage?
I am trying to get my head around this one: are you being mischievous?
I am just wondering what her views are on those who have sex at their posts. Any answer Natasha?
Because I’m a married teacher but fancy a colleague?
Gary is a physical education teacher: are you contemplating an affair with him?
No, I’m contemplating having sex with a lady teacher, but worried that I might spoil parents evening for the others.
I think you might find Matthew has an Agony Aunt on the site….maybe you should ask her
Natasha Devon has kicked Gove’s ass in the press this week – summary here for everyone interested – http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/342182/If-you-want-teens-to-pass-exams-look-after-their-emotional-needs-campaigners-tell-Gove
The Daily Star!!!!!!!!
The less said the better: I hope the didn’t make Nats go topless
I’d say the fact that this story was reported in the Telegraph, Star and a number of other newspapers this week shows how broad the appeal of Natasha’s proposals for educational reform are.
I don’t imagine the private education has much interest in Nats ideas and doubt they would allow her near the charges. And incidentally, my contact at the Star complained that she refused to pose provocatively.
Do stop embarrassing yourself now, Peter – you’re giving us old people a bad name. Can I just assure all the people reading that we aren’t all cut from the same polar-viewed and elitist cloth?
I ma sure Mr Gove is terrified of Nats…if he has ever heard of her, which I doubt
Sorry….us ‘old timers’ need to concentrate
‘private education sector’ and ‘near their charges’
Ps the article states that 60% of Natasha’s work comes from private schools.
What the hell is polar viewed? I have heard of polar opposite, yet not this one. Do you leave in the extreme North? And there is nothing wrong with being elitist: you should try it some time.
Perhaps this mention the matter got in the Guardian might be more palatable to you Mr Wayde. Although I did have you down as a Daily Mail man – http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/aug/02/child-anorexia-size-zero
Palatable? I don’t eat newspapers, my dear fellow…..
And I don’t tend to read the Guardian: especially after one of its journalists wrote a panegyric(means paean just in case the meaning of panegyric escaped you or your thought it some gymnastic exercise).
But thanks for keeping me abreast of Nat’s commercial exploits.
Now, I really must leave this topic….no reflection on you…but I am getting bored.
Good riddance. and first thing Monday morning, get down to the post office with all those stolen clothes you’ve been soiling.
I left them in one of those bins for fabric recycling so it’s probably being worn by some grateful and retro looking African
You bet she is. Albeit with less radiant lips than yours, no thanks to your light fingers. Whilst you’re at it, you’ve had my denim boob tube long enough. Hope you’ve treated it better than Roy Wood’s tank top.
Who caught Natasha being fantastic on BBC breakfast this morning. And many inspiring quotes from her in his Guardian article on children and body image – http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/womens-blog/2013/oct/11/body-gossip-models-young-people-image