Claire Brock is a presenter with The Tonight Show on Virgin Media Television, the station’s flagship current affairs programme. She began her career with TV3 as an assistant news producer before moving to radio and, later, UTV Ireland.
How agreeable are you?
I’d like to think I’m agreeable. I haven’t done a straw poll, but I do love good company and I’m always up for a laugh.
What’s your middle name and what do you think of it?
Mary, after my granny Mary MacInerney – my mum’s mum. I have great memories of her, a proud Limerick woman. And my kids have their grandparents’ names as their middle names, too, which is pretty traditional, but I do love it.
Where is your favourite place in Ireland?
I love where I live, Carrickmines. It’s so close to the Dublin mountains, but also where I grew up, near Dún Laoghaire. There’s such a mix of nostalgia. I enjoy it in the present and love being close to the sea.
Describe yourself in three words.
Optimistic. Easily amused. Procrastinator.
When did you last get angry?
Keyboard warriors make me more irate than they should.
What have you lost that you would like to have back?
More time to myself. But then I’d also feel guilty and miss the kids, so we can’t win.
What’s your strongest childhood memory?
Being a back-seat passenger on family holidays, with my dad playing Dire Straits and Alison Moyet in the car, while we took it in turns to ask how many more miles to go.
Where do you come in your family’s birth order, and has this defined you?
I’m the middle child. It probably has defined me a bit. I always did feel a little bit different. The family say I’m prone to being overdramatic. But it’s all relative.
What do you expect to happen when you die?
I have no idea, but I do like the idea of still knowing what’s going on.
When were you happiest?
When I got married, and also having my babies. Since then, lie-ins make me very happy. I feel happy and really lucky to have my parents in good health and I love when we all get together as a family.
Which actor would play you in a biopic about your life?
Naomi Watts (I can dream). But a stranger on a ski holiday told me I was like Bridget Jones so, reluctantly, Renée Zellweger could also audition.
What’s your biggest career/personal regret?
Not landing a role in EastEnders at the age of 17. I was nearly Mark Fowler’s Irish cousin.
Have you any psychological quirks?
Overthinking things. I’ll be doing it about this. Also, I’m totally last minute, because why plan when you can cram?
