Penny Smith: 5 things I can't live without

1 Carrots

When I was growing up my mum used to grow most of our vegetables herself but not many actually made it to the dinner table because I was permanently grazing in the garden. I am still absolutely obsessed with veggies.

If I go around to a friend’s house for dinner and they present me with a plate of pasta, I’ve been known to forage around for some veg to brighten things up.

There isn’t a vegetable I don’t like and I just love seeing that vista of colour on my plate.

But if I had to choose, my all-time favourite is probably the carrot.

Whenever I go on a long car journey I always take a bag of carrots with me to snack on and I generally get through the lot.

My friends laugh at my “travel carrots” but they always keep me going and are certainly a more nutritious alternative to coffee and cake.

2 My Parker pen

When I passed the 11-plus, my father gave me a lovely burgundy Parker pen with a gold nib which I still treasure.

It writes beautifully and getting that fountain pen was, for me, the beginning of a long love affair with luxury stationery.

While emails are functional, I still much prefer to send friends and family letters and cards.

I am on an endless quest to buy the most exquisite stationery I can find because nothing pleases me more than a new notebook or a set of watermarked paper.

3 Lined walking trousers

I absolutely love hiking but there is nothing worse than getting cold and wet when you’re out trekking.

For that reason it is very important to wear the right clothes.

I spent years looking for the perfect hiking trousers and now I’ve finally found them.

As I cut all the labels out of my clothes I can’t even remember where I bought them but they are so toasty and always stay dry.

On a recent walking trip in the Peak District I couldn’t believe how wonderfully warm they kept me.

They are the most treasured item in my wardrobe.

4 Rubber gloves

As a self-confessed neat freak I am not afraid to admit that I absolutely love cleaning.

I am terrifyingly tidy and simply cannot relax or think straight if my home isn’t spotless.

I probably spend about three hours a week scrubbing and polishing and I always like to wear rubber gloves to get the work done.

When my nieces and nephews come to visit they always joke that they’re afraid I’ll tidy them away into a cupboard.

The irony is that when I’m travelling I am quite chaotic and I have no qualms about making a mess.

I often go away with my good friend and fellow presenter Mariella Frostrup and she always finds the transformation hilarious.

I think it must just be my slummy alter ego coming out to play.

5 Theatre

Every year my mum used to take me to the ballet for my birthday.

As I was one of four children it was a real treat and I absolutely loved it.

I have adored live performance ever since and I am now an avid theatregoer.

My tastes are pretty eclectic as I enjoy just about anything from musicals to Shakespeare.

Yet by far the best thing I have seen recently is the interactive production You Me Bum Bum Train which I found to be breathtakingly brilliant.

Penny Smith will be hosting the 2015 afternoon Breast Cancer Care London Fashion Show at Grosvenor House Hotel on October 7. Tickets are still available. To buy, please visit breastcancercare.org.uk/theshowlondon.