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What is your New Year’s resolution?

admin — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 20:14:59 +0000

Whether we stick to it or not, most of us begin a new year resolved to do better in some way. Here, the great and the good share their new year’s resolutions with the Telegraph.

Sarah Brown

Work hard. Have fun. Stay true.

Sue Lawley, broadcaster

More exercise, less booze; more theatre, less CSI; more faith, less cynicism. Drink anyone?

Harold Evans, commentator

I’ve faithfully written down every new year’s resolution for the last ten years and from today I resolve to go through every one of them and start catching up, beginning with: “I hereby resolve not to proscrastinate any more.”

Arlene Phillips, television presenter

To jump out of bed when the alarm rings and not crawl out thirty minutes later, to go to the fridge and not touch the cheese and to get to the cupboard and not touch the chocolate, to love all things like lettuce, chicory, and people. This is my serious resolution, it isn’t a joke.

Piers Morgan, television presenter

To be described as an emaciated, witty, charming, intelligent, Mr Popular presenter by a TV critic.

Libby Purves, broadcaster

I intend to spend more time in pubs, and to remain artificially blonde. I am going to sing a lot, quite loud, and give up worrying.

Michael Dobbs, novelist

To plant more native British trees in my garden. They are good, will become great, don’t complain and didn’t vote for Tony Blair. Perfect companions.

Myleene Klass, television presenter

To learn how to use my laptop – and my dishwasher. I’m going to brush up on my German as well: I was good at it at school and have spoken it ever since, but I’d really like to be more fluent.

Andrew Roberts, historian

To work 10 per cent harder from April, in order to pay Gordon Brown’s iniquitous 50 per cent tax rate.

Joan Bakewell, journalist

Do it now! Give up delaying, postponing, procrastinating. As you get older there’s less time to waste. So do it now!

Lord Sugar, entrepreneur and government advisor

To continue with my policy of patience and politeness to all journalists.

Amanda Holden, Britain’s Got Talent judge

To stop interrupting conversations (mainly those with my husband), to run more and to stop laughing at my own gags.

Stephen Bayley, design critic

To stop retuning to Radio 3 when I park. This, so – if I die in the night – investigators will realise a lost life of fabulous sophistication. This is one of several misleading personal policies I need to restate. I am doomed by time-wasting punctuality. Vexed by a neurotic insistence on tidying-up (myself and the world-at-large). Tormented by devils of ambition when I know the pensées of Ant and Dec are true best-sellers. Anxious about filth when the PM burns two tons of avgas to attend a climate conference. Ruined my knees by keeping “fit”. I’ll resolve to cultivate some vices: insist on being indolent and messy. And every morning I’ll repeat what the Chinese sage said: “whatever is true, the opposite is truer”. Oh, and I must stop wearing suede shoes while cooking.

Eamonn Holmes, broadcaster

I resolve to roll up my sleeves for a wonderful charity which helps children in Darfur by buying goats, called Kids for Kids. I also plan to take the plunge and buy a dog. The idea being that it will give me something else to worry about outside the usual things like health, job security, and paying the mortgage. My first worry is: what type of dog? Something manly, but not threatening, low maintenance and with a good temperament … in fact the equivalent to me in the doggy world – whatever that is.

John Simpson, BBC world affairs editor

Lose more weight, of course, and take more exercise; maybe this year it’ll happen. Spend more time with my wife and four-year-old. See more of my friends. Persuade the BBC to let me make a film about Amazonian Indians. Get back to Iran in time for the revolution.

Emily Maitlis, news reader

I have only one resolution this New Year, which is to learn 650 (notional) UK constituencies off by heart before the next election, which I reckon is about fifty a week.

Ben Fogle, broadcaster

Each new year is like groundhog day. I make the same resolution year after year: to stop biting my nails. It is an awful habit one of which I am ashamed and don’t enjoy – I often bite them until they bleed, which is not only deeply unpleasant but also hurts. Anyone who catches me mid-nibble has my permission to berate me.

Lord Hattersley, politician and writer

I intend to lose two stones in weight; thus – my doctor assures me – instead of only living to be 90, breaking my mother’s record for still annoying people at the age of 98.

Jojo Moyes, author

To write my 1000 words a day before I allow myself onto Twitter or Facebook or any other means of social networking. Not to use lack of time as an excuse not to see the people I care about. To wear make up every day, rather than rooting around for my make-up bag somewhere in my car twice a week.

Sir Martin Sorrell, advertising guru

This year, I’m looking to strike a better balance in my life between time spent with family, in business, and on social initiatives. So when I’m not focusing on the economies of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) and the emerging Next Eleven, I hope to be playing more cricket. I’m looking forward to bowling Clive Lloyd and Mike Proctor – again.

Toby Young, writer

My New Year’s resolution is to set up a state secondary school where we live in west London. I’m determined to be open for applications this autumn with a view to admitting the first cohort of students by 2011. That’s the easy part. In addition, I’m hoping to shed half a stone. Talk about naïve optimism.

Graham Norton, television presenter

In 2010, I resolve to go and see more plays and to get more sleep. I have to admit I’m feeling quietly confident. Happy New Year!

Justine Roberts, founder Mumsnet.com

My resolution is to finish each book of the month in the Mumsnet book club in time for the discussion about it.

Prof AC Grayling, philosopher

To stick more resolutely to all the sensible and practical resolutions I’ve made in the past.

Sarah Standing, writer

To give up smoking, and continue walking for an hour three times a week at 7.30am – I have come to exercise a little bit late in life but I intend to keep it up throughout the year. Finally, to finish the screenplay that I am writing with Matthew d’Ancona.

Mark Feehily, Westlife singer

My new year’s resolution is to say “Yes” more often. As a band we get offered so many amazing things but often don’t have the time to do them. I may live to regret this…

Ruby Wax, broadcaster

I am going to give up crack and dairy, and do more for world peace.

Tony Hawks, comedian and broadcaster

To watch less television. To that end, I’m getting rid of all the sets on the ground floor of the house – in the living room and kitchen – so that I can only watch it in the bedroom. I will only turn it on two or three times a week, max, in order to watch specific programmes only.

In the wake of Copenhagen, I will also try to live life with a greater sense of my, and everybody else’s, mortality. So I intend to act as if it is the last year of my life.

Caution? Huh! I laugh in its face …

Kathy Lette, novelist

My new year’s resolution is to give up making resolutions. Finally, a new year’s resolution I can keep! It will take a lot of will power and determination but I have decided to give up making yearly vows. Although if pushed, I may try to take up pilates. What woman doesn’t want a pelvic floor that you can trampoline off.

Alain de Botton, philosopher

Having just turned 40, I intend to spend middle age worrying a little less about what other people think and a little more about the short time left till death strikes. More practically, despite a complete lack of interest from commissioners to date I want to pursue my dream of starting a philosophical radio phone-in programme.

Julian Fellowes, scriptwriter

I’d love to be thinner in 2010 – but then, to quote Mandy Rice Davies, I would say that, wouldn’t I?

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