The opposite of elitist

Some insight into the current lifestyle of Today editor Sarah Sands, from an interview in the ever-popular Country & Town House Magazine. The neo-Georgian town house in Kensington has been sold; a flat has been purchased, but she's currently living out of a suitcase in a friend's spare room. ‘It makes you feel good, actually. I really enjoy the hair-shirt bit of it. It reminds you that this is public service.’ The friend is apparently able to accommodate husband Kim, who brings her a cup of tea at 5am.

Cheeky Sarah also cocks a snook at BBC rulings on climate-change denier Nigel Lawson ‘There were people who said you mustn’t have him on, as if it were so dangerous and irresponsible that it was some kind of public health matter. And I said what, whatever he talks about ? Then this story came up about Nigel being an unpopular name, so I called him up and asked him to talk about that instead.’

And she defends her Ferrero Rocher moment, when she said listening to Today should be like attending an ambassador's reception. ‘It immediately sounds snooty and flippant, when all I meant was, why should these sets of interesting and influential people have these conversations and keep them among themselves. Wouldn’t it be great if the whole world could listen in? It’s the opposite of elitist.’