The Penny Smith Appreciation Society

From a chat session on The GMTV website

James: How are you?

Penny: Tired as usual, but then if I will insist on going out every single night, I've only got myself to blame!

debbie: Hi Penny, I would love to know how do you cope with very late nights? and what is the latest night you have had?

Penny: I did once have an early night - but I was only 12. I don't drink alcohol during the week, I drink three litres of water a day, I eat more than my five portions of veg a day, and even when I'm on holiday I feel tired in the morning. It's just a state of mind, if I pretend I don't feel tired I don't feel tired, until someone asks me how I am!

janee: Which was your fav holiday destination ?

Penny: Barbados is my favourite. I have friends who own a hotel there -which is handy! It's very chilled there, the people are friendly and as they say there 'me relax'

fiddler62: Hello Penny, do you ever get into trouble for being a bit cheeky when you read the news?

Penny: Not so far! But every day I expect to get carpeted! There was one particular editor who worked here who every single day told me I wasn't funny and he didn't know why I bothered. I don't know what he's doing now.

pinky: How do you feel since starting yoga, and has it changed your life?

Penny: Completely. I can't imagine life without it. Not only has it changed my posture and made me feel better. But it's given me a better outlook on life. Even though I haven't lost weight - and I'd probably have to starve myself for years to get to Geri Halliwell proportions, I'm less obsessed with being skinny.

lainey: What will you be doing after this today - anything exciting?

Penny: I'm going home to sleep which I think is exciting! As we speak I can hear my pyjamas calling. Then I'm doing yoga and recording my Classic FM programme which I hope you'll be tuning in to on Saturday night.

davemackenzie: Just want to say Penny that you're a welcome sight at 6 in the morning - you and your dad John get on well together... ha! ha!

Penny: Yes it's funny isn't it - ever since my dad was drafted in - mornings have been very amiable! I think he'd be horrified to hear you think he's my father's age. I'm only 37 and he's only 42 - and it's not really a wig!

Edmund de Carras: To boil perfect eggs (for Ms Penny Smith). Soft eggs - play WA Mozart's Marriage of Figaro overture as soon as egg boils - remove as soon as overture done - perfect soft boiled eggs. For hard boiled, do same with overture to same composer's Don Giovanni" - Guten Tag!

Penny: I think the overture would make my eggs too overdone, I like them very soft boiled - more Carmen's overture I think or a Chopin nocturne.

xxstarxx: If you had to change your job what would you change it to?

Penny: I don't want another job thank - I thoroughly enjoy this one. But if I got replaced by the proverbial 12-year-old and was no longer allowed to practise journalism, I'd be a waitress. At least I wouldn't starve!

Tony: Hi Penny, what time do you have to get up in the morning?

Penny: 4am and it never feels nice but I do get to see an awful lot of sunrises.

Darcey: Penny, congratulations on your new romance, I've seen Vince on stage in Rose Rage in Newbury and he was great in it!

Penny: Thanks very much - I thought he was fantastic too! He still is fantastic in fact.

molly: Where did you stay in the Caribbean?

Penny: You can find all that out on the Travel section on this website - there's masses of info packed in there.

Bruce: What would constitute an ideal night out for you?

Penny: Going to the opera with somebody who doesn't wriggle, cough, leave their mobile on - or breathe heavily. Followed by lots of water and possibly one glass of pink champagne to make me feel like I'm having a racy time.

jim: I used to enjoy your racing tips, and even more your excuses when they came nowhere. Any chance of resuming them?

Penny: I think the likelihood of having racing tips again - is about as likely as me growing a third ear. We was rubbish.

Kasia: Penny, I am also a 7am fan of yours (grovel, grovel) and I need some help. I'm getting a chocolate labrador soon and am looking for a name (promise will not call him Pen) - any ideas?

Penny: Bounty? Galaxy? Cadbury's Creme Egg? There's a great chocoloate biscuit in Spain called Bum?

Brendan: Just dropped in to say "morning Penny, Sky has not been the same since you left...

Penny: Thanks, I loved working there and particularly my co-presenter Bob Friend, who had a naughty habit of underlining words that could have been smutty so that when I read them off autocue it was difficult to keep a straight face.

Dom: Who do you get on with best with from GMTV?

Penny: We all get on very well but I suppose the person I keep in touch with out of hours is Andrea. We share a dressing room and have a good gossip after the show.

photog: Dear Penny, that was a great shot of you coming out of the sea this morning. Any chance of running that again?

Penny: I'm sure it'll be run again - GMTV have a habit of running pieces where the presenter looks ridiculous again and again. It's my fault I do them.

davemackenzie: Thanks for the respones to my point, penelope dear!!! I shall never wash my keyboard again :P

Penny: Stop eating biscuits!

Smiffy: Hi Miss Money Penny - I enjoyed the Caribbean article on Jamaica. Are you really mad as this in real life?

Penny: You'd have to ask my family - they're all barking! I think I'm the sanest one.

Bruce: Are you really that much against football or is your reading of the scores and footie features just a hoot?

Penny: I find the idea of 22 grown men chasing around after a spherical object ridiculous, but I can understand that lots of people love it. Hey, I like opera - we all have our crosses to bear! But as for knowing anything about football or caring - I'd have to say it's really not up there with world peace and thin thighs.

Stacey: Hi Penny - if we're to believe the papers, GMTV is a hotbed for catfighting between the female presenters - especially since Lara Logan got back from Afghanistan. Is there any truth in this?

Penny: No, absolute rubbish. I like Lara and if she is going to take over from me I can't think of a better person. But to be honest she's only filling in on the Newshour when Kate and I are away. At least that's what I've been told! If I come back and I can't log into my computer then I'll know different!

Nikki: I was wondering if our Penny reads the bulletin board and if so, she must know how many fans she has. She has a terrific personality as well as true professionalism.

Penny: Yes, thanks I really appreciate it. Except for stray nasty bits.

molly: What are you doing on Valentine's night?

Penny: I have a horrible feeling I'm going to be working. I've jsut been asked to film a pilot for something.

Caragh: You're quite a spring chicken for your age. Does getting older bother you?

Penny: I can't see really any alternative to getting older at the moment. If you have any suggestions please let me know! But I have a horrible feeling that at some stage I will be a pensioner.

Sharpy: Penny you are our pin-up girl offshore - fancy coming out to read the news?

Penny: Do you all wear uniforms?

DannyWatty: Penny, I'm depressed that you aren't talking back to me.

Penny: Hello

DannyWatty: Aaaaah, thanks Pen

Dental nurse: Are you going to be an eccentric when you're 70 or is that just for the terribly rich people?

Penny: I don't know if you know the poem When I'm Old I'll Wear Purple. But that'll be me talking to myself sitting on pavements when I'm tired, generally having a thoroughly good time and not giving two hoots what people think aobut me.

Bruce: Yes I do know the poem it is terrific - there is actually a small book of it available.

lainey: Penny youre still a baby !!! Spring chicken indeed. I'm nearly 10 years older than you and I still feel like an 18-year-old!

elvis times: Will you have a blue or purple rinse though?

Penny: Do you know when I was younger I always fancied having purple hair but I never had the time the energy or the money. And by the time I did I was working in newspapers or radio as a journalist and I think it would have been frowned upon.

mike lowe: Frowned upon for purple hair ....on radio ?

Penny: Yes, you don't want to be interviewed by someone with purple hair if your dog's just died. Inappropriate.

Jo: What three things would you take with you on a desert island?

Penny: A man, a satellite phone, and a helicopter. I don't want to stay there!

the_badger: Please don't ever change - you brighten up everyone's dull mornings!

Penny: Thanks very much. I wasn't thinking of changing just yet, although I will in a short while - into my pyjamas.

Jerome: What's the worst thing about being famous? Or do you enjoy getting recognised?

Penny: Luckily I have low-level recognition which means I can sometimes get a good table in a restaurant but it's not normally bothersome attention. But I was once accosted in the supermarket whilst squeezing plums - but it was the manager telling me to stop doing it.

kit: Penny - how do you deal with interviewing people you really dislike?

Penny: Eat onions.

lainey: Does your hair grow incredibly fast? It doesn't seem five minutes since you had it cropped really short?

Penny: Yes it does - I don't know why. Maybe it's all the vegetables I eat.