Cathy Newman

“On Facebook I stick up the odd video, cut and paste the odd blog, but I feel a bit like someone who's used to driving a horse and cart suddenly sitting behind the wheel of a Ferrari.”

“Angelina Jolie is a woman who seems to attract superlatives. 'The most beautiful woman in the world,' 'the most famous woman in the world' - you name it, someone's googled it.”

“It's hard to compete for ratings with Paddington Bear.”

“My problem is winding down rather than staying awake. Eating together and watching a bit of TV with the family helps, and twice a week I go for a run.”

“I'm always asking questions. I'll even walk down the street and think, 'Why has that shop gone bust and the one next to it hasn't?'”

“The Buried Giant' is exactly what you'd expect from a master-storyteller: engaging, surprising, and thought-provoking.”

“Sky and BBC News 24 are permanently on in the office, and of course I watch Channel 4 News, when I'm not appearing on it!”

“As a social being, I like to converse with people who want to converse with me.”

“Let's hear it for Waterstones, which has put its sizeable retail muscle behind a campaign to end the marketing of books as 'for girls' or 'for boys.'”

“The Tory brand was badly tarnished during the uncaring 'no such thing as society' Thatcher years.”

“Finally toy manufacturers appear to be waking up to the idea that make-believe has got to be a little more believable. Mattel has belatedly tumbled to the potential link between falling sales and its implausibly stick-thin Barbie dolls. For years, the toy giant had refused to recognise that children, like adults, come in all shapes and sizes.”

“Life on Capitol Hill is hard and demanding. It is normal to work from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. and in fact most key decisions are taken outside 'normal' business hours.”

“You know that we all have to put up with sexism on a daily basis. But I think there's a chance to actually change that culture.”

“Don't get me wrong, I personally love the colour pink. But the gender divide over toys and books is surely worth taking seriously.”

“Once I've got home, sorted out things for the kids and caught up with my husband, there's not a lot of time to collapse in front of the TV.”

“In reality, when it comes to female frontbenchers, Labour are still starting the race well in the lead.”

“What is it about politics, though, which makes people from the same tribe tear each other apart? Perhaps ego and ambition have a part to play.”

“I remember once giving my eldest daughter two different dressing-up outfits for her birthday - a princess dress and a Batman trouser suit. For her party, she got to choose which to wear. And although it was a sweltering hot June day she went for the padded Batman number - while all her friends turned up in full princess regalia.”

“I do loads of lunches with contacts. You really have to work for your scoops.”

“Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.”