In her memoir, Anne Robinson recounts the wake-up call which motivated her to stop drinking. Leaving her eight-year-old daughter alone in their car while she went to buy liquor, she returned to find her daughter with tears running down her cheeks. The guilt and horror Ms. Robinson felt at this sight jolted her into sobriety.

I think that in a family some are workers some are not. I certainly saw my mother work very hard and be in charge and never show any kind of fear about business deals. Her golden rule was you should never be embarrassed talking about money and asking for what you deserved. I take the same view.

Teachers are the worst. Just shameless about kicking off their rivals.

Balance sheets bore me. I suspect if figures had excited me I would have gone into the city and now be a lot wealthier.

My favourite designers are Alexander McQueen, YSL, Eskandar, Donna Karan and Lanvin.

I have been asked to lend people money - I now only ever give whatever amount is comfortable without thinking it will come back, otherwise when you see that person wearing a new coat or going on holiday you think but yes, where is my money?

I like one nice man because he gets three tickets for the cinema so we've got somewhere to put our coats. He passes the test. I've been quite surprised because I really didn't expect to be wined and dined, and it's quite nice.