Sunday with Charlene McKenna: ‘I’ll have a vodka tonic and put on some jazz’

The actor listens to brainy podcasts, relaxes while she’s cooking and takes the new puppy for a walk

Early bird or lazy bones? I’m usually up at 6am for filming, so a lie-in is 8am, although we’ve got a new puppy – Major, a cross between a Cockalier and a Jack Russell – so we need to let him out, along with our two other dogs.

Once you’re up? My husband, Adam [Rothenberg], and I are big fans of Andrew Huberman, the American neuroscientist, who does these brainy podcasts that mostly go over my head. His big thing is to get outside before 9am to get sunlight in your eyes. So we’ll have a cup of tea and sit outside.

Sunday breakfast? My husband doesn’t eat breakfast, but I do love a croissant at the weekend, or scrambled eggs on toast.

Sunday exercise? The three dogs will demand a walk. There’s a beautiful old mill near where we live in County Monaghan, which is where Paul McCartney and Heather Mills got married.

Sunday dinner? We’d have an early Sunday dinner, so a roast chicken, around 5pm. We both cook, but my husband says I chop everything too fine, while he prefers things more rustic – peasant style! But it tastes good, so I’ll have to eat my words.

Sunday relax? Definitely a glass of red. I love a little cocktail before dinner – just one. It sounds pretentious, but I’ll have a vodka tonic and put on some jazz because I find it a nice cooking atmosphere. My husband teases me: ‘Oh, you’re listening to your Starbucks jazz sampler again!’

Sunday work? Sunday evenings are line learning, so there’s a lot of running through scripts, but he’s very good.

Sundays growing up? Long and quiet. I was the youngest of six, with five older brothers, so I was left on my own. I was always ready for school on a Monday, rather than never wanting the weekend to end.

Last thing before lights out? Read. And put in my earplugs. I’m the world’s lightest sleeper.

Bloodlands is on BBC One every Sunday

Contributor

Rich Pelley

The GuardianTramp

Related Content

Article image
Sunday with Charlene White: ‘My son knowing how to cook really matters to me’
The Loose Women presenter tells Michael Segalov about rice and peas, constant news and noise bringing up her kids and taking time with her hair

Michael Segalov

16, May, 2021 @5:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with Maya Jama: ‘I’ll create my perfect roast from Deliveroo’
The TV and radio presenter on afternoon starts, clean sheets and playing music for passersby

Rich Pelley

10, Jan, 2021 @6:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with Adam Hills: ‘I’ll be on barbie duty – ribs with my secret ingredient’
The Australian TV comic dreams about a perfect family Sunday back home on the beach. By Rich Pelley

Rich Pelley

31, Jul, 2022 @5:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with Joanna Scanlan: ‘Instead of tidying, I’ll watch videos about tidying’
The actor tells Rich Pelley about dog walking in Snowdonia, her boring breakfast, gravy fantasies and Strictly in the evening

Rich Pelley

10, Mar, 2024 @6:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with Mo Gilligan: ‘I drop everything on a Sunday’
The comedian tells James McMahon about his laid-back day including Caribbean food, football, jogging on the spot, watching video games and nobly taking the bins out

James McMahon

12, Feb, 2023 @6:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with Dom Joly: ‘I’m obsessed with bread sauce and have it on toast’
The comedian talks about loving the Traitors, skipping breakfast, finding Sundays dull and the black labs of Gloucestershire

Lara Kilner

11, Feb, 2024 @6:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with Lesley Manville: ‘Champagne on a Sunday is always a treat’
The actor describes her pleasant laid-back day of rest with kitchen karaoke and friends

Michael Segalov

08, Aug, 2021 @5:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with TV’s Jason Fox: ‘Before bed I have a cup of herbal tea, then a freezing shower’
The adventurer on fasting first thing, varying his fitness sessions and a pub roast with all the trimmings

Rich Pelley

26, Nov, 2023 @6:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with Jack Dee: ‘I garden, which is outside housework’
The comedian on drinking copious amounts of tea, walking the chihuahua Dolly in the backpack and therapeutic trips to the tip

Rich Pelley

15, Jan, 2023 @6:45 AM

Article image
Sunday with AJ Odudu: ‘Sunday has a specific vibe and needs a specific sound’
The TV presenter clears her head and cleans, then it’s time for fun – food, drinks and Lionel Richie

Lara Kilner

18, Jun, 2023 @5:46 AM