Born in Essex, Penny Lancaster, 54, began her career as a model prior to transitioning into professional photography. In 2019, she appeared in the Channel 4 series Famous and Fighting Crime, and in 2021, she took her pledge to serve as a special constable with the City of London police. Since 2014, she has made occasional guest appearances on Loose Women. Her memoir, Someone Like Me, has recently been released. She has two sons with her spouse, the musician Rod Stewart, and resides in Essex.
What is your greatest fear?
It used to be reading aloud, but that’s no longer the case. (I have dyslexia.) My husband encouraged me to deliver a speech for the Royal National Institute of Blind People, which helped me build my confidence, and the fear vanished.
What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
I tend to hoard a bit.
What is the trait you most deplore in others?
A lack of empathy.
What is your most treasured possession?
A card crafted by my boys and my husband. The front reads: “The handmade card Mummy always wanted.”
Describe yourself in three words
Authentic, compassionate, bold.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
My sun-damaged chest.
If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
Our dog Bubbles.
What is your most unappealing habit?
Eating too quickly and overfilling my mouth with food.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Anthony Hopkins.
What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?
An English teacher told me, “You’ll never amount to anything.”
What or who is the greatest love of your life?
My husband.
Have you ever said ‘I love you’ and not meant it?
Yes, countless times.
Which living person do you most despise, and why?
The president of America – he doesn’t speak honestly.
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Beautiful.
What is the worst job you’ve done?
Cleaning up someone’s vomit – it happened while on police duty.
What has been your biggest disappointment?
Placing trust in someone and being let down.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I would be less gullible.
If not yourself, who would you most like to be?
The first female aviator to fly across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart.
What is the closest you’ve come to death?
In another sense, I’ve attempted to resuscitate a deceased person.
What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
Spending less time on my phone.
What has been your closest brush with the law?
My weekly night duty as a special constable.
What keeps you awake at night?
The children. As a mother you constantly worry whether you’ve made the right choices.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Always be honest.
Tell us a secret
I have a passion for painting watercolours.
