Radio and television presenter Penny Smith has detailed the "extraordinarily difficult" impact of her big life decision, adding that she felt "guilty".
Smith, who has worked for BBC Radio London and Sky News, spoke with Siobhan Wykes on the Suddenly Single podcast, where she explained her decision – which she made in her 20s – to not have children.
"I knew I didn’t want children in my 20s," said the presenter. "In those days [the 1970s and 80s], if you said that, people looked at you as if you were going to kick a puppy. It [did] make it extraordinarily difficult."
"You do need to know yourself and sometimes we’re very guilty of going along with the social norms," continued the presenter, who added that she occasionally felt "guilty" in regards to her stance.
Smith, who was married for three years in the 1980s, has been in a relationship for the past 24 years, though the presenter shared that the couple have opted to live apart as they are both "comfortable" with the arrangement.
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"I’m very happy with my own company," said Smith. "I have an inordinate amount of hobbies – I look back and think mum was right when she said I was always busy. There’s always a cupboard to tidy! I’m fanatically tidy."
"I’ve always been comfortable in my own company because there’s always something I want to do or need to do," she continued. "I’m so comfy going to things on my own. I’ll buy one ticket to the theatre!"
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Despite her comfortability in her own company, Smith outlined her beliefs on the notion of The One and romantic gestures, explaining: "I think there are lots of the Ones. I’ve loved many times – I’ve been in love multiple times."
"If the romantic gesture was breakfast in bed with a rose between the teeth, and I knew I was going downstairs and the kitchen looked like a bomb has hit it, that to me is non-romantic," she quipped. "The gesture would be better if it was going out to have breakfast if they are messy in the kitchen."
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
