How to live long and prosper with help from Gyles Brandreth

Gyles Brandreth is the very model of a national treasure. He delights in his wardrobe of jumpers, each more gaudy than the last. He is on first name terms with senior members of the Royal Family.

At 78, his podcast Rosebud is required listening for people of all ages and he shows no sign of slowing down.

He has just published a book with his physiotherapist, titled The Seven Secrets of the Hundred-Year Life, which he describes as a “self-help book” for himself.

So what are Brandreth’s seven secrets and how easy are they to follow, or is his guide just another celebrity publication aimed at the lucrative Christmas market? Perhaps unsurprisingly, his tips are pretty straightforward, ranging from eating well – he prefers mainly plant-based Mediterranean cuisine (reader, so do I) – to reducing screen time in the evening to improve sleep.

I am not sure switching off social media an hour before bed will stop me getting up at 3am to go to the loo, and to be honest my online habit is so ingrained, I don’t think I could give it up, even if it did mean uninterrupted sleep. After all, another of Brandreth’s top tips is to stay connected with friends and family – and WhatsApp is invaluable for catching up on gossip.

He advocates short bursts of activity – “exercise snacks” – alongside regular exercise. The mind boggles. Does he mean jumping up and down on the spot while watching Escape to the Country I wonder?

He is also a big fan of breathing exercises to manage stress, which I may try next time I log on to my bank account – during the day, of course. And finally he suggests keeping life as simple as possible. Small habits maintained daily matter more than the occasional big gesture apparently.

My regular small habits consist of a glass of red wine with my dinner, watching cat memes and house refurbs on Instagram and stalking Vinted for designer bargains (I have yet to find one).

I am not sure my routine is what Brandreth had in mind for a long life, but it suits me just fine. Perhaps I should write a guide on 100 ways to enjoy yourself while growing old.