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Saskia Joss, the daughter of veteran television and radio presenter Vannesa Feltz, broke down in tears talking about her childhood raised in the shadow of an ‘overexcitable’ celebrity mother.
Hosted by national treasure, the Reverend Richard Coles, The Apple & The Tree podcast invites parents and their adult children to sit for an intimate chat in their family homes.
Parent and child are encouraged to ask the awkward questions about their shared history they’ve always wanted answered.
The first celebrity episode features seasoned TV and radio presenter Vanessa, 63, and her youngest daughter Saskia, 35.
Saskia, who works as a therapist helping to treat children suffering from depression and anxiety, became emotional after reflecting on the impact her mother’s bubbly and infectious personality had on her choice of career.
‘In my job, I see children that are depressed. Depression is this state where you don’t feel anything: you’re kind of in a low, bleak, and grey place.
‘One of the things I find that I’m good at is pepping them back up, getting them to make some dopamine, to be excited about something again. I definitely got that from you.
‘I feel so lucky that I have a parent that is so starry, so funny and so colourful.’
Saskia Joss: ‘‘I feel so lucky that I have a parent that is so starry, so funny and so colourful.’
Saskia described how she and her sister never really had a rebellious teenage phase as Vanessa (seen on Monday) was always encouraging of any ‘naughty’ thing they wanted to do
‘There was time’, Vanessa interrupted. ‘There was a time I sent you a text saying, I’ll meet you in Ibiza, don’t forget your fake ID
Saskia described how she and her sister never really had a rebellious teenage phase as Vanessa was always encouraging of any ‘naughty’ thing they wanted to get up to.
She said: ‘We have always just gotten on really well and hung out. Me and mum did a bit of clubbing in our teen years together.’
‘There was time’, Vanessa interrupted. ‘There was a time I sent you a text saying, I’ll meet you in Ibiza, don’t forget your fake ID.
‘You can’t really rebel against a mum that reminds you to bring your fake ID.’
Asked whether Vanessa’s celebrity was a help or a hindrance during her adolescence, Saskia spoke highly of the security and connections provided by her mother’s career in the spotlight.
She said: ‘Being able to live with you and not be worried about money, that was very good.
‘There was also a lot of excitement about having you as a mum – all the interesting places we went to. Being on a helicopter with Bob Geldof, for example.
‘A party for the Borrowers film where everything was mᴀssive in size, and you’d walk through a giant keyhole. Some truly incredible experiences.’
Saskia noted however that during private family moments, like the death of a grandparent, Vanessa’s presence in the public eye could prove grating.
‘When things were difficult, they were also very public. When sad things happen, like the death of a family member – most people get to turn inwards, grieve, and not be seen doing it.
‘But when you have a famous parent, people will come up to you and say: “Oh I heard about your grandmother” – maybe that grieving process is not as private or organic as it should be.’
She also said at times it felt like people would try befriending her to get close to Vanessa.
‘You are famous and that is interesting to people. Sometimes people were more interested in you than I thought they would be.
‘You know, I would say, I’m not asking questions about your mum – what does it matter what my mum is doing this evening?
‘Once I got married and had a different surname, that made that noise got a bit quieter – I could just get on with what I was doing a little bit more.’
Listen to the full episode of the ‘Apple & The Tree’ wherever you get your podcasts. Every Thursday a new celebrity family will be put under the spotlight.