Gyles Brandreth and his wife take up boxing: 'It beats going to couples' counselling'
Gyles Brandreth says doing boxing with his wife, Michele Brown, help to keep them fit and their relationship healthy.
Gyles Brandreth has taken up boxing with his wife and says it "beats going to couples' counselling".
The 78-year-old broadcaster said the sessions with writer Michele Brown help to keep them fit and their relationship healthy.
Gyles told the new issue of Best magazine: "We box together twice a week, with a personal trainer. She's very good!
"It beats going to couples' counselling."
The former Conservative Party politician also revealed the secret behind his 53-year marriage.
He said: "Marry somebody with very low expectations!"
Gyles feels lucky that his soulmate is always by his side, adding: "My wife is incredibly supportive.
"When I'm doing a show, or we're on tour, she's always there. And never let the sun go down on a dispute, either."
However, Michele has a brutal response when he appears on ITV's This Morning as a regular contributor.
In March, Gyles told Woman's Weekly magazine: "My wife, Michele, definitely keeps me in my place. She doesn't take all this too seriously.
"She came with me to This Morning and sat in the green room reading the newspaper. I said, 'I'm on television!'
"She doesn't watch me at home, and she didn't watch me there. She said, 'When I watch you at home, I have to watch you with the sound turned down.' "
And the writer admitted that despite her best efforts, Queen Camilla has not been able to convince King Charles to watch his programmes.
He added: "Once, Queen Camilla did tell me that she tried to persuade the King to watch me on the canal series I did with Dame Sheila Hancock.
"Whether he did or not, though, I doubt it. He's not a very keen TV viewer, but that doesn't bother me. It's OK!"
Gyles has also appeared on the likes of the Channel 4 game show Countdown, and BBC Radio 4's Just a Minute, and is keen to keep taking on any opportunities that come his way.
He explained: "I will turn 80 in a few years' time, and I've been very lucky in that I've really done everything that I've wanted to do.
"You never know quite what's coming along, and I think of something I want to do, I tend to just get on with it."
