Angela Scanlon on feeling 'fearless' in her 40s: 'take me or leave me, I know what I am'

"It's like Desert Island Discs, but with meaningful gifts – or maybe they're insulting gifts, memorable for all the wrong reasons, awkward or gloriously sentimental. It’s a trip down memory lane via the presents that people have received over the years. You really get to know about people, what they value and what they find moving."

"I've been a longtime fan [of Louis]. I watched him in Weird Weekends [in 1998], which was one of the reasons I wanted to get into telly in the first place, and I love what he does. He's such a brilliant storyteller."

"No, the little rotter! He did arrive on his bike, though. [I gave him] a framed picture of the two of us, which I imagine he will cherish for ever, and Lego because one of the gifts he talked about loving was Lego."

"Maybe how sentimental he is. He was talking about a Le Creuset set that his mother-in-law gave him years ago. He's a really good cook. I'm like: ‘Why does Louis Theroux not have a cookery show?’ I know you'd watch it; so would I.

"I was also surprised that he steals things from famous people's houses. He stole a spoon from Joan Collins's Christmas party. Well, he attempted to and then got intercepted."

"We've got Paloma Faith. It's like whiplash in comparison to Louis. He’s measured, and you get into a very calm, thoughtful rhythm, while Paloma is like the Tasmanian devil. She's got strong opinions off the bat and they're not exactly what you'd expect."

"She hates candles, from the core of her being. She believes that a candle is what you get for Mary in accounts when you've met her once and you happen to draw her in the office Secret Santa. She thinks it's thoughtless and impersonal, and you may as well give someone a stapler."

"The best gift I've ever received is this ring, which is a little swallow; I’ve never taken it off. I had a ring from a little brand called Pilgrim that I got in a sale for €12. I said to my then boyfriend, now husband: 'I really love this ring – I wish it was gold.' He had it made into a solid gold ring.

"It was our first Christmas together and I was like: ‘Boom!’ He's exceptional at presents; terrified out of his life, but also really good. 

"The worst present I've received was an anti-theft card holder from my mum. It was the most deeply unsexy practical gift."

"His gifts are good, and also, just mutual respect. All the sexy sh**."

"I honestly don't know, but the youngest snaps her way down the stairs like she's in full drag every morning. They're jokers – very funny, lively, wild girls, which I love.

"I'm trying to make peace with the fact that parenting a spirited child can sometimes be emotionally challenging but that girls need to learn to sharpen their elbows from early on, so I'm trying to equip them with the fire."

"I love the idea that people have hobbies. I’m quite intent on getting a hobby. I did recently order a jewellery-making set – that's quite a bougie hobby. I'm also into gardening, but I'm a bit fair-weather."

"I feel great. A bit grumpy at times – I may need to get my bloods done – but I feel fearless now in a way that I haven't for a few years. Take me or leave me: I know what I am, I know what I do, I know my value, and that feels quite liberating.

"When I was younger, I remember thinking that 40 was the beginning of the end; you're slowing down. I feel like I'm revving up."