DJ and singer Marvin Humes chats late nights, early mornings and maintaining a work-life balance
MY one-year-old daughter Valentina is my alarm clock.
She wakes up between 6am and 7am, which means I’m up looking after her for a couple of hours before Alaia-Mai, four, also rises.
It’s the nicest way to start the day. If I’m working, I’ll have a quick bowl of porridge or peanut butter on toast before heading to the gym for 10am.
I have to exercise in the morning otherwise I never will – it means it’s over and done with!
Breakfast is my domain. On my days off, I go all out for my morning meal. I’ll make eggs, bacon, beans, toast and pancakes – the lot!
It’s the one meal I can cook well. Other than that my only talent in the kitchen is pouring drinks, so my wife [The Saturdays’ singer Rochelle Humes, 29] will usually whip up lunch and dinner.
My days are pretty free. I mainly work in the evening on my radio show [on Capital FM], which starts at 10pm, so during the day I’ll get other bits and bobs done.
Most of the time I’ll be replying to emails and occasionally I’ll head into the studio for a recording session or to plan my show. Other times I’ll have to travel somewhere, whether that’s in the UK or abroad to Ibiza or Mallorca if I’m DJing at a club that night.
Having two young girls is full-on. It can be tough, but our girls are the best thing that’s ever happened to us. Being a parent is the most rewarding job and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
However it does mean I’m tired a lot!
Me and Roch try to keep things varied and spend quality time together. If we both have an evening off then we will either order food in and just chill on the sofa or go out for dinner – one of our favourite spots is Nobu in Central London.
It’s nice to get dressed up together occasionally, although we very rarely have time these days!
I love my work and I’m so lucky to have my own show. It’s a lot of late nights, but it’s cool because I don’t leave the house until 8pm so I can tuck the kids into bed and have a few hours with Roch beforehand.
After coming off air at 1am, I won’t be back at the house until 2am. By that point I’m knackered so I’ll usually dive straight into bed.
MOST READ IN FABULOUS
However, I’m a big Chelsea FC fan, so if they’ve been playing I’ll have a quick flick through Sky Sports to check the scores.
I’m pretty good at nodding off right away, as long as I haven’t had too many coffees at work.
I don’t even need to set an alarm because I know Valentina will be waking me up in four or five hours’ time!
- Marvin is supporting Superdrug’s #FeelSuper campaign to fund-raise for Marie Curie.
- Get involved at Superdrug stores or