ITV News presenter Mary Nightingale answers our questions about broadcasting during a pandemic, how she copes with the “relentless grimness” of the Covid-19 story and why the new “super-efficiency” in TV news could be a bad thing.

I’ve got into the habit of taking long morning walks with my husband – our current record is 28km. We live near the Thames in West London, and pacing the tow path has become an almost meditative pleasure. When cars vanished at the start of lockdown we explored central London too. It has felt like a totally different city – almost deserted, but alive with birdsong – and bathed in seemingly endless sunshine. Despite the daily horror of coronavirus, there are still things to feel positive about.

We’ve had a few close shaves over the past 12 weeks – and I‘m certainly aware of being more exposed without the usual safety nets, if things do go wrong – but being in a global pandemic certainly helps put things into perspective. Does anyone really mind if things aren’t perfect? I’ve certainly had to relax about how I look on air, which has been liberating; viewers have far more important things to worry about than the state of my hair….