Citybeat DJ Robin Elliott (29) lives in Dunmurry with his partner Jude and their 15-month-old baby girl, Cienna. Approaching the big 3-0 he has embarked on a diet to improve his overall health and fitness

Do you get eight hours sleep a night?

Not really because of my lifestyle more than anything. I work until 10pm on the radio show and then it takes me a few hours to wind down from that. I could go without much sleep, that’s not a problem.

It’s nothing to do with the new baby, she’s been great since the moment she was born. We’ve only had a couple of sleepless nights with her and that was when she was teething. She’s a great sleeper.

Early bird or night owl?

A night owl. I absolutely hate mornings and when I say morning I mean anything before 11am. I should be used to them by now but I detest them.

I work freelance and you have to take the work when you get it. This week, I’m covering the breakfast show which means a 4.30am start. The first two days of it absolutely kill you, come Thursday I’m thinking this is great fun.

Do you have a high pain threshold?

Not really, no. I hate injections, needles and anything like that. I was at the dentist’s getting my teeth scraped last week — I wouldn’t be a big fan of that now. I’ve never had any broken bones so I’ve been lucky. I’ll probably fall in the street now that I’ve said that!

When was your immune system at its best?

I’m quite healthy and I don’t suffer from many colds or flus. I’ve been fine this year so far. There have been lots of people off sick from Citybeat with bad colds recently but I’ve escaped it. I don’t know why — with the number of germs you can pick up from sharing microphones! I must be preserved from all the alcohol inside me.

Have you ever experienced depression?

No, I haven’t no.

Old wives’ tales or as the doctor ordered?

As the doctor ordered. I don’t believe in those old wives tales. They are a load of nonsense. I’m not superstitious at all.

When did you last visit the doctor?

It was two weeks ago. I went because I was experiencing chest pains and I had a hunch that I was on my way out. I had an ECG, my blood pressure taken and my cholesterol checked, too and it was all fine, thank goodness. As I’ve got older, I worry that my years of partying are starting to take their toll. I mean I look a lot older than I actually am ?

Last time you were feeling under the weather what did you do?

When I don’t feel well, I don’t take time off work. As I said, I’m freelance so if I don’t work I don’t get paid. I just have to struggle on. Some people would say, “Lie down in a darkened room,” and so on; I just take a tablet and get on with it. I know some people who take days off because of hangovers. A friend recently recommended Berocca tablets to cure a hangover so I’ve tried them and they work!

Do you calorie count?

I don’t do the calorie counting, no. In September, I started The Diet Secret (by Suzanne Chalkley) because I was starting to put on a lot of weight and eating unhealthily. Basically, with The Diet Secret you cut out the foods that turn into sugar like pasta, pizza, bread and potatoes. I couldn’t believe it that eating a slice of pizza is the equivalent of eating nine big spoonfuls of sugar!

Before, I would have thought nothing of ordering an Indian meal or a pizza. In the last two months, I’ve lost half a stone.

Do you eat your 5 a day?

Yes, I’m very good at making sure I eat my fruit and vegetables. I tend to pick up packs of fruit salads and I make sure I eat lots of salad and vegetables.

Do you take any supplements?

With the diet, I’ve a tablet I take in the morning that stops you from feeling hungry and burns fat, then I take an Omega tablet at lunchtime which looks after all my organs and reduces cholesterol levels. At night, I take a water tablet which detoxs my body overnight. It flushes out my system and I have to get up to go to the toilet a couple of times during the night — it’s the equivalent of drinking 24 cups of tea. In the beginning, I forgot sometimes but now it has become more of a routine.

Do you exercise?

No, I don’t. I’m very bad at that. Exercise would probably kill me. I don’t have time to go to the gym as my schedule’s so busy, but I’ve started walking every day which is a start. I was very unfit and unhealthy before I started the diet. Now, I try to walk for around 20-30 minutes every day and to build it up from there.

Do you believe in the mid-life crisis?

Yes, because I know many people that have been through it. I released a record earlier this year for charity with Mickey Modelle called The Ballad of Lucy Jordan, and maybe that was to do with me approaching 30. It was something I wanted to be able to say that I’ve done.

I do a TV, radio and showbiz slot on a Sunday for a radio station Talk 107 in Edinburgh. One of the DJs there declared it the worst song of all time. He said he watched the music video and it was like watching a mid-life crisis! But it was good as he played the song in full on a talk radio station that doesn’t play music and he spent 15 minutes discussing it. Even if he didn’t like it, he gave it a good mention! The song’s doing well and it’s selling like crazy here.

At the moment I’m doing things that people wouldn’t expect me to do ? maybe I am having a mid-life crisis, who knows? Maybe that’s why I’m doing this diet.

Organic or ready meals?

I don’t know very much about organic food, to be honest. In the past, I would’ve eaten quite a few ready meals as they were always quick and simple to make. I’m used to sticking something in the microwave. Now that I’m on the diet all that’s out the window.

Is sex vital to overall wellbeing?

Yes, it is. It puts a smile on your face and makes you feel good inside.

Best advice ever received?

In broadcast terms, it would be just to be yourself and not to put on an act. The country and western singer Philomena Begley always says, “Be nice to the people on your way up as you’ll need them on your way down again”. I’m the same person on the radio as I am off the radio. I don’t see why people should feel that they need to act a part.

Have you ever donated blood?

No, I haven’t but I should. I’ve a fear of needles and that always puts me off.

The Organ Debate — would you?

Yes, I think it’s a good idea. If I’m dead, then why not give them out to others.

Hair of the dog?

Again, this comes back to diet. A couple of months ago, I would’ve said a nice greasy fry does the trick but I shouldn’t be eating that now!

Desert island must have?

My phone and the other essential part of my life would be music.