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I regret going into journalism, says BBC's Marr: Broadcaster says he wishes he trained as an artist after reflecting on his life following his stroke
Andrew Marr reveals he turned down chance to train as an artist He draws for a couple of hours three or four times a week to find 'space' Recently returned to Andrew Marr show following stroke in January
By Rosie Taylor PUBLISHED: 23:09 GMT, 9 October 2013 | UPDATED: 23:09 GMT, 9 October 2013

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Reflecting on his life after a near-fatal stroke, Andrew Marr believes he may have taken 'a wrong fork in the path' and wishes he had trained as an artist instead of going into journalism

He is one of the BBCs most prominent and popular broadcasters, but Andrew Marr says he may have chosen the wrong career. Reflecting on his life after a near-fatal stroke, he believes he may have taken a wrong fork in the path and wishes he had trained as an artist instead of going into journalism. The 54-year-old father-of-three who admitted being a workaholic before his illness in January has recently returned to presenting the Andrew Marr show on a Sunday morning. He has made a number of changes to his life following his stroke and revealed he now draws regularly in the week and the time spent doing this was the equivalent of praying to him. Speaking about his love of drawing at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, he said: I might have been a happier man if I had gone to art school,' describing the decision as a wrong fork in the path I think probably. Mr Marr said as a young man he was given the opportunity of studying art in Edinburgh, but chose to read English at Cambridge instead. He draws for a couple of hours three or four times a week, he said, which helped him take time out from his busy life to find space. When I draw Im doing something similar to when people pray, he said. We need time to get away. He described art as a primal need. It is not a modern affectation, he added. But he is unimpressed by modern art, saying the art world has gone mad. An absolutely absurd, and I think obscene, amount of money is being spent on these artists, he said. Mr Marr did not elaborate on which artists he was talking about, but said he thought his friend David Hockney was about the only one who could draw.

Mr Marr, seen here (left) interviewing Nigel Farage, recently returned to the Andrew Marr show after his stroke in January

He said the only good thing about modern art being about 3D and installations was that the rest of us can reclaim drawing and reclaim painting without having to be part of the art world. Mr Marr walked on stage at the festival with some difficulty but without the aid of a stick. He wore trainers with his blue suit to make it easier for him. Asked about his recovery from his stroke, Mr Marr said he was making progress thanks to physiotherapy but only because he could afford to pay for private sessions. Im very, very lucky because I have got the money to pay for physio and help, and you do need a lot, he said. A lot of people do not (have the money). He explained he had met dozens of people who have had strokes since his hospitalisation and that many had not been given the physiotherapy they needed to be able to lead normal lives again.

Mr Marr interviewed Home Secretary Theresa May on Sunday as he returned to Andrew Marr show

We are brilliant in this country at saving peoples lives - we then chuck them out, he said. Its crazy economically because if you gave them the physio early on they could get back to work quickly and pay taxes. He called for a national scheme to help people who did not have the means to pay for physiotherapy to get the help they need. Last year, Mr Marrs marriage to Guardian journalist Jackie Ashley came under pressure when he was pictured putting his hand down a female colleagues trousers during an intimate late-night clinch. However he has now pledged to be a Beta male and a better family man.

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Comments (88)
Share what you think Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all Report comment andrea69, Newbury, 8 minutes ago This is the first journalist in the world that took out a gagging order to stop the reporting of his Affair. Your no journalist Marr. You're no husband.

0 0 Click to rate Report comment Fiat Lux, Caloundra, 14 minutes ago I wish I'd never seen his face .

2 0 Click to rate Report comment Limpand Totheleft, Winchester, 33 minutes ago Odious, ugly, Scottish man. Get back whence you came.

4 4 Click to rate Report comment The Man from Nowhere, Bournemouth, 37 minutes ago Mr Marr be very thankful you are still alive and can do your job and enjoy your painting a lot of stroke victims dont have that they DIED or can no longer do there job,i have had a number of strokes and was an Artist/Graphic Designer now i can hardly write my name and cannot draw or paint just be thankfull you're able to do both now just zip it and get on with life.

2 6 Click to rate Report comment Wombat, Kent, United Kingdom, 40 minutes ago With most of the 'artists' I know who 'follow their dream' the only thing they end up drawing is benefits.

0 7 Click to rate Report comment Peter-Ex-Artillery, Manchester, United Kingdom, 47 minutes ago For crying out loud Marr, you had a stroke. My late dad had a stroke a few months before he died. Millions of people have strokes. Not all of them get excellent treatment. Stop banging on about it and move on.

0 5 Click to rate Report comment janeyBB, London-Boston, United Kingdom, 56 minutes ago As an American woman, living in London, I think that he is right. I find that in this country people don't do the things they love, just the things they think that will make them money or get them onto the television. Perhaps you Brits should take some advice from the finest document every written, and enjoy the right to pursue happiness.

5 3 Report comment janeyBB, London-Boston, United Kingdom, 37 minutes ago ever written. 2 0

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Click to rate Report comment Ennis, Belfast, United Kingdom, 59 minutes ago Pledged to be a better man now he needs his wife to nurse him no doubt.

1 5 Click to rate

Report comment john, UKIP is our only hope, United Kingdom, 1 hour ago He regrets going into journalism! Not as much as we do.

1 19 Click to rate

Report comment Damiensholland.com, Amsterdam - The Netherlands, Netherlands, 1 hour ago Hey, that's great. I love making music. And I love writing, too. But that doesn't pay the bills.

0 7 Click to rate The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

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