Martin Lewis has admitted that politicians have called him before releasing the annual UK Budget, while discussing the “pressure” of being the nation’s financial adviser.
The journalist and broadcaster, 53, works to empower the public with financial knowledge by offering tips and advice, known for founding website MoneySavingExpert.com and hosting his Martin Lewis Money Show on ITV.
Lewis, who is widely regarded as “the most trusted man on TV”, has told of how the demand for his financial advice is “not always easy”, while speaking to media at an event at the Sea Containers hotel in London on Wednesday.
He said: “My anxiety levels are always high.
“It’s not always easy. It can be quite painful doing what I do, because you get raw and unfiltered… I mean, some people send, you know, attach all their bank statements – like, what are you doing, sending that over in an email?
“I have a team protecting me from the contacts, because we’re getting 10,000 a day. I mean, I’d be a wreck. You can’t cope with it.
“Long ago, I made peace with the fact that I can’t help individuals in that way, and that it’s about putting the information I have out there.”
Lewis also admitted that he has had “clever politicians from more than one party” get in touch before releasing the annual Budget.
He said: “I think you get a number of calls. If they’re doing it right, the honest way – and I’m sure they do this to other people than not just me – you want a proper conversation three or four months before on the key issues.”
Lewis also said that throughout his career, he has had different political parties ask for his involvement, and joked: “As I tend to say, I would prefer to wire my nipples to electrodes – not in a pleasant way – than go into politics.”
The broadcaster continued: “I don’t want to confuse anyone, as a lot of the work I do, the campaign work, is innately political, but it’s (non)party political.
“One of the reasons I think I managed to retain a connection with people is that it’s no fear and no favour.
“I focus on governing people. I’m focused on governing parties, whoever the government is of the people I talk to.
“It’s not a political job. It’s an active job. It’s a ‘what’s happening’ job. I will criticise any government of any party, but I will also commend any government of any party.”
Lewis has recently been named as the recipient of the Bafta special award for his work in the TV industry, which is focused on helping the nation to change the way it thinks about money.
The Manchester-born broadcaster also founded the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute charity in 2016 as part of his campaign work, and appears regularly on ITV’s Good Morning Britain and This Morning as a financial expert.
Lewis will be presented with the coveted prize during the British Academy Television Awards ceremony, which will take place at the Royal Festival Hall in London on May 10.
