There are two things to notice immediately about Poppy. The first is that she looks like a fairy. Small, delicate frame. Disarmingly large hazel eyes. Wispy bleach-blonde locks – the only aberration being Poppy’s naturally dark roots. (Poppy’s mother is Thai, her father unknown but allegedly Korean; though Poppy insists her only parent is her mother’s second husband, Darcy, an Englishman of independent means, who kindly extended parental care after her mother upped and left them both when Poppy was a tender fourteen years old.) Anyway, Poppy, sweetly dispositioned, and seemingly unscarred by such events, also has a penchant for dressing in frilly layers of clothing – and her love of glitter would shame a toddler. The second thing to notice about my assistant is that her vernacular has a tendency towards the same, shall we say, ‘exuberance’.

‘Morning, Miss Gracie,’ Poppy chirrups, looking up from where she’s wiping the bench clean, preparing for the shoot. ‘Ooh. I see Brenda’s using the coral on your lips again. Like you’re a mermaid? I could call you Ariel!’

‘Morning, Poppy. Please, don’t call me Ariel.’ I wipe my lips on the back of my hand.

Poppy’s eyes twinkle mischievously.

I also inherited Poppy. She was working an internship when I joined. One hundred per cent reliable and thoroughly committed, fresh out of college, my assistant has a fine diploma in home economics to accompany her sparkly personality. That her stepfather would happily provide so that she’d never have to work at all makes her dedication all the more admirable. If ever Poppy’s childish vigour annoys me – her silly garble and excess enthusiasm can wear thin some days – I remind myself I’m lucky to have her.

I dump my coat and bags onto a chair.

To protect my clothes before filming begins – a personal uniform of black trousers and white shirt – I don my white chef’s apron. My outfit isn’t flashy, but given no one at SC6 has ever offered to provide my clothes or advise me on what to wear otherwise, it removes the stress of me having to think about what I ought to be wearing for the camera on a daily basis.

I wash my hands thoroughly. Before I forget, I retrieve and apply the pink stain to my lips and that’s when I remember – my new shoes.