Adrian Chiles (Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)

Born to atheist parents, at the age of 40 he became a Catholic.

This year he finished a two-part documentary series called My Mediterranean in which he wondered if he could have made a good Muslim or Jew.

What did you learn about yourself?

Not sure yet. I’m introspective and think things through, so I find myself still making notes about it and coming to conclusions.

Why choose Catholicism?

My mum’s from Croatia, a Catholic country, even though she’s an atheist. I prefer putting a human face to religion – Jews and Muslims don’t like that so we’ll agree to disagree – but I like the statues in church. It’s putting a face on devotion.

Any religion you don’t get on with?

I don’t get evangelical Christians at all. Anything that involves worshipping by waving my arms above my head is out for me. Mind you, I don’t like dancing at weddings either.

What about their fervour?

They think they have all the truth, but no one has. They’re trying to convince themselves as much as anyone else.

So you are happy to have doubts?

I’m a man of doubt. There’s no problem for me with not having all the answers. I wear it as a badge of pride.

Who impressed you most?

I met a cardinal who gave me my first confession in eight years. That was very emotional. He also looked very familiar.

You’d met him before?

No. Turned out he looked like Roberto Martinez the Everton manager. I took a photo and sent it to Roberto and he joked, “you’ve found my long lost brother.”

Would you have made a good Muslim or Jew?

If it’s a normal everyday Muslim or Jew then yes. If it’s a conservative bloke filled with fervour, then that’s not me. None of that hard-line stuff is.

Have you come to terms with your divorce?

The Catholic church says I could get my marriage annulled, but that’s a nonsense. It was a happy marriage, we’re still friendly and I’ve got kids. It would be preposterous to say it shouldn’t have happened.