Presenters

In my final year at university, I blagged my way into a newspaper editor's office and convinced him to take me on.  I was lucky, I'd chosen a career which was right up my street... though I didn't know it at the time.

On my first ever story I was dispatched to interview miners on the picket line, it was during the 1984 miners' strike. I was reporting in radio when East Midlands Today started up.

My manager said I couldn't apply as I hadn't been in my post for a year. I said don't be ridiculous, no-one's life will be worth living if you don't let me go. So he did. And I haven't looked back.

I reported the first ever lead story on EMT. I feel privileged to be allowed into people's lives to film their absolute highs or their desperate lows. You are often there when it matters.

I'm lucky I love my job and I've also been able to combine it with being a very hands-on mum! I've never wanted to work in London which is lucky: a network producer wrote to me recently clamouring for more of my work.

I was pleased, then I noticed which programme he was writing from - it was Auntie's Bloomers!

Top 10 list

1. Best Song Ever: Impossible to say, I love music so much.

2. Best TV Show Ever: Costume dramas and Coronation Street.

3. Best personal TV moment: One of them was reporting Emma Humphreys walking free from Appeal Court.

4. Best place in England: Holkham beach, Norfolk.

5. Favourite / worst food: Love healthy, fresh organic tasty food... loathe dodgy stodgy food.

6. Favourite / worst drink: Love wine, love tea - but I'm alcohol and caffeine free at the moment!

7. Favourite / worst animal: Love all animals especially dogs (and Pickles the hamster), dislike spiders!

8. Favourite name for boy / girl: Andrew and Rob / Francesca and Anna.

9. Favourite sport / least favourite sport: Love swimming, dislike running.

10. Favourite politician / historical figure: William Shakespeare.