“She’s my only little girl and I have to protect her:” Presenter Jenni Falconer on the journey of motherhood

PRESENTER Jenni Falconer has told how she might still become a mum again – despite what her daughter says.

The popular broadcaster and husband James Midgley are parents to seven-year-old Ella but, at 42, Jenni says another addition to the family has not been ruled out.

She said: “I forget my age really. It’s not something we’re against.

“Sometimes you get carried away with work and life on the whole. It’s just not happened for us, but it’s still not something we would say no to.

“My daughter might say, ‘No, I do not want a brother or sister. I like it the way it is’ but I guess it’s not down to her.”

Jenni and James, who is joining Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge, got a fright a few years ago when Ella had an accident, which has made Jenni a little more cautious.

A seemingly innocuous fall from a tree stump left Ella with a huge gash on her leg requiring a dozen stitches.

“It was absolutely horrific,” says Jenni. “She was passing out because her leg was completely opened up and I was holding it together.

“I have never been more scared. She’s fine and not at all traumatised by it, but I am. I know you can’t wrap them up in cotton wool, but I’m so worried about everything now.

“You have to let them go out and have fun with their friends, but I’m constantly watching her. We were on holiday last week and I was always covering her in sun cream and telling her not to run by the pool.

“She’s just like, ‘Mummy, I’m all right!’ She’s my only little girl and I have to protect her.

“I’m much more aware of health and safety than I’ve ever been. I had never really thought about it for myself before, I was very blasé.

“I was definitely the kind of kid who was climbing trees and doing all sorts.

“When you’re growing up in Glasgow in the late 1970s, early 1980s you were allowed to go out on your own and your parents wouldn’t see you all day. That would just not happen now. Times have changed and there’s a different mentality.

“I do look out for Ella, but I’m not allowed to be over-protective.”

Jenni is the bright and bubbly start to the day for early risers – and late finishers – with her popular national radio show.

She is on Heart six days a week, doing the 4am to 6am Early Breakfast programme each weekday before her 6am to 9am Sunday show.

She also just started work on her own podcast last week. But the broadcaster says it’s being seen, and not heard, that’s still her driving passion.

“I still see myself first and foremost as a television presenter, I just haven’t got a regular programme at the moment,” said Jenni.

“It’s predominantly radio that’s keeping me busy.

“There are a lot of television opportunities that are dominated by a small number of presenters. So there aren’t many opportunities for people who aren’t on primetime television.

“I see the podcast as a way of having a voice and doing things that until recently you weren’t able to.

“There is a time for everyone to have a go at presenting – I started 23 years ago now. But I definitely haven’t stopped presenting, it’s still what I love most.”

GMTV, The National Lottery Draws, This Morning and Lorraine are just a few of Glaswegian Jenni’s many credits. She also presented three series of property show Fantasy Homes By The Sea.

It is now returning, with The One Show presenter Michelle Ackerley as the new face of the show.

“They phoned me a few months ago to tell me they were re-commissioning it and that they were changing it a bit,” said Jenni.

“I did 45 episodes and while I really loved it, it did take me away from home quite a lot.

“Things need a refresh every now and again, so good luck to Michelle. There’s certainly no bitterness from me.”

While TV presenting is her primary passion, Jenni is still loving her Heart Radio show.

It does mean crazily early starts – her alarm goes at 2.20am on weekdays with a, slightly, longer lie on Sundays – but she insists she has adapted.

“I’ve been doing this for four-and-a-half years now and it’s all about how you run your life for the rest of the day.

“On the whole, by 6am I’m done. I can take Ella to school, although James usually does that while I go and do some exercise, and I’ll pick her up after school.

“I do tend to fall asleep on public transport and I do fall asleep on Ella quite early, so I’m not much fun sometimes.

“I go to bed early, usually by 8.30pm. A late night for me, if I was going to a film or something, might be 9.30pm or 10pm.

“That’d be 2am for a normal person.”