CHANGING TIMES

Gabby Logan reveals her secret to coping with 'empty nest' syndrome and how she maintains her mental and physical health

- ROSALIND POWELL

As one of sport's most accomplished and respected pundits, Gabby Logan, who is tipped to become one of the new hosts of Match of the Day, confronts the challenges of middle age with a balanced diet and lots of exercise.

"Some people feel more grounded and wiser; others feel a bit lost at times," says the presenter, 51, a spokesperson for midlife women and in her youth a rhythmic gymnast who represented Wales in the Commonwealth Games.

"Families change, children leave home, then there are older parents who need looking after.

"Everyone's circumstances are different, but for me, exercise is a way of coping. You're facing physical changes, whether that's hormonal or coming to terms with a body that's doing less than you thought it could before. It can be a challenging time for people."

Gabby has been adjusting to her own domestic changes since her daughter Lois, 19, left home for university. Lois's twin brother Reuben, who plays rugby for Northampton Saints, had left 18 months before.

To cope with the quietness in the house she shares with her husband, former Scotland rugby union international Kenny Logan, she filled it with a team of workmen to carry out some DIY work.