'I need to put on some sequins and get out!'

Former TOWIE star Lydia Bright tells new her dream is to meet someone, fall in love, get married and have more kids

- EVE MACDONALD

Reality star Lydia Bright may be stuck in our minds with her bleached blonde hair and vibrant red lipstick, but her life is a lot less high profile now than it was when she starred in The Only Way Is Essex.

The 32-year-old is mum to daughter Loretta, three, who she shares with ex-boyfriend Lee Cronin. She’s currently renovating her huge 18th-century Georgian home and exclusively tells new that these days there’s nothing she loves more than spending time with family – and those wild nights out at the Sugar Hut feel like a lifetime ago.

Reminiscing about her time on the hit show, Lydia reveals there is one person she keeps in touch with – her onetime boyfriend and close pal James ‘Arg’ Argent.

Arg, 35, took part in this year’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins, and has wowed fans with his dramatic transformation. He’s also dropped 13st and quit a troubling drug habit, and Lydia tells us how proud she is of her friend for turning his life around.

Here, Lydia opens up on all things motherhood, growing up as part of a foster family, and future plans for adopting…

Hi, Lydia! How are you and Loretta doing?

Loretta is at pre-school just now and, I won’t lie, it’s nice to have a bit of adult conversation [laughs]. But in all honesty, she’s my best friend. My life completely changed when I had her. 

So life is very different for you these days? 

[Laughs] In every way, but in the best possible sense. Your world changes completely and it’s the most incredible thing. I’ve always been a maternal person and dreamed of starting my own family, especially having a daughter, and it’s better than I ever imagined it would be. Loretta is just hilarious.