'I'm so proud I've got this far!'

Loose Women's Ruth Langsford tells us why ageing isn't going to stop her

- ARIANA LONGSON

She’s been a regular on our TV screens for more than two decades. Welcomed into the homes of women across the nation, who listen to, and value, her opinions on the most personal of topics, we’re lucky Ruth Langsford – who turned 63 earlier this month – isn’t going anywhere.

'If you'd have asked me when I was 40 if I thought I'd still be on television at my age, I'd have said, "Not a hope in hell," because in those days, many women were farmed off when they hit that number,' the star says. But things have changed. Ruth explains, 'I'm very proud that I've got this far. I look up to women like Gloria Hunniford and Janet Street-Porter, and hope that I'm still working in TV at their age. Women always need role models ahead of us setting precedents.'

Having reached a new chapter of her life, with only son Jack recently turning 21 and fleeing the nest to study at university, Ruth aims to inspire women to continue working and chase their dreams. There are some fantastic role models, and I like to think I am one now, and that there will be young women seeing us and thinking, "Wow, look at that, she is still doing what she loves."