'Exercise Makes Me Feel So Good!'

Davina McCall tells Jo Willacy why staying on top of her exercise regime is vital for her wellbeing and keeping the pounds off

- Jo Willacy

Halfway through chatting to Davina McCall, she suddenly jumps up and starts skipping round the studio. We’re not talking dainty, pointy toed skips. We’re talking huge, not-a-care-in-the-world skipping, arms and legs akimbo. Davina’s demonstrating her love of being silly – and she’s doing so for a reason, showing how even silliness can incorporate exercise.

Other antics include dancing to Beyoncé videos with her kids (‘We’ve decided she’s the best dancer in the world, even better than Ed Balls’) and streaking round her house! ‘People think I’m mad but if anybody says, ‘Oh, you’re too old to do that,’ or ‘Women shouldn’t do that,’ that’s a red rag to a bull to me. Not supposed to do that at my age? I’ll show you.’

It’s a philosophy that is clearly working because, at 49, the energetic TV presenter is looking fitter than ever and, recently, has been busier than ever.

‘I’m motivated by exercising with someone’

Davina’s new DVD, 30 Day Fat Burn, sees her pair up again with her personal trainer Ed Lumsden. ‘This DVD focuses on 10-minute workouts. We concentrate on keeping your heart rate in the fat-burning zone,’ she explains. ‘My favourite part is the Buddy Workout – we’ve never done that before. It’s a really good way to work out with a friend and have a bit of a laugh while you’re doing it,’ she adds.

Davina doesn’t like working out on her own. ‘I’m motivated by exercising with someone on a DVD or going to classes,’ she says.