GIFT OF THE GAB: 'I'D LOVE TO TALK MIDDLE AGE WITH THE BECKHAMS!'

PRESENTER GABBY LOGAN ON HER EXCITEMENT FOR THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, GETTING OLDER AND HOW THE TV INDUSTRY HAS CHANGED

- KIRSTY HATCHER

Being part of the team covering the Commonwealth Games will bring back fond memories for Gabby Logan - the presenter competed for Wales in gymnastics in 1990, six years before she landed her first TV job.

"A long period of my youth was spent focused on wanting to qualify for the Games. I was talking about it all the time. It was a big deal for my teenage self to be a part of it, so I know what it means to the athletes," says the 49-year-old, who will be joining the BBC's stellar line-up of hosts for the Games, which kicks off in Birmingham on 28 July. "The Commonwealth Games is the first step on the multi-sport platform for a lot of athletes and it's a really good taster for the Olympics."

And with Gabby as their mum and former Scottish rugby international Kenny Logan, 50, as their dad, it's not surprising their 16-yearold twins, Reuben and Lois, are into their sport. But while Reuben is following in his dad's footsteps and plays for the Wasps Academy, Lois is eyeing up a potential career in journalism, just like her mum.

"My son plays rugby and that's what he's on a pathway for but my daughter has started saying she's interested in what I do," she tells us. "She'll go to university and there's lots of things she's interested in but she's had a bit of an insight into what it all involves. I'm not discouraging her but I've told her to go and see what else is out there, too."

So how is Gabby feeling about them flying the nest in a few years? "They both have things they individually want to go and do, but I'm sure they will keep coming back for various reasons," she says.