“My husband loved my stomach – but called it my mum bum bag!

Tanya Bardsley opens up to new about her tummy tuck and the terrifying health scare that made her put herself first

- KIRSTY HATCHER

When new catches up with Tanya Bardsley, the former Real Housewives Of Cheshire star Vis on top form. Despite having 11 a hectic day of work and juggling being a busy mum-of-four, the 40-year-old still has us chuckling as we chat over the phone.

The star confesses that she's feeling over the moon" after undergoing a tummy tuck procedure earlier this year, which saw her have excess skin and fat cut away.

"Whenever I had a wee I was sick of looking at a bulldog's forehead, because that's what it looked like with all the skin bunched up," she explains. "Phil [her husband and Burnley footballer] called it my mum bum bag!"

But Tanya is now thrilled to show off the before and after results and says she's feeling "so much better" in herself, adding, "It's nice not having to tuck my skin into my Spanx!"

The Real Housewives Of Cheshire fans were shocked when it was revealed in November that Tanya was leaving the ITVBe reality show after six years, having joined in 2015 as an original cast member. But following an ADHD diagnosis, a terrifying seizure and life becoming "unmanageable", Tanya says she had to put herself and her health first.

"If I hadn't have had the seizure I would have been on there until I died," she says.

Here, Tanya, who is mum to Gabriella, 20, and has sons Rocco, 13, Renz, nine, and Ralphi, five, with Phil, 36, tells us about her tummy tuck, how having a seizure changed her life, and her exciting new ITV project...

Hi, Tanya! You're looking great after your procedure. How are you feeling?

I'm feeling really good. I've been wanting a tummy tuck for ages. The more exercise was doing the more my skin was just hanging off my muscles, and my stomach muscles were three inches apart. I finally took the plunge in January and I'm over the moon with the results.