We got on burgled as we slept holiday... it really freaked me out

WHEN EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa spoke last week of a terrifying raid on her holiday home, presenter Jenni Falconer knew exactly how she felt.

- JANINE YAQOOB

The Scottish broadcaster was on a recent break in Marbella, Spain - near where Jacqueline stayed when thieves broke into the villa where Jenni and her family were sleeping, and stole some of her valuable possessions.

The 48-year-old radio and TV host reveals: "We got burgled on holiday. It really freaked me out."

Jenni was in Spain with daughter Ella, 12, and nine friends to celebrate her husband James's 50th birthday.

She says: "They got actually disturbed by one of our friends, who woke up. They just came in and burgled us while we were asleep."

The items stolen included a watch and necklace with sentimental value.

Keen to play down the drama, Jenni is focusing on how everyone thankfully escaped unscathed.

She tells the Mirror's Invite Only podcast: "There were 12 people in that house, many of them children.

"It could have been so much worse. I always try to find the positive in something and move on, learn from it. There's no point dwelling on anything negative because it will only make you feel terrible."

Last weekend EastEnders actress Jacqueline, 31, woke up at her Marbella villa to see two masked raiders shining torches including inside the children's bedroom.

The thieves made off with £20,000 of jewellery, designer clothing and cash. Jenni has been going on holiday to the south of Spain since she was a girl, and loves the country.

But her own experience and hearing of Jacqueline's is making her reassess. She says: "It seems to be something that's happening quite a lot in Spain, which is so sad and such a shame.

"I studied Spanish at university. I love the language, I love the culture, I love the country. But yeah, it has maybe made me rethink possibly whereabouts I would go and what kind of holiday I would go on."

An eternal optimist, Glasgow-born Jenni shifts her focus to the many plates she's spinning.