'BEING A SINGLE MUM IS TOUGH'

AFTER AN INCREDIBLE YEAR, TAKING PART IN SOME OF TV'S HIGHEST PROFILE SHOWS, JUDI LOVE OPENS UP ABOUT PARENTING, THE CHALLENGES OF SUCCESS AND WHY SHE'D LOVE TO HEAD TO HOLLYWOOD

- KIRSTY NUTKINS

LOVE, ACTUALLY

With her natural sense of humour and infectious laugh, Judi Love has us in stitches whenever she graces our screens. So it's hardly a surprise that the 41-year-old comedian's career has gone from strength to strength in the past two years, with appearances on some of TV's biggest shows. From becoming a regular panellist on Loose Women to winning the Celebrity MasterChef Christmas special and hitting the Strictly dance floor, her feet have barely touched the ground.

The transformation from stand-up to TV favourite has been overwhelming for Judi, who admits, "I feel I'm just sort of holding it together. If I did sit down and think about everything, I'd have to take a week off just to cry tears of joy!"

But the mum of two, who has a 12-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter from a past relationship, says it hasn't been without its struggles. Balancing her new-found fame and busy workload with her personal life has been hard, and as a single parent and the sole breadwinner, she is often plagued with "mum guilt" about leaving her kids to go to work.

"I don't know the difference, because I've never had the experience of a two-parent household. But I can definitely say that as a single parent, it's pretty tough, because you worry about the time you're working, and the fact there is someone else with your kids," she admits. "But we have such a loving family and they are given so much support, so in that sense I'm really lucky."

She laughingly admits her children aren't at all fazed by her job in television.

"They watch me on the TV and they encourage me. But when I come home and shut the door, and I'm giving them cuddles in bed, or I've shouted at them to tidy up their room, they don't see me as famous at all. I'm just Mum.