'I'll Be Celebrating Christmas In Berkshire'

The last few years have been times of change for TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher. Sarah Rodi chats to the star about her move back to the county and what she has planned for 2020

Tell us about your connection to the Royal county

We (me and my sons, Oscar, 12, and Jude, nine) have recently moved to Berkshire and we’re so excited to be here. I grew up in Sunningdale – we moved down from Scotland when Dad got the professional job at Wentworth Golf Club. My sister and I loved going to school at St George’s in Ascot. I actually went back there recently for the opening ceremony of their new swimming pool, which made me feel nostalgic.

What are your favorite things to do in Berkshire?

There are so many things! Windsor Great Park is a favorite place of ours, as is Savill Garden. I also love Windsor – the history, the shops, the rugby. I’m a huge animal lover, so we also have a good relationship with Windsor’s Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. It’s where we got our British bulldog, Betsy. I had recently lost my previous dog and I’d also got divorced [from rugby star Paul Sampson]. I was also taking part in the 2015 series of Strictly Come Dancing, with Brendan Cole as my dance partner, and we went to Battersea Dogs Home to do some filming, as we were dancing to the song from Lady and the Tramp. That weekend, I went out of Strictly, but my consolation prize was Betsy – I’d fallen in love with her when I’d visited the Home.