'You have to really work on a marriage'

Kate Lawler on family life, couples' therapy and why she's always honest

- EVE MACDONALD

Kate Lawler first shot to fame when she became the first female housemate to win Big Brother in 2002.

But these days, the TV star and DJ loves family life and spending precious time with her three-year-old daughter Noa and husband Martin Bojtos. Not forgetting her "dog kids" Shirley and Baxter, who have even blagged a space on the family holiday to Spain, where Kate is calling from to chat with us.

"I have a lot to thank that show for, I remember it so well," laughs Kate, 44, recalling her time on Big Brother.

Kate and Martin tied the knot in June 2022 after meeting at the 2013 Kerrang! Awards in London, but children, says Kate, were never on the cards.

"I was never a maternal person," she admits, before confirming how happy she is now they've welcomed Noa.

Here, Kate reveals how therapy saved her marriage, her battles with post-natal depression, and why she always tells it like it is...

Hi, Kate! Can you believe how much your life has changed since winning Big Brother all those years ago?

Oh gosh, that makes me feel old! Honestly though, looking back, when I did that show I thought I was so grown up. I wanted to be a DJ, didn't want to get married or have kids - I just wanted to have fun. It was such an amazing time of my life, although I went off the rails a bit afterwards. It gave me so many opportunities.

And now you're happily married with a daughter!

I know! We're looking at primary schools next month for Noa. Everyone warned me about the terrible twos but it's actually the three-nager years that I'm finding tricky [laughs]. Noa's such a diva and so sassy, but also so clever and wonderful.

Do you think she's more like you or Martin?

She's got Martin's brains and my sense of humour, I think.