A baby at 42? I’ve not ruled it out

Jenni Falconer on her family and future

Presenter Jenni Falconer has told how she might still become a mum again – despite what her daughter says. The popular broadcaster and husband James Midgley are parents to seven-year-old Ella but, at 42, Jenni says another addition to the family has not been ruled out.

She said: “I forget my age really. It’s not something we’re against. “Sometimes you get carried away with work and life on the whole. It’s just not happened for us, but it’s still not something we would say no to.

“My daughter might say, ‘No, I do not want a brother or sister. I like it the way it is’ but I guess it’s not down to her.”

Jenni and James, who is joining Channel 4’s Ackley Bridge, got a fright a few years ago when Ella had an accident, which has made Jenni a little more cautious.

A seemingly innocuous fall from a tree stump left Ella with a huge gash on her leg requiring a dozen stitches.

“It was absolutely horrific,” says Jenni. “She was passing out because her leg was completely opened up and I was holding it together.

“I have never been more scared. She’s fine and not at all traumatised by it, but I am. I know you can’t wrap them up in cotton wool, but I’m so worried about everything now.

“You have to let them go out and have fun with their friends, but I’m constantly watching her. We were on holiday last week and I was always covering her in sun cream and telling her not to run by the pool.

“She’s just like, ‘Mummy, I’m all right!’ She’s my only little girl and I have to protect her.

“I’m much more aware of health and safety than I’ve ever been. I had never really thought about it for myself before, I was very blasé.

“I was definitely the kind of kid who was climbing trees and doing all sorts. “When you’re growing up in Glasgow in the late 1970s, early 1980s you were allowed to go out on your own and your parents wouldn’t see you all day. That would just not happen now. Times have changed and there’s a different mentality.

“I do look out for Ella, but I’m not allowed to be over-protective.”

Jenni is the bright and bubbly start to the day for early risers – and late finishers – with her popular national radio show.

She is on Heart six days a week, doing the 4am to 6am Early Breakfast programme each weekday before her 6am to 9am Sunday show.

She also just started work on her own podcast last week. But the broadcaster says