emotionalties Nadia Sawalha

TV presenter and actress on teens, tagines and the art of taxidermy

My husband Mark [Adderley] gave me this heart necklace for my 50th birthday – he makes me feel loved every day. We met while working on a BBC programme called Perfect Partner. He was the director and I was the presenter, but no one else got together apart from him and me. This is an old photograph of my daughters [Maddie, now 13, left, and Kiki-Bee, nine]. I thought motherhood would be a breeze, but it was hard to adjust to. Having the girls has taught me to be a better friend and a better daughter – I understand my parents much more now. Maddie and I recently took part in the Boots Teen Talk campaign. I loved watching her get excited about being a part of my presenting world. I was so proud when she said: ‘My mum doesn’t just listen, she hears me.’ We’ve watched Toy Story hundreds of times – it’s the film we go to when someone’s ill or needs a cuddle. We own all the characters, but Woody [left] is our favourite. He takes pride of place on a shelf in our living room. Mark bought me this miniature Antony Gormley artwork for my birthday about eight years ago. It reminds me of that joyful feeling of leaping around as a child, believing you can fly. Mark’s family once owned Adderley potteries until his great-great-great grandfather lost it all through gambling. This teacup is from a collection that his grandmother Nanny Thelma spent years scouring markets to buy. Mark introduced me to the joys of contemporary art. We both love the work of taxidermist Polly Morgan – one Christmas we both ordered a piece from her without the other knowing. I bought this tagine pot when I was filming the BBC’s Eating in the Sun. After I won Celebrity MasterChef in 2007, Mark had the idea of sending me to learn to cook a leading chef’s most memorable holiday meal – and then serve it to them. I’m happy being a good home cook, feeding the people I love. These Vivienne Westwood heels are so uncomfortable, but I don’t care. They’re great to wear with a little black dress. At 51, they make me feel as though I’m still young, hot and relevant.