Andrea McLean: ‘My mistakes haunt me’
TV star Andrea McLean opens up about the long list of things she’s ‘done wrong, messed up’ or wished she could have changed...
Andrea McLean is back in the Loose Women saddle after six months off recovering from a hysterectomy, and the 47-year-old is in a reflective mood. She has had a rocky love life that has kept her in the headlines since she began her career as a TV presenter. She wed childhood sweetheart Nick Green – the father of her 16-year-old son, Finlay – then left him for TV show builder Steve Toms, remarried and had daughter Amy, now 10, but the marriage broke down after three years. She is now happily settled with boyfriend Nick Feeney, who she met on a blind date. But as she heads towards 50, she takes a look back on her life and - like most of us - sees things she wishes she’d done differently.
You’re coming up to 10 years on Loose Women – does that make you the longest-serving host?
It does! And the best thing is, in any other presenting job you’re constantly waiting for a 12-year-old to sneak up behind you and whip your job away. But with Loose Women, every year that passes is more experience you can bring to the table.
Do you ever feel in competition with younger presenters, like 38-yearold Christine Lampard (née Bleakley) and Martine McCutcheon, 40?
Not at all, it’s like new girls joining school. There’s a real sense of solidarity and sisterhood, and we all look out for each other. People love the idea that female presenters hate each other, but it’s not true.
What do you think of Coleen’s victory in Celebrity Big Brother?
She did brilliantly. I think she deserves a prize for just surviving. Most of the Loose Women have been into the Big Brother house, but I just couldn’t do it. I’d be crying every day, because of how horrible everybody is – all that shouting and aggression.
You’ve been with boyfriend Nick now
for three years. Has he restored your faith in love? You know, I think he has. I had completely walked away from the whole idea of it, thinking, ‘Maybe this isn’t for me, this isn’t my destiny.’ But when we met, neither of us were desperately looking, so there was no pressure – it’s just gradually grown into something wonderful.
Any plans to get married?
We get asked this all the time, and he has said to me, ‘ Will you stop saying, “Never again,” because, actually, that is really rude to me.’ We have parked it for the moment, but I will say he has made me more positive about life in every way.
You’re looking fabulous. How are you feeling?
Absolutely fantastic! I have reclaimed my body, and I’m feeling fit and strong. I don’t like this time of year, but I’m cheering up these cold, dark mornings by using a Kellogg’s light therapy bowl which is brilliant. It’s very relaxing and really boosts your mood.
Do you have any regrets?
If you’d asked me this a few years ago, I’d have given you a really long list of things I felt I’d done wrong, messed up or that I wished I could have changed. Now, I’ve made peace with myself. I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t made good and bad decisions along the way, so I’m OK with that. I’ve been carrying a lot of stuff around with me, anxiety and guilt, and now I feel about a stone lighter.
Has it made it worse that your personal life has been made so public?
Not only is it more difficult, but you’re constantly reminded of it. If the woman in the street makes a mistake, time passes and people forget. But for me, everything I have ever got wrong is brought up over and over again. It’s a never-ending loop. So, being able to put it to one side is great. What is nice now is, finally, my headlines aren’t, ‘Andrea’s world is ending’ – that’s great. Life is great.