Christine: “I won’t put pressure on myself as a new mum”
Pregnant Christine Lampard opens up about the next chapter in her life as she prepares to welcome her first baby with husband Frank
She’s previously spoken S about her delight in being a stepmum, revealing that while it was a tough role to take on, banishing the traditional idea of the “evil stepmother” had become her main focus.
Now three years on since she married retired footballer Frank Lampard, presenter Christine Lampard, 39, is expecting their first child together and says her role with Frank’s daughters, Luna, 13, and Isla, 11 – from his previous relationship with Elen Rivas – has proved to be an invaluable experience.
The TV star – who is thought to be due around September – explains, “Being a stepmum has definitely helped prepare me. I’ve spent time with the girls since they were four and two, so I have been through the toddler years, starting school, and the teen years are just around the corner. The baby years will be new to me, though! So I’ll take it day by day, like every other new mum.
PUBLIC SCRUTINY
“When it comes to mummy advice, people are telling me to do my best, relax into it and not put too much pressure on myself. You can’t always be looking at everyone else.”
Christine previously blasted the public pressure put on her and Frank – who she started dating in 2009 – to start a family, insisting last year, “Everyone seems to be fascinated by my body clock. As far as I am concerned, my attitude is that I will wait and see what happens.”
The couple ruled out the idea of IVF last summer – explaining, “I know friends who have torn themselves apart and jeopardised their relationship because going through IVF was so traumatic and I don’t know if I could do that to myself or Frank.” Then Christine fell pregnant naturally.
And she says she’s enjoyed a chilled out pregnancy so far. The presenter insists, “I’m relatively relaxed now. With the kind of work me and Frank do, we’re always open to change. We have been all over the place and have moved about 20 times during our relationship. You have to be adaptable, but as long as your foundations don’t change too much, you can work around everything. I wish sometimes I was more of a planner, but I don’t seem to have that gene in me.”
Christine has also always been a strong advocate for health and fitness and released a fitness DVD back in 2011. But she’s relaxed her regime during her pregnancy.
“I haven’t done anything at all during the whole pregnancy! I’ve just been walking my dogs every day. I completely swear by that – I do about half an hour every day and that keeps everything ticking over.”
SCARY INTERVIEWS
Christine – who rose to fame on The One Show alongside Adrian Chiles back in 2007 – is now a firm favourite on Loose Women, but is set to step in for Lorraine Kelly on her morning chat show for the summer.
And despite her lengthy career, Christine – who has also presented This Morning,
Dancing On Ice and Daybreak – admits she can still get nervous interviewing A-listers.
She adds, “Once, we had a big chat lined up with Joan Collins and she was stuck in traffic. The director said, ‘She’s not going to make this, perhaps she’ll talk to us on the phone.’ So I did an ad hoc, live interview with her in the back of the car, which was scary! But that’s live telly – you’re always on your toes!
“But saying that, once a Hollywood star is sitting in front of you, it’s very rare to feel there’s something unusual about them. They’re just human beings, there to talk about their jobs! It’s my job to make them comfortable, so being jittery helps no one!”
And Christine says that, while she’s interviewed Kate Winslet, Robbie Williams, and Samuel L. Jackson, she still has a bucket list of celebrities she’d love to meet.
“I love comedians, so anyone like Will Ferrell, Steve Carell or Kristen Wiig – I just adore her. Julia Louis-dreyfus, from Veep, would be great and Peter Kay. I’ve interviewed him before, but I’d make a slot for him on the show any day of the week.”
‘Celebs are just human beings’
NEW ADVENTURE
But Christine says, while she has to pinch herself over achieving her dream career, she’s most excited about the next chapter in her life – welcoming her new baby. The star adds, “I feel like I’m lucky with what I’m doing – not in a million years did I think I would be sat on Lorraine’s sofa when she wasn’t there. That’s a big deal for me. But personally, I’m looking forward to baby time and that new chapter really. I’m every excited about what’s on the horizon.” Watch Christine on Lorraine, ITV, weekdays 8.30am/9.25am