Hiding at the back of every woman's wardrobe, regardless of her age or shape, you'll find a sad and sorry collection of all her fashion howlers and regrets.

How many of those forty-something celebrities, staring out from the covers of magazines with their beautiful babies, have conceived naturally, or without assistance? Not as many as you might think I would wager - yet for so many women they act as fertility beacons, a symbol of hope in a landscape of diminishing fertility.

I look at my gorgeous girl and boy, with their incredible zest for life, and I count my undoubted blessings. But there's no question about it: I wish I'd started my family sooner. Much much sooner.

I'm not suggesting for a minute that you settle for the first half-decent man who comes along - every woman has the right to hold out for Mr Right - but you may find that really addressing your feelings about having a family means the man you thought was Mr Right comes in a different form.

We actively encourage teenagers not to have babies, we applaud young career women in their twenties, then before you know it you find yourself, as I did, aged 32 at a friend's wedding and being quizzed by everyone about why you haven't got round to reproducing yet.

Coast is my go-to store for any awards do - it's brilliant for occasion wear.

Once, when I was about eight, my mum handed me a sandwich, and I remarked: 'What are those weird things on your hands?' I was referring to the visible pores, which were such a contrast to my own alabaster-smooth skin. My mum looked mortified, while my grandma laughed and said: 'They're nothing - look at mine!'

If it means being settled and content, getting older can be a relief.

Since I was a little girl, my family has taken a holiday to Cornwall every spring half-term.

There's something deliciously flirty about a ruffle.

As a child, I would rush to the school gates as the bell went, to be collected by my mother, Marilyn, who was always immaculately dressed in a pencil skirt and matching jacket.

I wear a lot of block colour dresses on television as the simplicity translates well on camera and blue is often a colour I rely on as it goes with everything.

You don't always have to opt for a dress on a night out - a sequin pencil skirt can be far more chic.

There's no need to go the full hog - a touch of subtle sequins will lift any outfit.

The key to transforming your look with a collar is ensuring that it looks as if it's part of the dress, so there shouldn't be any skin visible underneath.

At 49, you want people to think you are at least a decade younger, not a year older.

I work in an industry where most people are way below 50.

Midlife is a time of explosive change, when our hormones rampage and our bodies alter, forcing us into a whole new chapter of life whether we want it or not. Everyone has a moment when they realise for sure that this so-called passage of time is changing them - and perhaps not in a good way.

There are lots of scary things about getting older, but one of the biggest, I guess, is death itself. Especially in midlife, when we suddenly wake up to the fact we may have fewer years left than we have already lived.

Ageing might have its drawbacks but it brings with it hard-won wisdom and a wonderful sense of freedom.

True, I do love finding something nice for my nearest and dearest, but there is still a pressure to find the perfect present for every member of the family.

Just because it is Christmas doesn't mean you should bottle all your feelings up. Mind you, sometimes being a good wife does mean knowing when to shut up.

Whatever my husband may say, I don't think men really understand what it is like to be a woman, or particularly a mother, at Christmas time.

I think a lot of the political programmes have decided that most people aren't interested in politics, so they broadcast only for people who are.