Gaby Roslin has said she will “never apologise for saying I’m happy” following going through moments of grief and her divorce.
The former presenter of Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast was married to musician Colin Peel for nearly a decade from the 1990s and they share a daughter.
The 59-year-old’s mother died more than 20 years ago around the time she was beginning a new job.
She told Prima magazine: “Not all my life has been joyful. My mum died young. I’ve been through divorce and lost some of my dearest friends.
“You go through those things and you realise that life is precious and, without sounding trite, I will never apologise for saying I’m happy.”
Roslin said being with husband David Osman for 18 years, with whom she shares another daughter, has been like they “fit together”.
She added: “We still really appreciate what we have. The things that makes it work is that we’re not in competition with each other: We’re very, very different.”
Speaking about how “life is crappy for a lot of people”, Roslin said: “I’m someone who has always been very positive and full of laughter, but I’m aware that it’s not something everyone can hold on to.
“There are coping mechanisms that have helped me, and I know they can help others, too.”
Roslin, who presents a show on BBC Radio London and has done stints on BBC Radio 2’s The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show and BBC One’s Morning Live, gave up drinking alcohol five years ago because she enjoys going walking, she said.
“There’s a lot of ageism out there,” she also said. “It’s no secret in my industry, but it’s everywhere. You can’t do this or that if you’re a certain age. No! I’m lucky that I’ve carried on working, but I have friends who have experienced it.
“I know an actor who, at 55, was going for the part of someone older than her and was told that she was too old. They cast a 40-year-old. That’s so wrong.”
The presenter is also an author and is set to release Spread The Joy: Simple Practical Ways To Make Your Everyday Life Brighter, which is described as guided journal that focuses on stories, illustrations, anecdotes and tips and tricks.
Read the full interview in Prima’s November issue, on sale on September 27 in supermarkets and online at Mags Direct.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here