Reality TV
How are you feeling after a day's reflection on your exit?
"Yeah, I'm bearing up marvellously. The big thing for me is that we start training for the tour next week and I just can't wait to get stuck into that! It's just the thought of it being over that scares me. The tour is just delaying the void in my life to be honest. As soon as that's finished, I'm going to be screaming 'Oh, no!'"
You never stopped smiling at any point on the show. Have there been any moments where you felt a bit blue?
"It's only because I absolutely loved it. Honestly, the only thing getting me through the live shows was the thought of getting the next schedule on Monday morning. I was only doing it because I loved the sport. It's been a joy from beginning to end."
Ruthie was a passionate supporter of you and voted to save you this week. Why do you think she liked you so much?
"Who knows? People's performances affect people in different ways. It was brilliant to have Ruthie's support all the way through. When you start off on this show, everyone's aim is to get that 6.0 and Ruthie gave me one. I'll always leave with that happy memory and she was just so supportive all the way through. I'm very appreciative that she was by my side on the show."
Were you surprised to be in the bottom two for a second week in a row?
"No, I actually predicted it. It was weird because I had this gut feeling all day that we would be in the skate-off. I don't mean any disrespect to Jess, but I thought she would be in the skate-off as well. It wasn't anything personal, I think it was just because we'd both been in the skate-off before. When it was actually announced I thought I was going to wet myself. I knew she was clearly staying and I was clearly going. I could never expect to top a performer like Jessica because she's a better skater. That's the bottom line, she deserved to go through."
Jason complained that the show was still a popularity contest. Do the celebrities get upset when the worst skaters are saved?
"I don't think it's a problem. It's a public show and whoever is left at the end, it's who the public want. That's good enough for me."
You wore some quite revealing costumes on the show. Was there anything you turned your nose up at?
"At the end of the day, there's a team of people who work very hard on costumes and wardrobe. I'm not going to say anything and I'll wear what I'm given. I've seen other people say, 'Oh I don't like my makeup', 'Oh I don't like this costume, let me change it'. I sit in hair and makeup and they are professionals, I trust them completely. I loved them all equally. I loved that whole glamorous side of the show. That was part of the fun."
Were you pleased to show off your sexier side after working on Blue Peter for so many years?
"I felt compared to Blue Peter I was actually more covered up on Dancing On Ice. On Blue Peter I was always in a bikini or felt half-naked. I was pleased on Dancing On Ice to be so covered up. I was wearing three pairs of tights sometimes. That outfit from last week was long-sleeved and completely covered me. Yes it was flesh-coloured, but you couldn't see anything. On Blue Peter - oh my goodness, you only have to get on YouTube and see me running around in my bikini!"
How are you going to deal with the men's magazines knocking on your door?
"I've always had men's magazines knocking on my door from ten years ago during my Miss Northern Ireland days. I think there's a tasteful way to do a lot of things in life and there's a tasteful way to do that. So watch this space."
Do you miss anything about Blue Peter?
"I don't miss Blue Peter at all. I don't mean that in a disrespectful way, but I spent four years working on the show. I think that's enough time for me and it was time to hang up the badge. It is the best job in the world. I never imagined I'd be able to travel the world and meet people like the Queen and David Beckham. It was a tremendous experience from start to finish, but I was beginning to be offered other work and I find it hard to say no to other things."
Would you like to host a big primetime show like Dancing On Ice or X Factor?
"Definitely! Of course I would. My heart is in light entertainment. I'm a fan of shows like Dancing On Ice and to compete on one was amazing. But I'm a presenter at heart and to do something like X Factor or Strictly Come Dancing would be a real pleasure. I know what it's like to appear on a show like this now, so it would be great to work on one."
