Conrad leaving 'Hills' to lead 'normal life'

Lauren Conrad has revealed that she decided to quit The Hills after becoming tired of leading a double life.

Last week, MTV bosses confirmed that the 23-year-old fashion designer would be leaving the scripted reality show at the end of its current fifth season.

"You see us on the show and we appear to have semi-normal lives, but if you watch any entertainment news show, half of the cast is being swarmed by paparazzi," she explained to Us Weekly.

"I'm excited to go back to having just one life, because there were times that I got them confused."

Conrad, who previously starred in MTV's Laguna Beach, described her decision to leave as "bittersweet", saying: "I loved doing it and had so much fun, but it came to a point where I had done it long enough."

She added: "There have been some scenes - extra scenes that'll probably never come out - of me getting upset and taking my mic off. I say, 'I'm done!' and lock myself in my room.

"There was a time when I was really stressed, and I would get sick a lot. I think I was sick all of season three!"

The fourth season of The Hills, which began in 2006, currently airs on MTV One.