ENTERING HER 'SECOND SPRING AS HER CHILDREN FLY THE NEST DAVINA MCCALL ON FINDING SELF-WORTH, FEELING FREE TO SPEAK HER MIND AND SEIZING MIDLIFE WITH BOTH HANDS

Lazing on a palm-fringed beach as the azure Iwaters of the Indian Ocean sparkle in the sun, Davina McCall admits it's a hard job, holidaying in the Maldives.

- ROSALIND POWELL

"It was very difficult, obviously," she says, grinning. "My kids were like: 'What? You're going where? Without us?" Looking fabulous in a range of swimsuits and sun dresses, the mother of three and former Big Brother presenter is modelling for a shoot on the South Malé Atoll.

Luckily, her partner, celebrity hairstylist Michael Douglas, was able to join her. "I was very lucky because my boyfriend also does my hair, so we got to go as a couple. We had an absolutely brilliant time," says Davina, who was on the paradise island in her role as brand ambassador for Tui.

Her children - Holly, 22, Tilly, 20, and 17-year-old Chester - were left behind to brood, although her son is the only one remaining at the family home. 

Holly has moved to Newcastle, where she is in her last year studying dietetics, and Tilly is in Australia, where many of Davina's relatives, including an aunt, uncle and cousins, are based.

"It's a long bloody way," she says of her daughter's location, although she prefers to celebrate rather than mourn her children's growing independence.

"My aim has always been to give my children wings, so they're confident enough to go and do whatever they want to do. Obviously the reality of that will be... quiet. I quite enjoy the chaos. But I'd much rather they went off confidently than clung on to my legs and never wanted to leave." Adored by fans for her work on shows including The Masked Singer, My Mum, Your Dad and Celebrity Gogglebox, the irrepressible 56-year-old presenter who last week visited Buckingham Palace to receive an MBE for services to broadcasting has also been a champion of women in midlife, campaigning on and writing about the menopause, which she has tackled with the same zest and enthusiasm as her long TV career.