I'm a terrible FIBBER!

As she turns 65, Anthea Turner reflects on her influence, inspirations and her future wedding day

- GEMMA CALVERT

Anthea Turner celebrated her 65th birthday on an adventure of a lifetime – waking up in a safari lodge in Tanzania with everything she could ever dream of by her side.

'I am living my birthday wish list. I'm with my life wish, which is Mark,' says Anthea of her half-Italian businessman fiancé Mark Armstrong, 60. 'He couldn't be a better person to have in my life, so to wake up in Tanzania with Mark, in the sunshine, was my best-ever birthday present.'

The former GMTV presenter first travelled to the East African destination during the late 90s, during her two years presenting iconic ITV travel show Wish You Were Here...?, and made a pledge to return one day.

'I wanted to go back and it didn't disappoint,' says Anthea of the country most famous for the Serengeti National Park, Mount Kilimanjaro, plus wildlife-rich safaris.

'Once you've experienced Africa, it gets you – the heady mix of wildlife, landscape and history. One of the most memorable parts was a scenic helicopter flight over Mount Meru and Kilimanjaro before heading to the stunning Bawe Island in the Zanzibar Archipelago,' she adds.

After turning 60 in lockdown, Anthea, quite rightly, lapped up the opportunity to abundantly mark her latest milestone birthday, which fell on 25 May. Celebrations included quality time with her sister Wendy, 57, and dad Brian, 92, plus an afternoon tea for 50 with the team behind her skincare brand.