Age isn't a barrier TO ANYTHING

Jo Whiley on anxiety, the menopause and changing priorities

-  ARIANA LONGSON

She's been a mainstay on both radio and TV for over three decades, rising to fame presenting Top of the Pops in the 90s and becoming the first woman to helm the Official Chart show on BBC Radio 1. Since then, Jo Whiley has become one of the UK's most highly-regarded presenters, adored for her relatability and infectious passion for music. And after more than 30 years in the business, the star, who turns 60 in July, shows no signs of slowing down. 'I love the enormous variety of what I do,' she says, explaining, 'One day, I can be talking to Monty Don about a garden concept and the next, I'll be in front of 2,000 people all dancing and jumping up and down to the songs I'm playing... I'm super super lucky.' Here, Jo opens up about her mental-health struggles, why age should be no barrier for women and how the gym saved her.

Stage fright

It's hard to believe that a seasoned industry professional like Jo, who DJs in front of crowds of thousands of people, suffers from anxiety. But the Radio 2 presenter says no matter how many times she's been on stage, the nerves are always the same.

'I do get anxiety quite a lot,' she admits, explaining, 'If I've got a big gig coming up I will go into a very bad mood for a few days beforehand because I'll be worrying,' adding, 'No matter how many times you walk out onto a stage in front of people, it's scary. It's not a natural thing to do.'