'IT WOULD BE BORING IF EVERYONE WAS THE SAME!'

Dame Kelly Holmes on joining Loose Women and inspiring the Royal Family

- JULIE ANN TRAINOR

It's now more than two years since Kelly Holmes joined Loose Women, but the way she's slotted in, it feels like she's always been there.

In recent months, she has taken a bit of a break. But her warm and easy-going charm has seen her become a firm favourite with fans. However, life hasn't always been rosy for the two-time gold-winning Olympian, who has been refreshingly honest about the trials and tribulations she faced as a gay woman serving in the military. The 54-year-old also recently revealed on-screen how her teenage mother was forced to put her into a care home temporarily as a child, but visited her every day until she regained custody. Luckily, Dame Kelly has learnt how to turn adversity into positivity and on that note, she tells Woman's Own what lies in store for 2025.

Hi Kelly! You haven't appeared on Loose Women for a while - why is that?

I was on loads during the summer, but I travelled to Machu Picchu, in Peru, in September and completed a five-day trek for the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust, which raises funds for disadvantaged young people across the UK. I was also at the Paris Olympics, so it was a busy few months!

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