When we speak to Josie Gibson she is just back from a long day at Legoland with her two-year-old son, Reggie. “I’m burnt to a crisp!’ she laughs. “But it’s nice to have some sunshine. I’m exhausted but we had a brilliant time.” Josie has become a regular on our screens, making us laugh presenting her hilarious segments on This Morning for the past two years. The role takes her up and down the country – and abroad before the pandemic – on a regular basis, and she’s also a busy mum. It’s fair to say the 36 year old has a lot on her plate, so it comes as no surprise that she says she doesn’t have much time to dedicate to staying slim these days.
Josie, who’s 5ft 9, famously lost 6st in 2012, dropping from a size 20 to an 8. She regained some weight after having Reggie in 2018, and in January found herself back up to a size 18-20, but she is now a comfortable 16 thanks to following WW [previously Weight Watchers]. She now has her sights set on a size 14 goal and has given up putting pressure on herself when it comes to her weight.
“It’s always been a battle for me,” she says. “A few months ago I got down to a size 14 and then I stopped doing it [the plan] for a bit! I’m about a 16 at the moment and I’m back on it now.”
But Josie says that despite having loved being a size 8, it’s not realistic these days.
She says, “I don’t want to be really, really slim because it just kills me to get there – it takes a lot of exercise. I used to cycle to the gym, do two HIIT sessions back to back and then cycle home again. I was so fit, but how can you do that with a two year old? I’m a mum with a job so it’s not do-able any more.”
Though Josie admits she felt amazing when she was slimmer, she’s happy with her body now. “I did enjoy being super-skinny, when you’ve been fat all your life it was great being there. I felt like Pamela Anderson when I was a size 8,” she laughs. “It was lovely! But even now I’m comfortable wearing bikinis because I’m happy with my curves.”
Josie admits she has always struggled with her weight, but says finding WW has given her good balance in her life.
CHECK OUT CBB's most OUTRAGEOUS moments
Celebrity Big Brother's most outrageous moments SLIDER
1 of 31Roxanne Pallett accused Ryan Thomas of punching her
When Roxanne Pallett and Ryan Thomas were playing fighting no one was quite prepared when the Emmerdale actress claimed that he punched her hard in the ribs. She was quick to tell the rest of the housemates, ask Big Brother why Ryan wasn't removed from the house and branded him 'a liar', 'manipulative' and 'calculating'. During an eviction the CBB crowd were chanting for Roxanne to leave and shortly after she quit the show.That didn't stop the nation from being furious and Ofcom received over 11,000 complaints. She's since apologised for her actions but Ryan's brother Adam has slammed her apology and so has the Corrie star's girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh.
2 of 31Kim Woodburn's explosive row
Security entered the house in 2017 to escort Kim Woodburn out, following an explosive row with her housemates.
3 of 31Christopher Biggins' shocking removal
In 2016, Christopher Biggins was removed from the house after making shocking homophobic and anti-Semitic comments.
4 of 31Stephen Bear and Chloe Khan's bathroom saga
In 2016, Stephen told Chloe he wanted to "f**k her in the bathroom" while the pair got intimate after locking themselves in the bathroom... the noises were unbearable!
5 of 31Stephen Bear's love affair
In 2016, Stephen Bear's girlfriend entered the house to confront him after he cheated with housemate Chloe Khan.
6 of 31Gemma Collins' controversial decision
In 2016, Gemma Collins chose to have a professional blow dry at the expense of her fellow housemates losing out on hot water and the use of hair appliances for the day.
7 of 31Megan McKenna's meltdown
In 2016, Megan McKenna's drunken meltdown got her removed from the house by security.
8 of 31Stephanie and Jeremy's romance
In 2016, Stephanie Davis publicly cheated with Jeremy McConnell, while her boyfriend tuned in to watch every night... awkward.
9 of 31'David's Dead' confusion
In 2016, Tiffany Pollard was hysterical after mishearing Angie Bowie's news that her husband David Bowie had died, and mistaking him for her fellow housemate David Gest.
10 of 31Stephanie Davis' knickers humiliation
In 2016, John Partridge, Christopher Maloney and Darren Day came across Stephanie's dirty underwear and publicly mocked her stains, referring to them as "pigeon s--t".
11 of 31Winston McKenzie's homophobic slur
In 2016, housemates were left stunned as Winston McKenzie's homophobic views were exposed in a task, as he compared gay adoption to "child abuse".
12 of 31Lewis Bloor and Marnie Simpson's shower scene
In 2016, Marnie Simpson and Lewis Bloor enjoyed a naked romp in the showers... Nice.
13 of 31Perez Hilton's sexual threats
Perez Hilton repeatedly tells Calum Best he'd "shove his huge dk up your ae" during a heated row in 2015.
14 of 31Perez Hilton harassing Katie Hopkins
During their daily bust-ups in 2015, Perez Hilton tried to lick Katie Hopkins whilst singing "lick it good, suck this d**k just like you should"... charming.
15 of 31Alicia Douvall banana-gate
In 2015, Alicia Douvall was left in tears after housemates caught her stealing bananas and hiding them under her bed... there's worse sins!
16 of 31Ken Morley's racist slur
Ken Morley was removed from the house in 2015 for using the 'n-word' in a heated discussion with Alexander O'Neal.
17 of 31Lee Ryan, Casey Batchelor and Jasmine Waltz's love triangle
Following her on-screen romance with Lee Ryan, Jasmine Waltz re-entered the house after he quickly moved on to fellow housemate Casey Bachelor in 2014.
18 of 31Leslie Jordan's row with Frenchy
In 2014, Leslie Jordan lost his cool with Frenchy after she cut up his underwear, calling her "white trash" and a "stinking French s**t!"
19 of 31Dappy's raunchy bathroom scene
Dappy 'windmilled' after jumping in the pool with Luisa in 2014.
20 of 31Spencer and Heidi Pratt's villainous antics
In 2013, Spencer and Heidi Pratt prevented housemate Claire Richards from getting a letter from her children... AND celebrated it.
21 of 31Lauren Harries falling over 24/7
Lauren Harries constantly tripped over in 2013. How?!
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22 of 31Denise Welch's drunken antics
In 2012, Karissa Shannon threatened to leave and sue the show as a drunken Denise Welch jokingly pulled down her trousers and exposed her bum.
23 of 31Frankie Cocozza and Nicola Maclean get steamy in the hot tub
Frankie Cocozza and Nicola Maclean get steamy in the hot tub in 2012.
24 of 31Julie Goodyear's banana scene
Julie Goodyear got a little too personal with a banana in 2012.
25 of 31Jedward get vajazzled
Jedward got vajazzled by Amy Childs in 2011... not something you want to see every day.
26 of 31Alex Reid's beauty regime
Alex Reid got a fake tan in the buff in 2010.
27 of 31Verne Troyer's drunken collision
Verne Troyer had a head-on collision with the Diary Room after getting a bit tipsy in 2009.
28 of 31Jade Goody vs. Shilpa Shetty
Jade vs Shilpa in 2007 led to one of the most controversial CBB moments EVER and to Jade's silent eviction from the house.
29 of 31George Galloway's cat incident
George Galloway pretended to be a pussy-cat in 2006. A nation shuddered.
30 of 31Jackie Stallone's shock arrival
Jackie Stallone's shock arrival in the house in 2003 was accompanied by the immortal line: 'Yeaaaah, Jaaaackie!'
31 of 31Vanessa Feltz tragic meltdown
In the first ever CBB in 2001 Vanessa Feltz had a meltdown and scrawled posh words all over a table.
WATCH What happens backstage at This Morning? The cast spill some serious tea
“You can eat what you want if you’ve got enough points and you can earn them through exercise, too. I love a bit of bread! I’d like to be a 14, that’s my goal. I’ve got enough pressure in my life though, so I’m not putting a timescale on it. I’m enjoying eating well and making good food choices. And if I hadn’t started WW this year, I’d be the size of a house by now, I’d have carried on putting on weight.”
Josie is currently single, though says she is happily co-parenting with Reggie’s dad, property developer Terry, 51. The pair split when Reggie was just four months old after a series of rows, but Josie says she’s delighted they’ve found a way to parent together.
“Reggie is so happy, and I am really happy with the situation,” she says candidly. “When you break up with someone, if you keep causing arguments the only person it affects is your child at the end of the day, so you have to bite your tongue.”
But she says she’s ruled out having more children.
“Having Reggie has aged me!” she laughs. “I worry about everything now. I couldn’t have any more children – imagine running after Reg and having another one running in the other direction. I think I’m all right with one!”
READ MORE
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Josie Gibson reveals incredible THREE dress sizes body transformation
Having lived in her hometown of Bristol for most of her life, with a stint in London after winning Big Brother in 2010, Josie says she’s now desperate to swap city life for a country pile.
“I’m renting at the moment but looking for somewhere to buy. It’s been hard because I want somewhere to keep the bees, somewhere to keep the chickens, somewhere to put the greenhouse. I’d love to be more self-sufficient and live off the land. I’m currently growing tomatoes, runner beans, basil and mint. I love planting things and getting more in touch with nature,” she says, adding with a laugh, “I’ve really changed and I love it!”
Read more in this week's Closer, out now