With her radiant skin and glossy hair, it’s hard to believe Kym Marsh hits the big 5-0 next year. And the Morning Live presenter admits people often sound surprised when they learn her age.
‘I don’t know whether it’s because I act childish, or whether they’re trying to pay me a compliment and say I don’t look 50,’ laughs Kym, who is YaYa (grandmother) to Teddy, Polly and Clay. ‘I feel pretty good, I’m also very lucky and fortunate to be where I am. I’ve told everybody to expect something every single month next year, I'm going to milk it for everything it's worth.’
With a milestone birthday approaching, Kym – who has joined forces with the NHS to encourage smokers in the UK to quit – is making a conscious effort to protect her wellbeing. As well as giving up cigarettes, she recently cut back on booze.
‘I did almost two months at the beginning of the year without any alcohol,’ she says. ‘I just thought, “Right, let’s start the year as we mean to go on.” I’ve cut down and while I enjoy the odd glass of wine, I don’t miss it. It’s good to detox your system.’
Sleep has also become a big priority, especially with the perimenopause on the horizon. ‘Sleep is a big one, especially as I’m getting older and I’m heading towards the “Big M”, says Kym, who reportedly split from toyboy boyfriend Samuel Thomas, 30, earlier this year. ‘It’s very important to me – my party days are over! I take magnesium and I like therapeutic smells in my bedroom, like lavender candles. It doesn’t help that I sleep with my one-year-old cockapoo, though, he’s up and down on the bed constantly!’
Kym, 48, readily admits it was her love for her family that prompted her to give up smoking. ‘I’ve had a very strange relationship with smoking,’ she admits. ‘I started in my late teens and gave up when I had my son [David, 29] and daughter [Emily, 27], then I started again. I was more of a social smoker, but it frustrated me. During stressful times I’d use it as a way to calm down.
‘But I’m a grandparent now. Emily’s first born, Teddy, is five and I’ve got Clay, who’s two. I’ve also got a step granddaughter, Polly, who is eight, and my daughter Polly is only 14. I want to be around to see my grandson get married. I don’t want anything hanging over me that might cut that time short.’
A near tragedy further fuelled Kym’s determination to quit. ‘I’m 49 in June, and my dad was 49 when he had a massive cardiac arrest,’ she says. ‘He was a 40-a-day smoker and while I never smoked anywhere near that, the association really affected me. There’s clearly heart disease in the family, so it’s important we take care of ourselves.’
Quitting can be notoriously challenging, but Kym avoided scenarios where she’d be exposed to temptation. ‘You need to be with people who are supportive, even if they are smokers,’ she adds. ‘There are more tools available to us now than ever, and the free NHS Quit Smoking app is fantastic. Any time I felt particularly stressed, I’d go for a run or a walk.
‘It’s not an easy ride, but don’t give up, the benefits are so worth it. My chest felt less congested, my fitness improved and food tasted so much nicer. Quitting also makes your skin look much better, it doesn’t help when you’re putting toxins in your body!’
Kym still regularly hits the gym too. ‘I use a bike for cardio, and I use machines for exercises like leg extensions,’ she says. ‘I can’t run now because of my knees, but I walk my dogs a lot. I’m currently rehearsing for Abigail’s Party, which is a half-hour walk from where I’m staying. Instead of catching the tube and being lazy, I get some steps in.’
When it comes to diet, Kym takes a good bacteria supplement to support her gut health, and avoids eating late at night. ‘I try not to eat bread as it bloats me,’ she says. ‘I like porridge for breakfast, because it gives me energy, or eggs and avocado. I eat a light lunch, because I don’t want to feel sleepy during rehearsals. Dinner is usually lean meat and veg.’
While Kym follows a ‘basic’ skincare routine, she says she wasn’t impressed when she ‘toyed with the whole aesthetics thing’ a couple of years ago. ‘I did bits and bobs, and I didn’t like it,’ she says. ‘I kind of looked at my face and went, “That doesn’t look like me”, so I didn’t do it anymore. Since I stopped, everyone’s told me I look really well, so there’s something about growing old gracefully. It’s also difficult for an actor if your face doesn’t move properly. I’m enjoying the way my skin is and how I’m ageing at the moment. The only thing is, I feel like my neck’s aged more than my face has, but there’s not much you can do about that!’
Kym joins forces with the NHS to encourage the six million smokers in the UK to quit smoking this No Smoking Day. For help, download the free NHS Quit Smoking App.