After years of weight struggles, Josie Gibson says she has finally had enough. “I used to worry about my size and weight, but I don’t any more,” she defiantly tells Closer.
Having fluctuated between a size 20 and a tiny size 6 over the past decade, the 38-year-old This Morning presenter says she’s now happy with her body, regardless of dress size and weight – and it’s all down to becoming a mum to four-year-old son Reggie.
“I got body confident after I had Reg because I displayed this brand new respect for my body,” Josie reveals. “You appreciate your body in a different way after giving birth. It is what it is. I’m just thankful for things that it’s given me and when I look at myself, I think my body is just amazing.”
In the past, Josie – who won Big Brother in 2010 – has not been so accepting of herself. She lost 3st in 2012, going from a size 20 to a 10 for her workout DVD, Josie Gibson’s 30-Second Slim, before losing a further 3st, reaching a size 6, ahead of the release of her second fitness DVD, Josie Gibson’s 21 Day Fat Burn, in 2013.
However, she regained some of her weight after she gave birth to Reggie in 2018, as she revealed she was 16st. Wanting to quit the negative cycle of yo-yo dieting, the star, who’s a natural size 14-16, joined WW, formerly known as Weight Watchers, in 2021 and gave her lifestyle an overhaul. Two years on, she no longer follows their points-based diet but says she uses common sense to moderate her eating.
“When you know you’ve been good, then you can have your treats. I don’t deny myself anything anymore,” she says. “But I do try to get in the gym a bit more – I just enjoy life.” It’s clear to see – when we catch up during a shoot with Cadbury Brunch Bar, Josie giggles as she reveals, “I’ve eaten about 12 bars!”
And having previously vowed to give up alcohol, Josie’s been enjoying a drink or two recently. “I never used to drink but I have had a few tipples lately,” she reveals. “I’ve been drinking the bubbles. I think if you don’t usually drink, then when you do drink, you’re going to have the good stuff!”
Fun-loving Josie’s confidence could be credited to her friend and “angel” Alison Hammond. The pair have a strong connection, bonding over their work on This Morning and being single mums. “I love Alison! She’s the best thing ever,” Josie says. “She’s the kindest, loveliest woman on the planet. When I need a pick-me-up, I can phone her and she will make me feel a million pounds by the time I get off the phone. I would always go to her if I had a problem because she manages to make everything go away. She’s got this special sort of energy.”
Josie and Reg even spent Christmas together with Alison, 48, and her son Aidan, 18. “When we see each other, we laugh and laugh and laugh. We find the fun in everything and anything,” she says. “She’s really funny and she’s really quick-witted. She’s a lot funnier than me. It does wind me up sometimes!”
Josie split from Reggie’s dad, Terry, four months after their son was born, but they remain close and co-parent their child together. “Reggie’s dad is amazing,” she says.
Josie’s mum Mandy and three sisters, who all live nearby, are also on hand for babysitting duties. “I’ve got a strong support network, it couldn’t be better. My mum and my sisters have been helping me, I would be lost without them. I would not be able to do what I do without them.”
Josie has had her fair share of celebrity interviews, having been a presenter on This Morning since 2019. Among her favourites are Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, who were “lovely and really nice”, while she’d love to chat to some funny women. “Dawn French is definitely on my bucket list,” she tells us. “I recently met Jonathan Ross, Amanda Holden and Charlene White at Ascot – they were a scream and I’d like to interview them. Jonathan is my idol, he’s such a legend.”
She’s also got some Hollywood hunks on her dream to-meet list. “Leonardo DiCaprio is a bit magical, he’s just brilliant. But I would literally fall apart,” she says. “And I was in love with Jared Leto from My So-Called Life.” She adds, “I haven’t met him, sometimes you don’t want to because you have this vision of what they’re like and they might not live up to my expectations!”
Cadbury Brunch Bar has teamed up with Josie Gibson to elevate snack time with tongue-in-cheek ASMR content that features a symphony of sound, texture, and flavour. Dubbed But Actually Tasty, the ASMR content showcases how Cadbury Brunch Bar elevates simple ingredients such as oats, honey and chocolate chips into culinary heroes that are actually tasty.