You live in London with your boyfriend James, but when you see these fabulous properties during filming are you ever tempted to get a place for the two of you by the sea?

"I'd love to walk my dog on the beach every day, and I'd love to run along the coastline, but my work is centred around London.

"If I did move to a coastal location I would consider the west coast of Scotland as that's where I'm from. Whenever I go up there to my mum and dad's it's only 45 minutes to the beach. It's so amazing - you forget what kind of calming influence the coast has.

"I admire these people who are buying second homes to go to on holiday every year. Maybe if I had children I could see the appeal of that. But I've put everything into my house, it's my dream home."

Can you describe it to us?

"It's a modern town house, and to me it is perfect. I'm not someone who has the time or enthusiasm for DIY so it was pretty immaculate when I got it.

"I had all these romantic ideas of buying beautiful Victorian houses and doing them up, but practically speaking it's just not possible. I don't have the time or energy. So I bought somewhere that was very easy. I took the lazy option!

"The downside of my house is that it's white. Having a dog, and people round, means you're permanently cleaning. My dog Alfie is a puggle - a cross between a pug and a beagle. He's very cute, but he's the bane of my life as I have to clean up after him all the time."

Do you have any plans to add to your family besides Alfie? Are kids and marriage on the horizon for you and James?

"I'm sure that's something that will definitely happen one day. We've been together for quite a long time - over five years now – and we're really happy. It just won't happen in the imminent future.

"At the moment I'm enjoying working so much. It keeps me happy, focused and sane. When I've got a day off I just don't know what to do with myself. I'm one of these people who have to schedule their free time. I think that's one of the reasons I've decided to do the London marathon this year."

How's the training going?

"I'm scared. I run a lot but I've never done a marathon in my life. I'm now up to ten miles so that's good, but after ten miles I get bored. I'm doing it for a children's charity."

You've said because you're blonde and work in showbiz people tend to assume you only have one string to your bow. Obviously that's not the case; you love riding, you're interested in science and you've done some acting. Which of these avenues would you like to pursue?

"I'm not good enough for horse riding, although I'd love to do it professionally. Unfortunately I couldn't own a horse because I don't have the time."

What about the acting?

"I was due to be in an Irvine Welsh film called Ecstasy. Unfortunately it never happened and I was gutted. I went to the Scottish BAFTAs recently and I met a lot of people who were supposed to be in it - big Scottish names like Gary Lewis and Colin McCreadie - and we were all laughing about it. "I said to them: 'You can laugh, but that could have been my spring board into movies!'.

"My boyfriend who trained as an actor thinks it's hilarious I was offered a role in a film. I don't know why, because I could have been brilliant; but that's something we will never know. My acting only extends to an extra in Taggart now."

Over the years you've interviewed a broad range of major screen stars. What was your most interesting experience?

"When I started at GMTV in 2000 I did my first celebrity interview on the first day of the job. They phoned and said: 'OK, your first interview is with Clint Eastwood, in Venice.' I just didn't know what to say. I was like, 'Oh My God!'.

"He was such a gentleman and so charming it was really hard to believe I was sitting opposite Clint Eastwood interviewing him. And since then the appreciation and the excitement have never gone. I get excited at every interview!"

Do you get nervous?

"Not like I used to. I remember interviewing Daniel Craig for the first or maybe the second time and just giggling at everything he said. He must have thought, 'Who is this fruitcake? She's laughing at everything I say!'."