My nan told me to work at Lidl because they pay well – now I host Holly Willoughby’s This Morning, says Josie Gibson
SHE’S spent three years in a supporting role on This Morning and is one of the show’s most popular faces.
But after stepping into Holly Willoughby’s shoes for the first time in November, Josie Gibson showed her star potential — and went on to present the flagship ITV daytime show with Vernon Kay just weeks later.
Her presenting slots proved hugely popular with viewers, who called for her to become a more regular fixture on the presenting roster.
And it’s likely Josie will get her big chance when Holly takes a step back to film a new BBC challenge series with Wim Hof in the coming months.
Bubbly Bristolian Josie, 36, is still having to pinch herself as she takes in just how far she has come.
She says: “It was only a few years ago that my nan suggested I apply for a job at Lidl because they are good payers.
“I think something has always had my back, I don’t know what it is. I suppose I’m quite religious.
“Then again, you don’t know what’s around the corner — it could be here today and gone tomorrow, so you’ve got to enjoy it.
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“My family have been my biggest fans and supporters of all. I’ve got a massive family and I think I’ve received a message from them all, and I haven’t been able to get back to each one.”
Josie first found fame in 2010 when she won Big Brother with almost 80 per cent of the public vote — the highest of any of the show’s series.
Alongside her co-star and then boyfriend John James Parton, she went on to land two of her own reality TV series before becoming a regular guest on panel shows.
A hit with viewers, Josie joined This Morning in 2019 as a competition announcer.
Body-confident and sexier
She quickly became known for her comedy timing and was the face of everything fun on the programme, from its live competitions to a mini-holiday series with the show’s new Friday host Alison Hammond.
Being seen by more than a million viewers each day has seen Josie’s fame skyrocket, and she says: “When someone asks me for a picture, I think, ‘Oh my God, someone wants a picture of me!’ It’s really flattering.”
Her new-found fame and recent promotion to working alongside Vernon — who Josie says is “lovely, real salt of the earth” — has also seen her approached for a big-money underwear advertising deal.
And Josie, who has slimmed from a size 20 to size 14, says she feels more body-confident and sexier after losing the weight.
I’ve not put any pressure on myself whatsoever, and I’ve not restricted myself. I’ve just made good decisions
Josie Gibson
She says: “I haven’t bought any new clothes, but an underwear brand who are amazing want to work with me.
“I probably shouldn’t say anything. They’re about real women, but I still want to look and feel good.”
Josie credits her weight loss to Weight Watchers and was unveiled as an ambassador for the company earlier this month.
And although she did indulge at Christmas, she says her diet is still on track.
She adds: “I’m going into my size 14 jeans again. I would say they’re a bloody squeeze.
“I didn’t restrict myself over Christmas. I have fluctuated a little bit and went up and down.
“I was an 18-20 before and now I am a 14-16 so I’m happy with that. I never know how much weight I’ve lost in stones because I don’t weigh myself any more.
“I used to have lots of scales, but I don’t own any any more. I’m purposely not going by the scales any more because sometimes you become so fixated on the number.
“I’m now going by how many workouts I can squeeze in during the week, and how well I can eat, and how much water I can drink that day. I no longer have to weigh myself at WW either — that’s now optional.
“I’ve not put any pressure on myself whatsoever, and I’ve not restricted myself. I’ve just made good decisions.
"At WW there’s loads of zero-point-based foods to choose from, so I’m eating all the good stuff and I’m feeling fricking great.”
For Josie a major push to get back into shape was for the sake of her three-year-old son Reggie.
At WW there’s loads of zero-point-based foods to choose from, so I’m eating all the good stuff and I’m feeling fricking great
Josie Gibson
She says: “I definitely have a lot more energy and I’m able to run after Reggie now.
“He’s as fast as lightning. I’ve got to get up in the mornings and go, and I lost that for a bit.
“Life is funny — it can throw things at you, but when you’re feeling fit and healthy you can get on with it. I do my running in HIIT (high- intensity interval training). But I want to improve in longevity training.
“I was really good last week, and I did a Blaze workout three times at a David Lloyd gym, but then I’m working away this week, so it just depends.
“Nothing is set, but I’m going to get much more structure this year.”
Josie is currently single following her split from Reggie’s dad Terry, when he was just four months old.
The pair, who kept their relationship out of the public eye and have never revealed Terry’s surname, moved in together in March 2020 during the first lockdown so they could co-parent Reggie, but Terry moved out in the July.
Now, although Josie is feeling more confident than ever, she makes it clear she is conflicted about getting back on to the dating scene.
When asked if she is ready to find a new boyfriend, the star says: “I don’t think it would be fair on them because I work and I’m looking after my little boy.
“If I am dating someone, that’s time away from Reggie, and I want to give him everything I’ve got at the moment.
“However, at the same time I would like to be taken out for dinner and to have a little bit of attention. I do, and I don’t — I can’t work it out at the moment.
"It’s hard because if I met someone I really liked, you want to give some of yourself to them and I feel like I’ve not got enough of me to give away at the moment.
“And I don’t want people in and out of his life. It would be hard, wouldn’t it?”
Marriage also seems firmly out of the question for now — even if she does find Mr Right.
It takes my brain that little bit longer than the average person to connect with the body.
Josie Gibson
Josie was a bridesmaid for her sister Anna last year and says that while the whole day was perfect, she was a bag of nerves.
She recalls: “I’m not joking, I stand up in front of millions of people every day and I go on TV.
“But nothing is scarier than walking down the aisle. I had to walk her little boy down the aisle, and, oh my God, I was a wreck.
Fierce competition
“I was shaking and everything. I didn’t know everyone, I was a bag of nerves, and I thought to myself, ‘I could never do this’. I was shaking. I couldn’t even look up.”
Although Josie is happily single, she is certainly not short of admirers — of all sorts.
And she says she no longer reads her direct messages on social media because of some of the suitors who are trying to attract her attention.
She says: “One time I did check them, and I saw something so horrific.
“This man was exposing himself and — put it this way — he had a body like Baywatch and a face like Crimewatch. So now I never check them.”
In the coming months This Morning fans will be hoping to see more of Josie on their screens — and it might not be the only programme that she gives a whirl.
Previously she has had two of her own reality shows, John James And Josie: What Happened Next, and There’s Something About Josie, and she competed on Channel 4’s winter sports show The Jump.
Now she fancies a whirl on Strictly Come Dancing.
She says: “I would love to, but what I’m not very good at is dancing to somebody else’s moves. When I’m at aerobics classes,
"I’m the one who can’t keep up with it, and I’m never in line with the rest of the class.
“It takes my brain that little bit longer than the average person to connect with the body.
“Let’s not put it out there. Strictly will think I’m gagging for the job.
“The competition is so fierce. I’d be so worried that I’d be out first. I would also struggle with dancing in heels.
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“I can’t even wear heels, let alone dance in them.”
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