5 minutes with... Nell McAndrew

Nell McAndrew

Nell McAndrew

Leeds-born model Nell McAndrew, 35, is encouraging the nation to enjoy a 'Loving Squeeze' in a bid to raise money for charity.

The Bold 2in1 Gel campaign is designed to raise cash for Home-Start, the UK's leading support charity, providing a helping hand in the community.

She lives in London with husband Paul Hardcastle and their baby son, Devon.

TELL US ABOUT THE MUMS' LOVING SQUEEZE CAMPAIGN AND HOME-START?

I said that I'd be involved straight away actually. It's really nice that they're working with Home-Start, which is so important. They actually take support into family homes. It really focuses on the special bond that you can have as a family with your kids. I'm lucky, I get big squeezes every day. It's amazing. You think you can have had a really bad day, and then it's all all right just with one squeeze. It's just a really nice thing.

IS IT TOUGH JUGGLING LIFE AS A MUM AND AS A CELEBRITY?

I just think of myself as a mum. I suppose I class a celebrity as being like somebody like Madonna or Tom Cruise. I live a relatively normal life. I just do a different job to other people. I struggle all the time to get the right balance with things, but I certainly don't take on too much work now. I realised I want to spend as much quality time as I can with my son. I might do a job where it might be half a day and then I might not do one the week after. I'm really lucky in that I get lots of different things offered, but at the moment my priorities have changed. I really want to be the one that sees him grow up and shares the special squeezes and special moments. To me that's what I want to experience and I don't want to look back and regret anything and think: I wish I'd spent more time with him.

YOU WERE THE FASTEST CELEBRITY AT THIS YEAR'S LONDON MARATHON. HOW DID IT FEEL?

I really enjoyed it and I think I was more looking forward to it this year than other years because the first time it's always an unknown, and you're a bit nervous. I'm always nervous before it but I knew I could do the distance and knew that I'd done my long runs in training, so I felt confident with that, so I knew I'd be able to get round. I knew that with the crowds cheering you on, you can really get round, so I just wanted to enjoy it and I did it faster than I thought.

ASIDE FROM RUNNING, HOW DO YOU STAY IN SHAPE?

I do exercise a fair bit, but not half as much as I used to. If my mum or my husband are around, I might nip off and have a run and come back, but I don't spend five times a week at the gym like I used to years ago. I'd rather be at home playing Thomas the Tank Engine with Devon. I do my exercise because I enjoy it. I like how it makes me feel and it's really important to look after your health. Hopefully when I'm older, I won't get as many ailments and illnesses as I would have done if I hadn't have exercised. I always do it for different charities and each charity I work with I usually take part in some sporting event.

WOULD YOU EVER LIKE TO GO INTO ACTING?

Oh no. I can only do a Yorkshire accent [laughs].

WHAT HAVE YOU GOT PLANNED FOR THE FUTURE?

I'd like to be involved in more fitness type things. I'd love to have more children in the future and I'd love to be a personal trainer and fit it into my family life.

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