TV presenter and podcast host Fearne Cotton has revealed she is ready to embrace a more joyful and carefree lifestyle in her 40s, after dedicating over a decade to motherhood and building her brand.
The 43-year-old broadcaster, best known for her work on BBC Radio 1, Top of the Pops, and her podcast Happy Place, told Women’s Health UK that she feels she has been “missing out” and wants to focus more on socialising, cooking for friends, and enjoying nights out.
‘Now I want more fun’
Reflecting on her journey, Cotton said:
“I’ve dedicated the past 12 years to being a mum and building Happy Place. I still want to do all of that, but I’ve been missing out on just having fun.
“Now I’m in my 40s, I want more fun – to see mates, have lunches at my house and cook for everyone, go on little nights out and dinners and not care so much about getting back late.”
She added that spending time with good people and feeling joyful is essential for overall well-being.
“Feeling joyful, happy, and boosted by good people is so important for your health.”
A year of change and recovery
Cotton’s desire to prioritise fun and joy comes after a challenging year, during which she underwent surgery to remove two benign tumours from her jaw.
Discussing her recovery, she admitted that the experience made her appreciate her health more than ever.
“I think anything related to your health does slightly stop you in your tracks. I didn’t feel too worried or scared – I found the whole process of healing so fascinating.
“I was just watching Bad Sisters and my face was healing, without me telling it to do it. It was a good reminder to look after myself more thoroughly and made me feel grateful for my health.”
The presenter also faced personal upheaval, announcing her split from musician Jesse Wood, her husband of 10 years, earlier this year.
Cotton has two children, Rex and Honey, with Wood, and is also a stepmother to his two children, Arthur and Lola, from a previous relationship.
More Read
A career spanning decades
Cotton first rose to fame in the late 1990s, hosting children’s television shows for GMTV, CITV, and CBBC.
She later became a household name, co-presenting Top of the Pops, The Xtra Factor, and making history as the first regular female presenter of the Radio 1 Chart Show in 2007.
From 2009 to 2015, she hosted her own weekday mid-morning show on BBC Radio 1 before moving to BBC Radio 2, where she now presents Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton.
Beyond broadcasting, she has built a successful wellness brand with her Happy Place podcast, where she interviews celebrities and experts about mental health and happiness.
Embracing life in her 40s
Now, as she enters this new phase of life, Cotton is determined to strike a better balance between work, family, and fun.
Her comments reflect a growing movement of middle-aged women rejecting outdated expectations and embracing social lives, self-care, and adventure.
Fans can read the full interview in the April issue of Women’s Health UK or online at womenshealthmag.com/uk.
