OK - Gail Porter - A Beauty Special

Men just love Gail Porter. Recently described as TV's sexiest babe, when OK! met up with her, two top-selling men's magazines had put her photograph on their cover. You can see why. With long blonde hair. creamy soft skin and big green eyes, Gail's a knock-out with the boys. She's fun, too, with a bubbly personality and wicked sense of humour so you would imagine she has men falling at her feet. Not so; incredible though it may seen, Gail. 27. has not had a boyfriend for two and a half years. I've been so single-minded about my career I just haven't had time fur a relationship? says Gail. who presents the BBC2 kids' programme, Fully Booked, and is currently fronting Channel 5's Movie Chart Show and recently stood in for Melinda Messenger on Melinda's Big Night In. 'At the moment I don't really mind too much - I'm loving my independence, but sometimes I do think it would be nice to have a cuddle. My mum bought me jasper, a massive soft toy - it's sort of a comfort thing when I'm feeling insecure. I cuddle him at night'

Gail confesses she is hopeless in chat-up situations. 'I'm the worst person in the world for knowing if someone likes me or not; I can't read the signals and unless a man actually said: "Look, do you want to go out?" I wouldn't have any inkling'

Nevertheless, speculation about Gail's love life has been rife in the press recently. especially since she stripped off for a photo session in a mens magazine. At the time, her bosses at the BBC were said to be less than amused, though Gail says it was a lot of fuss about nothing. 'I think the press were thinking, let's have a go at another children's TV presenter, but the fuss has calmed down now. and I don't regret it - my mum absolutely loved the pictures.

'I never set out to cause an outcry. or shock people - I'm just me. I think that's why kids relate to me, I don't pretenci to he perfect - on TV I make mistakes all the time. You shouldn't treat kids as though they're stupid - they learn so quickly about life from TV and the playground. I think it's important to come across as being real.'

It was Gail's down-to-earth attitude which prompted the Health Education Authority to ask her to be a spokesperson for their Get It On campaign. Directed at 16- to 24-year-olds, it aims to make young people aware of the dangers of having unprotected sex - including tile risk of HIV and unwanted pregnancy - and that the best way to protect themselves is to always use a condom.

I'm not trying to preach, but it makes sense to carry a condom in your pocket before you go out - even if you dont plan to have sex, you never know what might happen. It doesn't label you as being promiscuous. When you're young and not used to drinking. you can get into situations, so it's important to he safe and prepared.'

Not that Gail has been in any tricky situations lately; her social life mainly consists of nights in with her girlfriends and a bottle of wine. 'I'm lucky if I get out once a month!' she laughs. That said. Gail always makes time for her daily work-out at her local health club. Impressively. she's a second dan karate black- belt, a skill she acquired while growing up in Edinburgh. but now she saves her efforts for the gym.

'I'm an early bird and try and get there for six in the morning. spending around two hours doing combination of cardiovascular exercises, swimming and weights. It sets me up for the day and gives me bags more energy,' explains Gail.

'I do it for my figure too. I was about two stone heavier at school, now I'm 6 stone 6lb but I'm small, just over 5ft 4in, and measure 32, 21, 31. But I don't like my body at all - my thighs are too bulky and my chest's too big, not that I can do anything about that. I feel I'm the right weight for my size now. I also keep in shape by eating healthily. I became a vegetarian when I was 18 and normally eat toast and fruit for breakfast, steamed vegetables or a salad for lunch then boiled fish and more vegetables for dinner.'

Clothes are Gail's passion, though finding styles to fit are a bit of a nightmare as she's a tiny size eight. 'I love William Hunt's designs; he makes absolutely beautiful suits in amazing fabrics, but most of the time I wear casual clothes with trainers, stuff that's easy to wear and run around in.'

She loved having the chance to dress up for our photo-shoot. 'I find it really exciting changing my look and trying something different. It's a bit like acting - you're playing a role which isn't necessarily you.'

But away from the cameras, Gail says she's not glamorous at all. 'I'm absolutely useless at applying make-up - I wear some Maybelline mascara and a Mac lipstick and that's it. But I do take care of my skin - I use Thalgo and Philosophy cleansers and toners and Aveda hair products but I don't spend hours in the bathroom. I think eating healthily is more important for a good complexion than lots of expensive creams.'

Incredibly, Gail's only been a TV star for a little over two years. Before that she was behind the scenes, doing just about any job from runner and receptionist to babysitter and production assistant. 'I did anything and everything - I even cleaned railings with a toothbrush! The hours were long, the pay appalling - but I wanted to get on TV.' So Gail got together with a cameranmn and made a showreel of herself talking to people up and down Edinburgh's Royal Mile before sending it to ten TV companies. Five got back to her within a week. She went for an audition on a kids' game show and got the job.

With that she moved down to London and hasn't looked back for a second. Now, there are are rumours she's in the running to take over from Zoe Ball on Live & Kicking and is reported to have landed a role alongside Denise Van Outen in a new series of the ITV sitcom Babes In The Wood, so she's on the verge of the big time.

'I always wanted to be famous - I've got hundreds of videos of me as a child singing with a hairbrush in my hand. I'm very ambitious and focused on where I want to go - I'd love to do comedy and get into writing. I know it doesn't leave much room for a social life, but don't feel sorry for me - I'm having a riot in my job. Men can wait!'