A fella? No thanks, I need my beauty sleep... Why Lisa Snowdon doesn't need another George Clooney

Lisa with dance partner Brendan Cole

Lisa Snowdon, 37, the model and presenter, has recently taken over as co-host of Capital Radio's breakfast show alongside Johnny Vaughan following the departure of Denise Van Outen. Now she is about to put on her dancing shoes to take part in the new BBC series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnered with Brendan Cole. She lives in Essex.

Have you ever danced before?
Not recently, unless you count swaying from side to side and trying to stay upright on my high heels in a nightclub. I did do tap, though, when I was younger, but none of the Latin or ballroom stuff. It's tough, like learning to walk all over again.

By the end of the day my feet are killing me, and I'm exhausted  -  I'm up at  4.30am to do the breakfast show, leave there at 10.30am, then it's straight into three to four hours of dancing rehearsals.

Sometimes, after a couple of hours, I feel like I can't take anything more in  -  I'm mentally exhausted as well as physically.

I'll be sweating like a pig, while Brendan just stands there looking as cool as a cucumber. But I love it. My ultimate aim on the show is to do the splits.

How did you feel about being paired with Brendan, the resident lothario?
At first I was worried, although not so much about the lothario bit as his reputation for having a bad attitude. I thought, 'Well, I won't be intimidated by him, thank you very much.'

But, actually, there was no need to be defensive because, so far, he's been absolutely charming. I actually think he becomes very protective of the people he dances with, so some of his outbursts are about that.

Maybe he'll get rattier as the show goes on and the pressure mounts up, who knows? But, up until now, he's been great. Whenever I've got het up he says, 'Listen, let me do the stressing.' He's got a girlfriend now and is incredibly loved up, so I don't need to worry on that score.

Denise left the Capital breakfast show because of the early starts. Do you worry about how they will impact on your life?
Not at the moment. I don't have a boyfriend, which helps a lot. Denise has had an incredibly busy year, and trying to juggle that, plus a relationship , with the early starts was tough.

But I haven't got a love life to contend with, which means I can be quite selfish about having a routine. At the moment, it's bath and bed by 8.30pm, which is crazy, but the only way you can manage, although I'm often still lying in bed at 10.30, my mind buzzing.

It might all change  -  I might meet a fella, although maybe I'll just have to keep him for the weekends. At the moment I'm enjoying not being distracted by boys.

Does Johnny have any annoying habits?
Mmm, I would say the fact that he notices any little mistake or blooper I make. Then he'll secretly get the producers to tape it and later play it time and again and get the listeners to comment on it. He hears everything and doesn't miss a thing.

Would you like a husband and family eventually?
I saw a picture of Halle Berry's baby and she was so cute I thought, 'Oooh, maybe I'd quite like a baby.' But I find it comes in fleeting moments and then passes equally quickly. The reality is there's no room right now. I'm quite 'what will be, will be' about things. I'd like to think I'll have a baby one day, but I'd like a lovely partner first.

Lisa with ex-boyfriend George Clooney

How did you feel about turning 37?
I found turning 30 a bit weird, like, 'Oh, hello, how did that happen?' But so far so good. I don't ever get too depressed on birthdays. The way I see it, my life is pretty good. Yes, I don't have a boyfriend, so, to some people that means my life's not perfect, but you don't always get to tick all the boxes. I'm pretty fussy. I don't want to settle for the sake of it.

As a model, are you a beauty junkie?
Absolutely. I cleanse, tone and moisturise religiously. I'm a Decléor fan, although I'm very switched on to Elemis at the moment, Sharp Shower for early mornings and Aching Muscle Super Soak for my bedtime bath.

Ever thought about having cosmetic surgery or Botox?
It's tempting. I look in the mirror and see lines. I'm a bit torn, to be honest, between, 'Do I age gracefully or start going down the intervention-route?' I see older women who have aged naturally and they're lined, but there's something so elegant and life-affirming about them.

But then I see women who've had a bit of this and a bit of that done and they look good in a different way. So the jury's out at the moment.

And there's also a lot of basic stuff you can do which helps: drink water, sleep, exercise.

Any guilty pleasures?
My very favourite thing at the moment is Marks & Spencer crisps. They sell this mixed bag of crisps, with spaceships, tubes and spirals shapes  -  they are just the best.

There are occasions when I can actually wolf down a whole family pack in a single sitting. I've got a really sweet tooth as well, so I like a slice of chocolate brownie. But I do try to be careful. I've been to see this amazing nutritionist to sort my diet out  -  to help get rid of the sugar highs and lows, as I need to be healthy to maintain the schedule I'm on. So now I'm more conscious of maintaining a good balance between sugar and proteins. But it doesn't hurt to go mad every so often.

Who would play you in a film of your life?
I'm quite scatty, so it would need to be someone a bit bonkers such as Cameron Diaz. Or maybe Jennifer Aniston, as I love her and she's such a girl's girl. We all root for Jen, don't we?

Strictly Come Dancing, tonight, 6.30pm, BBC1.