THE TV presenter, who caught coronavirus earlier this year, tells all about how 2020 has helped her grow.

Kirsty Gallacher is remarkably upbeat for someone who caught coronavirus, saying she feels "very, very lucky" to have spent lockdown in the "dream house" in Ascot she bought at the end of last year.

"It was almost fate, looking back, because [the house] nearly fell through last summer," she says of the barn conversion in the Berkshire countryside.

"We were in heaven, really, compared to a lot of people who were stuck in cities."

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The TV presenter was joined some of the time by sons Oscar and Jude, who split their time between Gallacher and her ex-husband, former rugby player Paul Sampson. The couple split in 2015.

Suffering with Covid-19 at the end of March wasn't heaven, Gallacher admits, but says she only had the virus "moderately".

"I wasn't hospitalised, but I did speak to a GP on the phone. I had all of the things - sickness; sorry to say it but diarrhoea; I had the cough."

Unfortunately, Gallacher's parents caught the virus off her (when she wasn't showing symptoms) but all made a full recovery and now, the 44-year-old is looking on the bright side.

She said: "I was tested and was very strongly Covid positive and antibody positive."

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But there is a positive to come out of this challenging period. The mum-of-two says that being forced to spend more time alone this year has helped her learn how to be happy on her own - something she struggled with in the past.

"Touch wood, I've possibly cracked that - which was a real problem for me and caused me major distress when I got divorced.

"It was one of the biggest causes of my terrible couple of years of anxiety, not dealing with things very well because I couldn't be on my own.

"I cope better now, which is really, really lovely. And I'm much happier in my own skin."

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During lockdown, the broadcaster - who is an ambassador for a skin treatment called Ultherapy - said she has been enjoying not wearing make-up, and admits she was shocked when she saw herself fully made-up for a virtual interview on Good Morning Britain.

"I looked at myself after and I thought 'Oh God, you look awful'," she says with a laugh.

So, it's no surprise her favourite cosmetic products are all about enhancing one's natural beauty.

These are Kirsty Gallacher's beauty must-haves:

Ark Conditioning Body Serum, £35

"I use Ark products on my face and they do this incredible Conditioning Body Serum. It's basically a moisturiser, but it's a serum rather than an oil - you put some in your palm and it goes so much further.

"The other thing is it gives your body a little bit of a sheen, but it's not greasy, because it's a serum. I'm obsessed by it."

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara Black, £11.99, Superdrug

"If I had to take one piece of make-up on a desert island, it would be mascara with a really good wand.

"I hate thin wands - it's got to be one that you know will give you lots of layers but won't clog your lashes. I think Max Factor is pretty good for that."

Murad AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser, £38, Cult Beauty

"I'm quite fussy about what I put on my face, and this is amazing, It's great for the neck, because that's the area I worry about - the neck tells a thousand tales, doesn't it?

"It's wonderful, and then you put loads of moisturiser on after and it feels so good."

Neal's Yard Rose & Geranium Roll On Deodorant, £8

"Natural deodorants - I've tried them all, because I wouldn't use a spray any more, so I was really scouring to try to find the best roll-on.

"Neal's Yard do the best deodorant I've ever used in my life and I'll never swap again."

Moroccanoil Treatment, £32.85, FeelUnique

"While I'm on holiday, I'm putting oil in my hair. I don't have a flaky scalp or anything like that, but I can get a bit of a itchiness in hot weather.

"Moroccanoil is great for the scalp and the hair, I just coat it when I'm outside then put my hair up in a knot, it's wonderful."