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Anthea Turner has revealed her struggles with perimenopause , which occurred during one of the most challenging chapters of her life. In 2012, the former GMTV presenter started experiencing symptoms she found difficult to articulate and made the decision to see her GP. "The most difficult thing for me at the time was actually explaining myself," she said. "When I started out on my journey, there just wasn’t the conversation. You could, if you really looked, find something – but nobody really wanted to talk about menopause, because it was this horrible admission as a woman that you’re getting old – and God forbid we want to admit that." After breaking down whilst describing her symptoms at her local surgery, the broadcaster, now 65, was handed a prescription for tranquillisers. She continued: "He said, 'I’m going to prescribe you tranquilisers.' Before I even took one, I thought: no, no, this has got to be wrong – and obviously I went on my own journey." However, that journey proved anything but simple. Turner was also facing difficulties in her marriage to then-husband Grant Bovey, CEO of Imagine Homes, who had filed for bankruptcy in 2010. "My ex-husband’s business was going down. I rolled up my sleeves and did what all women do, 'I’ll work my way out of this'," she said. "...I was literally commuting back and forth to Canada and filming and coming home then somewhere in all this melee I was going through the menopause as well." Turner even penned a letter to her husband attempting to explain what she was experiencing. She continued: "I tried to put into words what was happening to me, but then of course I later found out he was having an affair and wasn’t interested in his sweaty wife. "Your confidence takes the hit – and confidence is the key to life. When you start to lose it, it’s a downward spiral." Nevertheless, Turner revealed how recognising her diminished self-assurance proved pivotal in transforming her menopause journey. "It’s probably the best wake-up call you’ll ever have to take control," she said. "Up until then, we’ve partied, we’ve eaten whatever we wanted, we haven’t really thought about our health because we didn’t need to. Then there comes a point where you have a big night out and it takes three days to get over it." You might be surprised to learn that her approach was centred on vanity. She continued: "How was I going to get my confidence back? I was going to use vanity and self-preservation. "Sometimes that’s what you need. You look in the mirror and say, OK then, my skin, my hair, my waistline – they don’t look the same. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of vanity to get that confidence back." Turner’s transformation began with her diet. "I cut out processed foods and sugar," she said. "[Now] I do the 80:20 rule – 80 per cent of things are good and 20 per cent I can have that croissant. I apply it to food, clothes, exercise, everything." She later added: "The cleaner you eat, the less complicated it becomes. If you have to put your glasses on to read the ingredients on the back of a packet, it’s probably not good." The turning point that sparked her dietary transformation was the noticeable change she started witnessing in her hair. Previously her signature feature, it had begun snapping off. It's a common tale for numerous women experiencing hormonal shifts, as declining oestrogen can leave hair thinner, more parched and fragile. "When I cut sugar, slowly that tanker started to turn around," she added. "I didn’t change my haircare routine – it was beauty from within." Like many women in midlife regaining confidence, Turner noticed more conversations about hair and lash loss—topics once taboo but now openly discussed on social media. She finds that using serums and scalp oils, particularly brands like UKLash, has been very helpful. The same principle applies to skincare. During the first five years after menopause, collagen levels drop by 30 per cent. She emphasised that post-menopause skin 'requires more moisture and fewer harsh products', and mentioned that ingredients such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide are particularly beneficial. Turner also admitted that she’s not above making a few aesthetic adjustments. "I haven’t frowned since I was 40 – frankly, I’ve needed to on many occasions," she laughed, referring to Botox injectables, "But I cannot always look as angry as I feel. "I do have a tiny bit of filler just in the apples [of my cheeks]. Then I do all the facial exercises and I have got the [LED] mask and I love it but I don’t know how much it works. I’m just always trying to keep things in balance." For Turner, menopause was therefore less an ending than a recalibration. And now in her 60s, she’s busier than ever and incredibly optimistic. "First off, you have to admit things are changing," she said. "You might not want another baby, but when those doors close, it affects you mentally. Still, once you accept it, there’s freedom. You’ll speak with greater confidence because you’ve got more air miles behind you than in front of you."
