Anthea Turner, the former Blue Peter presenter, has revealed why she chose not to have children of her own. In a candid interview, she explained that despite undergoing extensive IVF treatment, she was never able to conceive. However, she finds fulfilment in her role as a stepmother and aunt.
Turner, 54, is stepmother to her ex-husband Grant Bovey’s three daughters – Lily, 22, Amelia, 21, and Claudia, 18. She also dotes on her nephews Jack, 13, and Freddie, 11, the children of her sister Wendy, who is a television presenter best known for Pet Rescue.
Reflecting on her family background, Turner spoke about the impact of her sister Ruth’s death at the age of 15. Ruth had spina bifida and used a wheelchair. Turner said: “Her death had a big impact on all the family because we loved her dearly and spent our lives looking after her. We miss her a lot and think of her all the time.”
Turner grew up in Norton, Stoke-on-Trent, with her parents Brian and Jean, and two sisters. Her father was a mining engineer who later worked for the family cabinetmaking business, while her mother was a teacher who retired to care for Ruth. Turner recalled that her parents had a specially adapted bungalow built for Ruth, and that she became an expert in knowing every service lift in Stoke to help get her sister around.
Despite the challenges, Turner described her family as close-knit. She also shared a fond memory of the family dog, Pat, a stray Heinz 57-variety that her father brought home. “He was totally untrainable because he had spent too much time on the streets,” she said.
Turner, who has also presented GMTV and launched the National Lottery, said she fell into presenting by accident but has no regrets. She now runs a home storage system business.
