This Morning presenter Josie Gibson has revealed how a frightening breast lump scare left her fearing the worst. The 40-year-old star said she rushed to her doctor after noticing a change in her breast.

“I checked because I had a funny change in my breast – I had a lump coming out at the side,” Josie recalled. “Luckily it wasn’t breast cancer, it was actually my implant. I got so paranoid I had them taken out, and I tell you what, I felt amazing afterwards.”

Although relieved, the experience made her realise how little she knew about breast cancer symptoms. Now working with charity Breast Cancer Now and bingo brand tombola on their “eyes down, check up” campaign, she’s encouraging women to look for more than just lumps. “I didn’t realise you also need to watch for changes in the skin, dimpling, nipple discharge, or one breast looking bigger than the other. Those early signs could be life-saving,” she explained.

Statistics highlight the urgency: one woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every 10 minutes in the UK, yet fewer than half of women check their breasts regularly. “The numbers are frightening,” Josie admitted. “Me and my friends are now making breast checking part of our conversations. I know nobody likes talking about cancer, but sometimes those conversations save lives.”

Away from health scares, Josie has also had to deal with gout, which she says was triggered by “too much champagne and rich food” while filming Around the World in First Class. “I was living too much of the high life,” she joked, adding that she has since cleaned up her diet and embraced healthier food.

Despite her hectic schedule, the Bristol-born mum-of-one makes time to exercise, hitting her local gym or going for runs whenever she can. “I’m not consistent – my life’s too unpredictable – but I love it,” she said.

Josie’s greatest pride is her seven-year-old son Reggie. “He’s so loving and funny. He’s one of the best things I’ve ever done. Now I wish I’d had five – but I’d never manage it!”

She’s also taking on an ambitious new project: transforming a four-bedroom Eighties house in the West Country into her eco-friendly dream home, which will be filmed for ITV’s Josie Gibson’s Big Country Build. “I’m going to be a beekeeper, grow fruit and veg, and make the home as sustainable as possible,” she said proudly. Until then, she and Reggie will temporarily live in a caravan while the renovation takes shape.

“I’m a little behind schedule, but I’m facing all the challenges head-on. This has been my dream for years,” Josie added.