It’s my first Christmas away but the Mexico sun will cure my January blues Xposé host Glenda opens up on how she hits a wall at this time of year, but how her husband Rob has come to the rescue
people were thinking that if we were cut to three days then surely we were on the way out. But we knew that what we were going to be doing was working five days a week to create three programmes.
‘That only meant that we would have more time to produce quality content and I feel that is what we have done and that is why our figures have shot through the roof. We don’t get complacent with it either. We are always looking to grow and improve the show and get bigger and better guests and access.
‘Cassie is brilliant and gives a real edge and freshness to the team and Karen is just such a professional and really I think we have found our mojo again. We were nervous to give up the 6 o’clock slot because we had fought our corner there for years and when we were first changed from that, yes I have to admit, I was concerned because it was new and an unfamiliar time slot for us.
‘But it has proved that it works and we don’t miss the 6 o’clock slot anymore and it was a good result for us.’
For the first time in her career time the TV star has gone into business for herself and in partnership with Field’s jewellers has launched her own range of pendants and rings.
There are five designs in the collection and Glenda has always been a lover of tiny jewellery so delicate, elegant, jewellery was the perfect collection to create.
‘Natasha Obernick (of Field’s Jewellers) approached me to see if I would be interested in doing something and I said absolutely I would.
‘Jewellery is always something I have liked and because I am on Xposé I try to have something different to wear each show.
‘I suppose I have developed a bit of an eye for it and we decided to do a collection together.
‘The two of us sat down and I sketched up a few ideas and she knows how to source the metals but I designed them.
‘We went to Germany and met up with a blacksmith and he gave us the product samples and we ended up with this collection. And it is small one because I am nervous about it and it is the first time I have done anything like this.
‘I am on the show all the time and people are always asking me about my jewellery so it seemed like it would be worth doing.
‘I am so glad it is off the ground and we have started on the second collection which was kind of cool. We are going to introduce a few new pieces and that will be exciting and I don’t have them yet but we plan to launch them in early in 2018.
‘I am not one to wear rings so I don’t think we will go down that route.’
According to the website the ‘G by Glenda Gilson’ range features five gorgeous designs in the collection including a star, a fairy, a butterfly, an infinity symbol and a circle. Each piece can be purchased as a necklace or bracelet and they come in three different tones, silver, gold and rose gold as well as being hallmarked in Dublin Castle Assay office. But Glenda is keen to point out that she designed each piece personally and that it is a very personal collection.
‘Look I am a jewellery person and I like to wear a lot of different things and they are not necessarily expensive pieces.
‘I love my bling of course but I love simple and delicate, elegant symbols. I was always getting complimented on my jewellery and I think that it is a great way to express yourself.
‘It is not like trying on clothes and trying to make it fit.
‘I suppose what has blown me away is the manner in which it has been received. People seem to really like them and I am thrilled about it.
‘I was wearing them myself for about a year and people were complimenting me on it but I couldn’t say anything and I was telling fibs about where I got them until we launched it last month.
‘To see people like Michelle Visage, who adores stars, wearing my pieces and wearing them for weeks is great. Then you see someone like Millie Mackintosh wearing the little fairly piece on TV which is just a huge endorsement. Because of course you have doubts and you wonder can you do it and will people like it?
‘Then you see Vogue Williams wearing a necklace and is wearing it for weeks. That is the kind of jewellery it is, put it on and you wear it for weeks and it doesn’t interfere with your life and just adds a little bit of sparkle.’