Susannah Constantine on Strictly, splitting with Trinny and survival: ‘I’ve just had brain surgery – can you not ask me what’s for dinner tonight?’

The extraordinarily frank (and funny) celebrity presenter talks to Charlotte Cripps about her candid memoir – and the tale about the royal family member in the loo that her publisher advised her to leave out of her life story...

The highs and lows of Susannah Constantine’s life are laid bare in her memoir ‘Ready For Absolutely Nothing’ (Susannah Constantine/PA)

Look at this big roll of flab!” cries Susannah Constantine, in absolute horror. It’s a clip from 2004’s What Not to Wear – the now somewhat shocking BBC makeover series she co-hosted with Trinny Woodall throughout the Noughties – and Constantine is grabbing a woman’s midriff through her clothes as though it’s a slab of meat. The show, which ran for five seasons, forced those taking part to dress according to body shape and gave a generation of women complexes about big bums, “sausage arms” or “fried egg tits”. It was also a huge hit, turning its presenters into household names. 

“Oh, can you send me that clip?” asks Constantine, 61, sounding slightly bemused; she has forgotten about that episode.

Back then, she was the more empathetic, approachable one with flaws, whom everyone identified with; Woodall the tall, skinny, bossier one. Both were self-deprecating posh girls, infamous for boob-grabbing. They were catapulted to fame with their brutal fashion advice – and overzealous inspections of their unsuspecting victims. Participants had been nominated by friends and relatives, and were looked over by the duo in a 360-degree mirror room.