EVER wondered what it's like behind the scenes of ITV's This Morning with Britain's most famous couple Richard and Judy?

Having been picked as a slimmer for the programme's new year diet I was about to find out.

Full of excitement and apprehension, my adventure began with an enduring eight-hour train journey to London. Fortunately, a luxurious room awaited me in one of London's top hotels, which helped compensate for the dire trip.

I was picked up at 7am the following day, full of the flu and feeling rather sick at the hought of revealing my weight to the nation. On arriving at the South Bank studio I was surprised at the very low key entrance that looked somewhat like a warehouse and the friendly reception from the production team.

I was then escorted to the famous green room where I met the other slimmers. We were soon all getting on as though we had known each other years and I began to feel more relaxed -- especially when I realised I wasn't going to be the heaviest! Phew!

Richard and Judy arrived and went straight into make-up -- they were unpretentious and just seemed to be getting on with their job. The rest of the well-known team began to arrive including chef Phil Vickery and agony aunt Denise Robertson. It was really weird to meet them all in the flesh -- I felt as though I knew them all already.

The show's fitness guru Joanna Hall briefed us with the diet and exercise plan she had devised and took all our vital statistics while we were called on and off the set for our live appearances. It was all very exciting and I'm looking forward to next week already.

The diet lasts for 16 weeks and the goal is to lose two stones. It combines lots of exercise with a sensible eating plan which is largely based around detoxifying your body (yes, that means no alcohol.) It also means I will be appearing on the show every Monday until Easter.

Staff at the DeVere Hotel in Blackpool will be helping me shed those pounds as they kindly offered myself and family a free membership for their newly re-furbished gymn and pool.

I am planning to renew my wedding vows this summer and stun my husband with my new hour-glass figure. I was six months pregnant when we originally took our vows in December 1999, so I couldn't wear a fitted dress. Hopefully, this time I will be able to wear something slinky and fitted.

If you would like a booklet on this diet, send a cheque for £2.95 made out to Granada Television Limited and address it to Joanna Hall's Slimming Club, New Year Campaign, PO Box 1000, Manchester, M60 3JD.