Former children’s telly presenter and Dancing On Ice runner-up Laura Hamilton moves into grown-up TV as the new host of A Place In The Sun: Winter Sun…

How did you get into TV?
I spent five years behind the scenes, starting as runner on T4 when I was 18. I had a university place to study law and psychology — but I also really wanted to work in TV from a young age. I applied to loads of TV companies and got the usual rejection letters, but then suddenly landed a job as a runner on T4 when Dermot O’ Leary was there. So I deferred my uni place for a year and never looked back. I had a great time there. I learned not to go around saying that I wanted to be a presenter. It was important to learn about the industry.

Then when I was 21 I went for a panto audition, and met an actor who was in EastEnders playing Dr Anthony Trueman [Nicholas Bailey], and he told me to pursue my dream. I saw an audition advertised looking for a kids' TV presenter who could sing and dance. So I went for the audition, which turned out to be for The Fun Song Factory.

Doesn’t your dad also have a showbiz claim to fame?
My dad was a drummer — he was Uncle Bulgaria in the Wombles. And he is in a band called Burlesque who supported Genesis.

What did appearing in Dancing On Ice mean for you?
I feel like I’ve worked very hard to get where I am. I haven’t had it easy. I’ve earned my place. When I was in Dancing On Ice I wasn’t a celebrity. I wasn’t known to the nation. A few kids and their parents would recognize me. At the time I was on Wake Up World on Nickelodeon. I had presenting experience, but I wasn’t a celebrity. It was hard competing on the show against very well-known people like Vanilla Ice and Kerry Katona. I knew I was going to get some stick.

So how did you get on to Dancing On Ice?
I auditioned the same as everyone else. Everyone has to audition and have an assessment with the people behind the scenes — to see what they’re like. Like any reality show, they’re building and casting the characters that are going to appeal to everyone. They often have children’s TV presenters — like this year with Sam and Mark and former Blue Peter presenter Andy Akinwolere. I was in that bracket. I was fearless. I was up for trying and doing everything, I wanted to skate fast – it might have been that there was another kids TV person up for it who was a bit more scared. I was in the right place at the right time and was completely up for it.

I didn’t care what the press wanted to write — they said who is she? But I knew I had good experience, and I had to be able to skate well to stay in because people would vote more for people they knew. I loved every minute of it. I had the best time. I was very honest that I did the Dancing On Ice because I wanted to use it as a platform to move out of kids TV. I wanted to move on and do other things.

What offers did you get after Dancing On Ice?
Lots of children’s TV, which I said no to — it is bloody hard because you don’t want to turn down work. I met Simon Cowell and was up for The Xtra Factor. That was the most nervous I’ve ever been. He was really nice, charming, and straightforward.

Then Fort Boyard came along. I was initially reluctant because it’s aimed at teenagers. But then I really wanted to do it.

What other shows would you like to work on?
I’d love to do entertainment presenting and go down the Holly Willoughby route, but I’m loving A Place In The Sun. I started filming at the beginning of November. I’m presenter of A Place In The Sun: Winter Sun, and also doing some A Place In The Sun: Home Or Away.

Tell us about your own love affair with property.
I’ve definitely not been influenced by my parents — they’ve only moved three times in their lives. They’re not risk takers. They think I’m mad. Buying, doing up, selling. But I love it. I love the transformation. I’ve done seven homes in 10 years.

I didn’t mean to fall into this, it just happened. I wanted to get on the property ladder as soon as I could. I’ve always had an old head on young shoulders. I wanted to buy a property more than I wanted to go to university. I saw all my friends go to university and get into debt — I’d rather have got a mortgage and invested my money.

I’d always worked throughout my school holidays and at weekends, saved for a deposit, and bought a one bedroom flat. Two months later The Shopping Channel, where I worked as a floor manager, went under and I lost my job. It was a nightmare, so I rented it out and moved back in with my parents. But it made me start to think this is quite a good idea.

Emma Messenger