Kate Lawler quits Virgin Radio after six years to be more present in child's life
Kate Lawler has announced she is quitting her job at Virgin Radio, "to be more present as a mum".
The former Big Brother winner – who became a mother to daughter Noa in February 2021 – has worked for the radio station since 2016.
Lawler, 41, revealed on Instagram: "This will be my last week on @virginradiouk Drivetime after SIX wonderful years with the station. It’s not been an easy decision for me to make and I know that I’ll return to radio broadcasting in the future but right now, it’s time to take a break."
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She added that while the radio station had allowed her flexible working hours of three days a week since becoming a mother, she wanted to spend more time at home with her daughter before she starts nursery.
Lawler – who has spoken publicly about battling post natal depression after the birth of her baby – added that she had not been able to enjoy her maternity leave as much as she'd have liked to.
She wrote: "I want to be more present as a Mum, to spend as much time with my daughter before she starts nursery, then school, and to enjoy quality time together. I never did enough of this during maternity leave because of mental health issues and taking on too much other work outside of radio."
Lawler added that she hopes to return to Virgin Radio in the future.
She said: "Thank you to the bosses of Virgin Radio for being incredibly understanding and supportive of my decision and for holding the door open when the time is right to come back.
"I really tried to make it work while juggling lots of other projects and being a Mother, however right now, it’s no longer possible to continue the way I have been."
Lawler joined Virgin Radio in 2016 hosting the afternoon show, and moved to the Drivetime slot of 4pm to 7pm in 2019.
Lawler, who won the third series of Big Brother in 2002, lives in London with 13-month-old Noa and her fiance Martin Bojtos.
After winning the Channel 4 reality show she landed a radio presenting role on Capital FM and also co-presented Channel 4 flop breakfast show RI:SE in 2003.
The reality star welcomed baby daughter Noa in February last year.
Noa was born 11 days early but was revealed to be "happy and healthy" following a complication during her birth.
Lawler had previously publicly admitted she had not been sure if she wanted to become a mother in her podcast Maybe Baby.
She told Hello magazine: "I turned 40 in May and suddenly I felt grown up and like I was ready for something and I didn't know what it was."
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Lawler had been dating partner Martin for eight years when he proposed in 2018.
They had been due to tie the knot last year but were forced to postpone their wedding due to the coronavirus pandemic, so they decided to have a baby in the meantime.
Watch: Kate Lawler documented her pregnancy for MTV
