The breakfast TV host

Fiona Philips, 41, is GMTV's breakfast presenter. She is married to GMTV editor Martin Frizell and has two children Nat (3) and Mackenzie (16 weeks). She lives in Wandsworth:

"My new baby usually beats my 4.30am alarm call even though I have already been awake feeding him at midnight and 2am. Our nanny doesn't live in, but even if she did, Mackenzie refuses to take a bottle, so it's all down to me.

"I have my shower and get my clothes ready the night before so I don't have to get up earlier than necessary. There's no time for breakfast before my car picks me up at 5am.

"When I arrive at the studio I have a cup of tea and some walnut bread, then I'm in make-up to give the illusion of a glowing, wide-awake face when I'm actually white and haggard. I'm buzzing with adrenaline as we go on air at 7am and I come off still buzzing at 8.35. I go straight into debrief, interviews, answer letters, reply to invitations and so on. I usually arrive home around noon, not feeling particularly drowsy as adrenaline is still pumping. I feed the baby and may snatch a pitta bread filled with salad for lunch. At around 2pm I really start to 'dip'. I try to snooze, but often doze fitfully as my mind is racing.

"For the last few hours of the afternoon, I'm doing domestic duties or I make work or social calls. The gym is impossible just now. Our nanny leaves at six so I feed and bath both boys, aiming for them to be in bed at 7.30pm.

"Luckily, Martin is home by then, which is a great help. We have dinner - I'm vegetarian so roasted vegetables are often on the menu, otherwise pasta or salad. We usually eat around 9pm which is far too late, but I really can't work out what to do - whether to eat early with the children or wait until I'm ready to drop, with Martin. I'm hardly able to stay awake for Coronation Street and feel pretty irritable by the evening. My dinner is hardly digested before I'm in bed by 11pm, only to be woken up at midnight by Mackenzie. I really love my job, but juggling strange hours with two young children is a bit like being a hamster on a wheel...a very tired hamster.

The expert says: "This is an emergency situation. Naps in the day are discouraged in poor sleepers, but here's someone whose sleep is OK, but their lifestyle is having a strong impact on it. Having a siesta is a necessity. She seems to be coping well, but she would be far better off to eat early with the children, and spend time with Martin relaxing in front of Coronation Street - then, she can go to bed two hours earlier having digested her meal. RATING 4/10