SWINDON television star and celebrity mum of the year Melinda Messenger is to become a mother for the third time.

Melinda, 32 who lives in Wanborough, is currently working co-presenting the LivingTV chat show Loose Lips and will soon be appearing in adverts in magazines and catalogues to front a lingerie advertising campaign for high street retailer Bhs.

The former model and star of Celebrity Big Brother admitted that the pregnancy had been a surprise.

She said: "We hadn't been trying for a third child. I said to my husband, Wayne, 'Er, I think I might be pregnant'. His jaw hit the ground.

"What I didn't know was that was that while I was gushing about wanting a big family, I was four weeks pregnant with number three."

The couple already have two boys, Morgan, three and Flynn, one. The new baby is due at Christmas.

Earlier this year, she picked up the Celebrity Mum of the year award, beating competition from people such as Victoria Beckham and Jamie Oliver's wife, Jools, for the title.

The Bhs campaign is Melinda's first major modelling role since she became a mother.

She once said: "Having children doesn't mean you stop wanting to look good."

She began her career posing for a local double-glazing firm, which brought her to the attention of the national newspapers.

She left modelling behind, and the job offers for television presenting began pouring in.

She has hosted a range of programmes including Eurotrash on Channel Four.

She also co-presented game show Fort Boyard with Leslie Grantham.

Her latest programme, Loose Lips, has proved to be a huge success and has now been moved to a prime-time slot of 6pm with shows repeated at 2pm the following day.

To find out more about Melinda visit the This Is Wiltshire website at www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk.