The radio and TV presenter, 31, on bad boys, tattoos and being Ronnie Wood's daughter-in-law
*My life used to be work and my cats *– that was it. Now that I've become a mum [Cotton has a six-month-old son, Rex, with Jesse Wood] I've discovered a whole new world of responsibility. I wanted children desperately – it was just a question of finding the right guy and it being both our right time.
*I didn't really know who I was *when I was presenting children's TV [Cotton won a competition to host The Disney Club at 17]. It's bad enough being a teenager anyway – you get up and say: "I'm going to be like this pop star today." I would look up to people like Zoë Ball and try to be this big, jolly personality. Now I realise you can only be yourself – it's all people believe.
*I'm not a fighter.* I used to be, when work was all-encompassing. Now I let things come as they come. If people don't want me for the job, I'm not the right person.
*My nose is all my dad's*. It's the Cotton nose right there.
*Our generation want things quickly and now.* You really see that when you're working in radio – you're teasing a song and people are getting annoyed waiting. But we live in an age where people go on Instagram to get their endorphin hits.
*My mum taught me *that you don't have to do things the "normal" way. I wanted to be an actress and a dancer, and she was all for it. My dad is the practical one. He's just a very kind, rational man.
*I grew up buying my clothes at Wembley market. *I was never going to become the girl who hit up Bond Street. In fact nothing gives me a panic attack like expensive clothing.
*The tipping point of my career *was doing my first* *Children in Need. There I was, standing next to Terry Wogan and this big yellow bear. I felt like I'd stepped into the TV.
*You cannot fix the bad boy. *He'll just break your heart and you'll resent him forever. Trust me.
*There may be one or two tattoos I regret* now that I have the wisdom to know not to put certain things on your body. But it's all beautiful art. A Mark Mahoney [Cotton has the artist's work on her arms and back] is like a Picasso. He does Johnny Depp – and me.
*Childbirth is fantastic*. It hurts, but there's a surprise.
*It comes with the job that you get criticised by people online. *To me it's just a tiny bit of shit in the soup. Sometimes the trolls even apologise to you.
*I never thought I would be related to **Ronnie Wood**. *I'm the biggest Stones fan, but now he lives down the road and is just Rex's granddad.
Fearne Cotton returns to Radio 1 weekday mornings from tomorrow. Her clothing and homes ranges are available from very.co.uk Reported by guardian.co.uk 21 hours ago.
*My life used to be work and my cats *– that was it. Now that I've become a mum [Cotton has a six-month-old son, Rex, with Jesse Wood] I've discovered a whole new world of responsibility. I wanted children desperately – it was just a question of finding the right guy and it being both our right time.
*I didn't really know who I was *when I was presenting children's TV [Cotton won a competition to host The Disney Club at 17]. It's bad enough being a teenager anyway – you get up and say: "I'm going to be like this pop star today." I would look up to people like Zoë Ball and try to be this big, jolly personality. Now I realise you can only be yourself – it's all people believe.
*I'm not a fighter.* I used to be, when work was all-encompassing. Now I let things come as they come. If people don't want me for the job, I'm not the right person.
*My nose is all my dad's*. It's the Cotton nose right there.
*Our generation want things quickly and now.* You really see that when you're working in radio – you're teasing a song and people are getting annoyed waiting. But we live in an age where people go on Instagram to get their endorphin hits.
*My mum taught me *that you don't have to do things the "normal" way. I wanted to be an actress and a dancer, and she was all for it. My dad is the practical one. He's just a very kind, rational man.
*I grew up buying my clothes at Wembley market. *I was never going to become the girl who hit up Bond Street. In fact nothing gives me a panic attack like expensive clothing.
*The tipping point of my career *was doing my first* *Children in Need. There I was, standing next to Terry Wogan and this big yellow bear. I felt like I'd stepped into the TV.
*You cannot fix the bad boy. *He'll just break your heart and you'll resent him forever. Trust me.
*There may be one or two tattoos I regret* now that I have the wisdom to know not to put certain things on your body. But it's all beautiful art. A Mark Mahoney [Cotton has the artist's work on her arms and back] is like a Picasso. He does Johnny Depp – and me.
*Childbirth is fantastic*. It hurts, but there's a surprise.
*It comes with the job that you get criticised by people online. *To me it's just a tiny bit of shit in the soup. Sometimes the trolls even apologise to you.
*I never thought I would be related to **Ronnie Wood**. *I'm the biggest Stones fan, but now he lives down the road and is just Rex's granddad.
Fearne Cotton returns to Radio 1 weekday mornings from tomorrow. Her clothing and homes ranges are available from very.co.uk Reported by guardian.co.uk 21 hours ago.