She's a shopaholic with a painful addiction to Primark bargains.

And she's only super-slender because she's managed to kick her junk food habit and haul herself down to the gym.

"I was a size 14 when I joined the show and I was a compulsive snacker.

"I'd munch my way through bags of crisps and packets of Mini Cheddars during the show, then have a couple of bacon butties..."

Michelle is in confessional mode.

"I was 2½ stones heavier than I am now and the radio station equivalent of a couch potato," she tells me. "It was quite a shock when I realised what I'd become by being in this job."

Working in radio had always been her dream – she landed her first job on the night-time airwaves of Manchester's Key 103 at the tender age of 17, having impressed station bosses while on work experience – but it turned out to be her figure's downfall.

"I was always the skinny PE geek at school. But when I started work in radio I didn't get the time to exercise. And I'd have to eat at silly times. I'd grab things that gave me a quick fix of energy."

Deciding enough was enough, she embarked on WeightWatchers, lost a fair few pounds and discovered a passion for melon and Bran Flakes, then decided to get back into her sporty ways.

"I go to the gym three times a week now and I pole-dance to stay in shape, too – it's such a laugh and really tones up your thigh and tummy," says surely the only 24-year-old in Sheffield to have a dancing pole in the kitchen.

"There was nowhere else to put it," she laughs. "My bedroom is so crammed with clothes, there isn't room."

Clothes are her other unhealthy addiction – and as yet uncured.

"I think I do have a problem with shopping... God, yeah," she sighs. "My wardrobe is bursting; my chest of drawers won't shut and I've managed to cram a hanging rail into my tiny bedroom. But I just can't stop buying more.

"I go to Meadowhall about three times a week. I love bargains – I don't really do expensive stuff.

"So I'll head to Primark or TopShop, telling myself I don't have to feel guilty because their stuff is so affordable, then come out with carrier bags digging into my fingers."

She buys lots of little tops, then feels the need to splash out on some accessories to match up with them.

For nights out, she loves a glamorous, girly look and plumps for pretty dresses and high heels. But she's no fashionista, slavishly following those hot new trends.

"I've found that I can't really wear high fashion – I'm curvy and most trends don't seem to suit me," she says.

When she's working, those early morning starts means there's rarely time to think about how she looks.

Jeans tucked into Ugg-style boots (from Primark, naturally) and T-shirts are her fall-back.

"I always buy my jeans from Jane Norman because they're great for girls with hips," confides the Manchester lass.

"I try to put some mascara on at least these days. But you don't want to do much else when you get up at 4.45am five days a week."