"I’ve got a very frustrated bloke beside me": Christine Bleakley is comforting her injured fiance through a difficult summer

"I’ve got a very frustrated bloke beside me": Christine Bleakley is comforting her injured fiance through a difficult summer

When England qualified for Euro 2012, Christine Bleakley knew exactly what to expect.

A lonely summer at home as football star fiance Frank Lampard gave his all for the team in Poland and Ukraine.

So while a thigh injury that ruled the midfielder out of the tournament was devastating for him, his glamorous other half admits it was a boost for her.

“I’ve had Frank home for the summer so we’re really trying to make the most of that time together,” says Christine.

“None of us would have wanted it but we really have made the most of it.

"It’s given us nice opportunities to spend lots of time with the family, which was completely unexpected.

“We went to Ascot for his birthday and then went out for a dinner afterwards, which was lovely. We had a very nice couple of days.”

Sporty: Christine in training with Roxanne Pallett and Heidi Range

The Dancing on Ice host, 30, is dressed in running shorts and top ready for a morning run in London’s Battersea Park.

She is training for next month’s 5km Race for Life and promoting a new Vodafone scheme that will allow people to donate to the cancer charity by text.

It makes a change because she has spent most of her spare time these past few weeks watching the European championships with Frank, 34.

She admits the Chelsea star gets frustrated watching his England team-mates in action from their sofa in London.

“Football-watching is interesting at home,” she says. “It’s as passionate as it always has been in our household.

“But, as you can imagine, I’ve got a very frustrated bloke beside me because he wants to be out there.

“I’ve tried to cheer him up as much as I can.

"He would have given anything to be there but he is a professional and knows the score.

“He’s slowly overcome that a bit now.

"He’s watching England like everyone else, tensely hoping for the best, and so far so good, fingers crossed.”

Passion: Christine is keeping Frank's mind off the football

Christine says she was not a big fan of the game before she met Frank â€" and his dad Frank Sr, 63, who played more than 500 games for West Ham United and later became a successful coach.

“I was aware of it, obviously, but now I’m a huge fan,” she says.

“I would never have arranged my day around the fact that the Euros were on. Now it’s almost legally binding!

“I do certainly arrange my life around football now. I love it and can actually hold a conversation about it â€" though maybe not particularly intellectually.

"It’s Frank’s dad who has got me into it more than anyone.

"I sit with him through all the games and you do learn all about it â€" I’ve picked it up.”

Despite unexpectedly spending the summer with injured Frank â€" the father of daughters Luna, six, and Isla, five, with ex Elen Rivas â€" Christine is already preparing for the return of Dancing on Ice, co-hosting with Phillip Schofield.

“Yes, I†™m back for Dancing on Ice again this year and the emails have started already about the next series,” she says.

“It’s funny how a show like that takes over four months of your life.

"You go away from it and it’s summer time yet I’m already thinking about Christmas.”

And she has also found time to front a special Olympics edition of the show featuring former Games stars.

Footie fan: Christine celebrating Chelsea's Champions League win with other WAGs

“It’s called Going For Gold and will be coming out over the next few weeks. That’s the next big thing.

“Torvill Dean are dancing, even Robin Cousins, who dances the most incredible routine I’ve ever seen.

"He looks good anyway, let’s put it that way. It’s certainly served him well.”

Christine says she can’t wait for the London 2012 games to begin.

“I’m very excited about it, she says. “From my point of view we’ve had a crazy summer, first the Diamond Jubilee, then Euro 2012 and next the Olympics will kick into everybody’s consciousness.

“People in London seem to be worried about how the roads and things are going to be affected but I know the torch ­travelling around the country has really inspired people.

"They went mad for it back home in Newry, where I’m from in Northern Ireland, and I think that’s a sign. There’s loads going on before the Games actually happen. It’s very exciting.”

 

Back for more: Christine and Phillip Schofield in publicity photo for last Dancing On Ice series

Race For Life is very close to Christine’s heart, having just lost a friend to cancer and through a scare of her own.

The money raised goes towards funding cancer research and campaigns.

And for the first time, everyone taking part can register for the JustTextGiving scheme online and be allocated a unique vest number that friends and family can quote to make donations by text.

“I’ve been working with Race For Life recently and obviously the hope is to beat cancer,” says Christine.

“Frank and I have just lost a friend this week at 40, the sports journalist Danny Fullbrook. Frank was very close to him.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to get involved with for some time. It’s about raising awareness. Over 600,000 people are involved.

“Cancer affects so many families of all ages. It’s something that to be honest we all try not to think about but sadly it is thrust upon all of us, sometimes at the craziest of times.”

< p>Christine recently had three moles removed after doctors feared they could be cancerous.

She says: “You have that period when you’re checking it and, goodness me, it was terrible. All sorts of thoughts run through your mind but, thank the Lord, it was all fine.”

* Christine Bleakley is backing Vodafone’s JustTextGiving service and encouraging women to sign up for Cancer Research UK’s Race For Life.