She might be a pop star and TV presenter who is married to a heart-throb, but that doesn't shield Kerry McFadden from real life, as she told JENNY SCOTT. . .

FOR a few moments you can believe that Kerry McFadden is a typical working mum. "I've just taken Molly to nursery," she explains, referring to one of her two daughters. "And I've still got the cleaning to do and the washing."

Then, you remember she's the former Atomic Kitten with the bubbly personality who's married to boyband star Bryan McFadden.

"It's so funny," she says. "I got asked the other day whether I do housework and I had to joke, 'No, I get my butler to do it.'

"Of course I do my own shopping and washing. We have a really normal life. We live in Dublin, which is nice because we don't get the paparazzi chasing us and we don't have the press in our face all the time. Our daughters see their mum and dad on the telly and think it's really normal."

Not that Kerry, 23, hasn't had to endure press speculation about her marriage, after Bryan was reported to have been involved with a lapdancer on the eve of their wedding.

But they have, she insists, come through that now. "We love family life," she says firmly. "I enjoy being at home.

"I would love a little boy to go with our two girls, but not just yet. Give me a chance!"

Instead, Kerry hopes to combine her demanding life as a young mum with the successful and diverse showbusiness career she's building for herself.

After making a name for herself with cheeky Scouse girl band Atomic Kitten she made headlines when she quit the group just before they made it big with their single Whole Again.

However, Kerry says it was a decision she was forced to take.

"I left Atomic Kitten because I was really ill.

"I had a nervous breakdown. I didn't even know I was pregnant at the time.

"Then I got a job with SMTV, but when they found out I was having a baby they thought it probably wouldn't be a good idea to have me presenting a children's show.

"I've guest presented it since then though and I'm doing it again in a few weeks' time."

Indeed, Kerry's TV career has really taken off. She's presented a string of talked-about shows including Loose Women, Britain's Sexiest and Elimidate. She's due to co-present a new highlights show with Eamonn Holmes and is also down to appear on Loose Lips, a Living TV talk show currently hosted by Melinda Messenger. More intriguingly, however, Kerry's taking time off from the TV circuit to star in the sharp and witty Vagina Monologues at Manchester's Palace Theatre between Tuesday November 25 and Saturday November 29.

"I've never done anything like this before," admits Kerry. "The last time I was on stage I was eight-years-old playing Buttons in the school panto! But the Vagina Monologues is a hilarious show and it's all great experience for me.

"My mum and I went to see the show in Chester and we loved it."

Now she's treading the boards, does Kerry plan to make another dramatic U-turn in her career?

"I was asked to do Grease next month," she reveals. "But I turned it down because I wanted to spend Christmas with the kids.

"I do miss singing and dancing and I'd love to step up on stage just one last time.

"But I wouldn't go back into a pop band - it's so demanding. I love TV presenting because I can take on as much work as I want and still make sure I'm there for the kids."

Despite the demands, Kerry insists she wouldn't discourage her daughters from making the move into showbusiness.

"Molly sings her head off all the time," she laughs.

"She sits in the back seat of the car, giving it her best. She's definitely going to be a performer. Bryan lets her go up on stage when he's playing with Westlife and she stands there and waves at all the fans.

"She's a real little show-off, but you can't blame her. After all, she's got us for parents!"

Catch Kerry in the Vagina Monologues at Manchester's Palace Theatre between November 25 and 29. Call (0870) 4013000 for details.