The 35-year-old presenter, who now has a weekly chat show on Channel 5, feels her success in the TV industry came about in spite of her looks, not because of them.

"I have to live up to the colour of my hair. A lot of nonsense is written about me which wouldn't happen if I was brunette or red-headed," she told Radio Times.

"Men are hideously predictable. They all want blondes with big breasts. Men expect a sweet, cute blonde and get me. They have a problem with women who are bright and good-looking.

"Women, on the other hand, would welcome the combination in men, given the opportunity."

Visited a hypnotist

"Men expect a sweet, cute blonde and get me."

Her figure used to cause her great anxiety, and she once visited a hypnotist because she was embarrassed about having small breasts.

"I'd probably have plastic surgery if someone said it was absolutely safe and I'd be able to breast-feed my babies and live to a ripe old age.

"I've always dreamt of wearing a dress with cleavage."

But now she is happy with her breasts, adding: "Having barely any, I probably attract a better class of man. Do you really want one who fancies you because you have large breasts?"

Ms Frostrup is still smarting from criticism of her Sunday Times column, and her unwanted accolade of "the world's worst columnist" from satirical magazine Private Eye.

"In my view, I did a good job, but people, and perhaps The Sunday Times, were upset I didn't write about my hair and parties.

"It's been hard for my mother to read what's written about me. One paper even described her as neurotic. I thought, 'How dare you? Pick on me if you like, but not my family.'"

New life into the talk show

Ms Frostrup, who has her own production company, Brazen Husky, is sure she can put new life into the talk show with Frustrup on Friday, which goes out at 1930 GMT weekly.

"The talk show isn't dead. Look around you - people are having conversations. That's what elevates us as human beings. But there's very little on TV for those who want to talk seriously," she said.