Why I have to be on the ball

With several impressive accolades to her name already, including Sports Personality of the Year in 2002, Gabby's certainly earned her place in the sports presenters' hall of fame.

Given her impressive track record, it's not surprising that she feels comfortable taking over from the legendary Des, fronting Champions League Live from tonight. ''I don't really feel I'm stepping into his shoes because I have been at ITV Sport for longer than him and been doing all these types of shows for six years,'' she says.

But despite her long career, from Newcastle's Metro FM to presenting several successful shows for Sky before landing her job at ITV, she knows she still needs to stay on the ball in her new venture, as comparisons with her male counterparts are inevitable. ''If women trip up in sport they're probably going to get noticed quicker than a man tripping up in sport, because they're still quite unusual,'' she says.

But woe betide those who think she's nothing but a pretty face - or that being the daughter of former Wales international and Sheffield Wednesday manager Terry Yorath, has helped her get where she is today.

''That is not really my problem,'' she says, laughing off the suggestion. ''It is theirs and it does not bother me. It is perhaps people of my age and above that have more of a preconception about what someone presenting football should be. I get letters from girls and boys who really like it that I present football and I think young people have less prejudice of who should be doing those jobs. They have grown up in a generation where women do a lot of different things, and are not bothered whether you are a man or a woman.

''You can only be judged on how good you are in your profession. I might be the only woman presenting football programmes on terrestrial television now, but there will be others who come along and do it.''

Although Gabby's relaxed demeanour and obvious expertise have helped propel her to the top of her field, she's the first to admit that good old-fashioned hard work has been crucial to her success.

''I'm not one of these people who was born with an incredible talent in one thing. I'm probably just quite adequate at lots of things so therefore I've had to work hard at what I do,'' she says.

It was this dedicated attitude that saw her gain international gymnastic success as a teenager, competing in the 1990 Commonwealth Games, before taking a law degree at Durham University. In part, she seems to have her father to thank for her undoubted sporting ability and professional drive - although their relationship has, on occasions, proved to be a double-edged sword, even during her schooldays.

''I had a small idea that my dad was well known, I had seen him on TV, and sometimes the kids at school would give me grief if he'd played a bad game,'' says Gabby. But she points out that the reality of her dad's job was far from glamorous.

''Wherever your dad is playing football, that is where you live and if he gets transferred, you move. It is a very nomadic existence. We still went to watch football, but most weekends I was competing, so Dad never really watched many of my competitions because he was either playing or managing,'' she says.

But the demands of living with a professional sportsman clearly didn't put her off marrying Scottish rugby international player Kenny Logan three years ago. The couple have homes in West London and Glasgow, though she admits that spending quality time together requires yet more hard work. ''I seem to be spending a lot of time on the shuttle. It is nice to go up there and just chill out - read a book or cook dinner. It's things like that which I have lost a little bit, I think,'' says Gabby.

She also reveals that even important family events sometimes come second to her family's sporting commitments. ''I went to a family wedding recently in Wales, and I was the only one there - my dad had a game, Kenny had a game, so it is difficult, but that's life,'' she says.

Fortunately, Gabby knows how to make the most of the time she spends with her husband. ''I think we are lucky in that we see more of each other than a lot of other couples and we really enjoy doing things together - everything from golf to fishing," she says.

Maintaining a happy family life is clearly important to Gabby, whose world was rocked 12 years ago by the death of her brother Daniel. The talented footballer collapsed and died suddenly, aged just 15, while kicking a ball around in the back garden. It was later discovered he had suffered from a rare and undiagnosed heart condition, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - and the presenter is now an active supporter of the charity raising awareness of the condition.

''Everybody had to deal with it in their own way, there is no right or wrong on how you should feel,'' reflects Gabby, who keeps pictures of Daniel around her homes. ''It is a very personal thing, some people would rather put stuff away in a box and only visit it at times they feel they can. He is my brother and always will be. And for me, it is only natural that his presence should still be felt. If you said to me, 'How many brothers and sisters have you got?', I couldn't say there were three of us because there were four,'' she adds.

Gabby has admitted she'd like four children of her own, though timing and career commitments have made it a less straightforward decision than she may have hoped. ''There are certain things you can't really plan in life,'' she concedes. ''I used to think I wanted four children but as you get older and your friends start having babies, you see how much hard work they are. It would obviously be easier to have a baby when there's no World Cup on and no European Championships.''

But she remains hopeful of a future addition to her home team. ''There are plenty of high-profile broadcasters who also have a family. I'll just have to wait and see how it goes,'' she says.

l Gabby Logan hosts Champions League Live on ITV1. The first match, Arsenal v PSV Eindhoven is on tonight at 7.30pm.

Eating Owt returns next week