Susanna Reid promises chemistry in her new dawn on ITV

When you have done Strictly live on a Saturday night in front of millions, Ill never be that nervous again, she said.

Becoming a household name has come at a considerable cost to the 43-year-old mother of three, with the breakdown of her 12-year marriage to Dominic Cotton, a sports journalist, stirring talk of the Curse of Strictly.

The toll on the shows stars down the years has been harsh: Countdown presenter Rachel Riley left her husband; newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky broke up with her boyfriend; Denise van Outens marriage collapsed; Joe Calzaghe relationship with his dancing partner Kristina Rihanoff did not last.

Reid hints that it was her 1,200-mile a week commute from London to Salford to present BBC Breakfast that placed a greater strain on her marriage than her brief spell in sequins and spandex.

Yes, there are new routines as my working pattern has changed, she said. I get to do the school run when a lot of working mums dont get home until bedtime.

Of course, I will bring this side of me to the programme: as a journalist, you bring all of your experience.

Despite the roll call of stars who have failed to revive ITVs breakfast show, Reid is certain she will sparkle alongside her co-stars Ben Shephard, Sky News Charlotte Hawkins and sports specialist Sean Fletcher.

There is a positive feeling about this. I am not joining a ship that has already set sail. We are all doing this together. They are lovely people. We all want to have fun together and bring a sparkle to the mornings, she said.

The audience like a lot of interaction on air; they want to know that you get on. They want to feel comfortable with you. They want chemistry; they dont want friction. They want chemistry, not physics!

Opinions differ on whether the show, which makes its debut next week, can be turned around.

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Susanna Reid promises chemistry in her new dawn on ITV