It's brilliant being able to come home

The Bolton-born star revealed she prefers the town of her birth to her current "home town" -- London.

She said: "A lot of people in London think it's the centre of the universe, but there are so many other places and it's important that that's reflected on TV and on the radio."

But Sara was more than a little surprised by how the town -- and particularly the town centre -- has changed over recent years.

She admitted that she was mourning the loss of the cinema on Bradshawgate and the Water Place swimming complex which closed last year.

But while back in Bolton, Sara has visited The Village chip shop in Little Lever for lunch -- and was debating whether to party the night away at either Atlantis or Ikon.

Bolton, where her parents still live, would always remain in her heart, she said.

"That's why this event in Bolton means a lot.

"I used to live in The Pineapple pub in Astley Bridge and later on a farm in Little Lever, so I have a lot of happy memories growing up in Bolton.

"It's brilliant being able to come home and drive around town and know exactly where I'm going."

Looking back on her childhood, the Radio 1 DJ admitted she was often bullied -- but believes her experiences helped her to build a successful career. She said she used to keep her head down as a child, mixing in a group that was neither popular nor unpopular.

She says says school bullies knocked her confidence, but she quickly learned that humour was a good way of tackling the problem -- and it made her more of an outgoing person.

She said: "It's funny really because Chris Moyles was also bullied and he went on to be a successful Radio 1 presenter. Maybe there's a pattern there. Maybe we reacted to the bullying by becoming more open."

Sara, who is now 28, left Bolton at the age of 21. Her mother, Jackie, has visited her a number of times but her father, Len, has only been to London once. Watching her at the Life Bar Cafe was the first time he had seen her at work and he thoroughly enjoyed himself.

"I said he had to come and see me working in Bolton. I was showing off to him, pressing all the buttons. He's very proud."

Sara said she always wanted to be an actress when she was younger. She was a pupil at Smithills School and did A-level Theatre Studies at Canon Slade School.

When she starred in Channel 4's Girlie Show, she was interviewed many times on the radio. "And I loved it," she said. "It's so intimate and cosy and I knew that I wanted to make a career of it.

"The Breakfast Show's my baby and I adore doing the programme because it always feels like you're talking to a friend."