Kaye admits she's Communist Russia

Adams also comes across as serious minded; a lady who successfully grinded away at the Iron Lady during a Central TV interview. Yet, on Loose Women the Scot regularly comes up with jokes as dry as a constipated budgie's birdcage.

Right now, Adams is back in Glasgow fronting the eponymous BBC Radio Scotland flagship morning show for, three hours a day, talking to people about everything from breastfeeding to coalition compromise.

But what's the former politics and economics graduate really about? Did she grow up wanting to be a Sue Lawley or a Selina Scott?

"Well, I once thought about becoming an actress," she admits, grinning of her teenage years. What? This is like Sean Connery claiming to be captivated by flower arranging. "But I realised I would have been too inhibited. Then I saw myself as being a barrister, striding around a court holding onto my lapels, and I became keen on the debating society at school."

So there was a keenness to be noticed? "Perhaps," she grins. "But the common theme in actors I've interviewed is they don't like to be themselves, they like to slip into character. But I can't play at being someone else. I like to be myself. I'm happy in my own little box."

Adams has done very well in her little television box, moving from hard news and spending time at Westminster with Central Television to STV, where she revealed a talent for discussion programmes in Scottish Women. The progression to national TV with estrogen-fuelled panel show Loose Women saw her anchor a show that needed a serious weight, but also a talent to steer effortlessly towards the slightly absurd.

Did she feel disappointed to have dropped the politics overboard?

"Westminster wasn't a world I was comfortable in," she reveals. "I met a lot of wonderful people, but I also came across so many full of their own self-importance, men who traded statistics and facts and figures like it was a big boys club, trading football stickers. It was too much a facade, and I continually had to search for the real intelligence. And there were also a lot of chancers. I've since tried not to be blinded by status and appearance."

Loose Women, she maintains is as demanding as a political programme. "The show demands the same discipline of presenting Newsnight or Scotland 2015 or whatever. Here's the thing; when you do the heavier shows they are all about timing, asking the key three questions. You soon learn nobody can be that versed in everything."

Adams, she reveals, is a Capricorn; cautious, and serious, on the outside at least. Does the capricious nature of TV and radio not sit at odds with her need to be in control of her life?

"Yes, I'm a bit Communist Russia," she says, grinning. "I like a five year plan. Being a freelance has been terrifying at times because you crave security. And there have been critical points along the way. When I had Bonnie (in 2007, and younger sister to Charly ) I just felt it was too hard with two kids of an age difference with two very different sets of needs. That was a real challenge."

She reflects; "I didn't not sleep at night, but it was difficult to think about the lost income. At the end of the day, you've got to pay the mortgage."

After her (first) stint on Loose Women ended, Adams 'did a variety of things, sliding in and out of work,' fronting the likes of Total Wipeout, working for Radio Five Live. But she accepts the media, is all about change.

The 52 year-old, who lives in Glasgow's West End with tennis coach partner Ian Campbell, has however been intensely career focused. Always busy, always sporty and self-aware, she never seemed likely to have 'Earth Mother' on her CV. Serving up aces on the local tennis court? Easily. ("I don't play tennis much these days," she deadpans. I don't know anyone who would be kind and supportive to me on court.") But serving up six varieties of home cooked baby food? Not likely?

"No, and I never saw myself as that woman either," she says, grinning. "I have had friends who saw themselves as that, and waited for that sort of fulfilment, but it wasn't me." She laughs; "I had no high expectations of my talents as a mother. I did buy the books on motherhood, but they tortured and terrorised me to the point I threw them out. They make you feel so inadequate. "

Adams likes to be in control. She needs to know her centre. But it's a credit to her she admits that's not always the case.

"When I came back to Scotland to work for Radio Scotland initially I found it harder than television for a whole host of reasons. Everything is on you. There are no commercial breaks. You're talking, listening, checking texts, reading a screen, you're constantly spinning plates." She switches metaphors; "You're also fire fighting in the moment. And what you're up against at times is people at home with Google access. They can have data in a second I don't have."

And now she's a Fireperson four days a week. What does she do when the telephone lines don't line up, or the callers' comments are rather dull?

"You try to balance it out," she says offering a knowing smile. "You respect the person who called in because this isn't American shock jock world, yet keep in mind the audience out there who want to be entertained. The callers are your content. This is a dance you are constantly doing."

What about when she's berated, which often happens?

"Well, you don't suck it up," she says in no-nonsense voice. "I'll always be professional and I'm paid by the BBC but I'm not going to dish out crap and I'm certainly not paid to take crap." She adds, smiling; "It's like the signs you see at train stations; 'Our staff will do our best to provide a great service, but please don't slap them across the face with a fish supper.' I'm going to put up a similar sign on the BBC website."

Adams took a slap from the BBC after her Boris comments on social media. "I don't regret the content of what I said, but I do regret about being naive about the impact of social media," she says. "I didn't get the enormity of it at all. What you have to do in this job is strike a balance between not being a propagandist but at the same time not being reduced to a Speak Your Weight machine."

What's refreshing about Adams is she's very much her own woman, and serious. But there's a performer lurking beneath. Chat reveals as student she'd dress up with pals in full Sound of Music regalia - "I was Mother Superior_ and sing The Hills Are Alive right until the milk clattered on the doorstep. The entertainer still lurks within. Is she released via occasional karaoke.

"I last did it about twenty years ago," she admits, shuddering in recall. " I still wake up with nightmares about an STV Christmas party at which Shereen Nanjiani and I sang Ebony and Ivory - the longest, dreariest song ever written and then I did Madonna's Like A Virgin. That same night, Kirsty Young sang That Old Devil Called Love, and was outstanding. We all sat there and thought 'Wow.' A star was born that night, while another fell from the sky."

Not true. Adams continues to twinkle. Within. It's just that we usually see and hear the serious side.

*Kaye Adams, Radio Scotland, Monday to Thursday, 9am-12.

Answer; a nice mix of both.

Did Loose Women open her eyes, perhaps give an overview, not be initially judgemental?

"Yes, one hundred per cent. Colleen Nolan, for example, whom I get on with incredibly well, didn't have a great education, or knowledge of politics, but she is one of the sharpest people I know. She has a natural intelligence. I'd rather spend time with her than some with high status."

Celebrity has arrived, even if she hasn't been waiting at that particular bus stop. Would she appear on Big Brother, or a Strictly?

"Ninety nine per cent of people would bite your arm off for a Strictly. The others? Maybe." She adds, grinning; "My parents would probably chain me up if said I was going on Big Brother, but the girls, who are friendly with Nadia's (Sawalha) kids, are all for it. And Ian would say 'Go for it.' Although I'm not as socialble as Nadia.

m At the end of the day, it's a job. I think we take ourselves too seriously, and Michael Burke came out of it so well, a role model who doesn't take himself too seriously. We can all get very much up our own a***** about these days."

Ageism? "It hasn't to my knowledge affected me."Sexism? "You go into the professional world and you get good and bad hands. I haven't always been happy and there are times when i've been kicking and screaming, but who hasn't. You make the best of it."

Does she think her temper has cooled.

"Yes, I used to fight every battle. But it was exhausting. Now I choose my battles. I think age has given me that."