Georgey Spanswick has been waking up York for the past six months as the presenter of BBC Radio York’s breakfast show. She tells MAXINE GORDON how she rather likes getting up at 4am and why she loves being an “offcomedon”.

IT'S mid-morning when I meet Georgey Spanswick at Radio York HQ, but early afternoon by the broadcaster's body clock.

For the past six months, Georgey has been presenting the station's flagship morning show. For most of us, her bed-at-9pm-and-up-at-4am routine would be torturous. But not for her. "As a child, I was always the last to go to bed and the first one up, which makes this the perfect job for me."

Georgey is one of those full-of-beans characters. She's just as bubbly, giggly, and good fun in real life as she comes across on the airwaves. "I am jolly. I am optimistic beyond reality. My cup is overflowing," says Georgey before immediately breaking into a hearty chuckle.

The good times are clearly now. About to turn 50, Georgey says her 40s have been the best of her life. "At 40, I was freshly divorced and I put to the test that life begins at 40. After I got over the heartbreak it was a very exciting time for me."

Work was going well and, on a personal level, she fell in love with Pete Ward, a graphic designer and widower with two teenage daughters, Ellie and Grace.

They are her family now, and live together in Harrogate. Georgey is keen to get married again (nudge, nudge Pete).

"I come from divorced parents and I never thought it would happen to me. Sadly it did. I like being married. You feel part of a team," says the DJ who grew up in Surrey, but moved to Yorkshire 25 years ago for work. "I absolutely love Yorkshire. It is my other soulmate. I love the countryside and the cities but most of all I love the people, they are far chattier and far more welcoming."

She still chortles at a nickname from her former milkman in West Yorkshire. "He used to call me 'offcomedon' – it means you're not from round here."

Happily, Yorkshire folk have reciprocated and taken her to their hearts. After a stint on Yorkshire TV, she joined BBC local radio ten years ago, first working in Leeds. Since joining Radio York, audience figures are up six per cent and in the best shape since 2011 – a reflection of changes made under the new editor Sanjiv Buttoo (including hiring Georgey).

However, Georgey is a team player and modestly side-steps any share of the credit. "People are tuning in and that is great. People have been really welcoming – not just at the office, but listener-wise."

It was like the first day at school when she crossed the threshold six months ago at the Bootham station, she says. "When I first arrived, I kept my countenance. But now I'm comfy. I've got my slippers on." She helped break the ice with a home-made cake; but not on the first day – she left it a week. "A jam and cream sponge; but a fatless one. You get thinner the more you eat it."

Georgey 's broadcasting career spans 30 years, beginning on TV AM, where she was a weather girl. She's worked on Channel 4 and Yorkshire TV and her radio credits include the Steve Wright show on Radio 2.

Her exuberance and love of life are attractive qualities. She has a mane of highlighted, wavy hair, and in her blue jeans, Tweed fitted jacket and baby-pink scarf looks every inch the confident, modern women. It's unsettling, therefore, to hear her making several self-deprecating jests about her wrinkles and "having a face for radio". This makes me wonder whether ageing was one reason why she turned away from telly. There is a current row rumbling around sexism in TV, with several female broadcasters speaking out about being sidelined as they aged. Georgey doesn't see it so black and white.

"You do worry about more attractive and intelligent women on TV and there are always young people coming through," says Georgey, adding that "it is nice to feel comfortable in your skin".

However, she believes with age comes a maturity that the audience can relate to. "It's a very interesting time for older women in the media. We have a voice and with age, comes wisdom. I have lived a life; I have been married, divorced, I have step-children."

She adds: "If I was employed on TV, they would employ me for what I can do. You have to go for it. If you can do the job, you will stay in the job; you have to perform."

Anyone watching Georgey at work couldn't fail to be impressed by her performance. She runs a seamless ship despite the constant distractions at hand, from the producer speaking in her ear while she's conducting an interview, to operating the various "fades" to the weather, jingles and outside contributors, all the while keeping track of timings and the running order. It is multi-tasking to the max.

Coincidentally, Georgey is working on a TV project for the Beeb's documentary strand Inside Out. It's about fitness methods and she is having a face off with a colleague to see whether a brisk daily walk beats short, sharp bursts of exercise.

"I have to walk for half an hour every day, wearing a heart-rate monitor. It's been a nightmare to cram it in, but I've been taking my dog for a walk around the Stray. "

It's about as much exercise as she manages at the moment. In the past, she was a runner, and has completed the Great North Run and several 10ks." I ran a lot before I met Pete; but that's fallen by the wayside. I like my life and being sociable."

As long as she gets to bed by nine.

• Catch Georgey on Radio York every weekday morning from 6am-9pm.