CAROL Smillie has turned her back on TV in favour of the business world.

 

And the 53-year-old, who rose to fame through a series of high profile roles including fronting make-over show Changing Rooms, isn't looking back.

Carol says she actively looked for a new challenge when she turned 50 - because the TV roles were not there.

She is now at the helm of a special underwear range called Diary Doll for women, along with her business partner, tennis star Annabel Croft.

"I knew I wanted to do something else," says Carol.

"I knew the time had come with television where by, let's not beat about the bush here, I'm over 50 and it was always going to be a tough call because that's the way of the world.

"Much as I'd like to think it's changed, it's not going to change in a hurry.

"So I didn't want to wait for that point where I was offered jobs I didn't want, I thought I'd much rather take control of this and do what I want to do."

Diary Doll underwear is aimed at women who have heavy periods, pelvic floor issues and for women who want extra support while playing sport.

Carol says: "This came along and it was the perfect fit. I think there's a huge gap in the market. There's not many products out there that haven't been done before."

Carol and Annabel came up with the idea while on holiday together three years ago.

They discussed their teenage daughters and how they were worried about going to school and having an accident when it was their time of the month.

As a teenage tennis star who left home at the age of 15, Annabel, who suffered heavy periods, was always worried about marking sheets.

They set about designing female underwear that included a discreet waterproof panel which provides the extra support.

After staring their venture "naively", Diary Doll quickly grown to become a success. The product is now stocked in 45 Debenhams stores, as well as John Lewis branches, and in countries across the world.

National netball team The Thistles are now brand ambassadors - and wore the pants during the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Carol says: "We've just tapped into something that people get and women understand. We're also next month going into 475 pharmacies."

The business has a family feel after Carol's husband Alex came on board. Her daughters Christie, 20, and Jodie, 15, have also been fully supportive, with Christie modelling the brand.

But Carol says she would consider a TV project if the right one came along.

"Never say never," Carol says. "If it suited, if it appealed, if it helped the business I probably would but for the time being my focus is definitely on this. I need to be here full time, I can't possibly disappear off for a week. It's just growing so fast."