NEWSREADER Fiona Bruce found her bottom to be her crowning glory as she was named Rear Of The Year – and admitted she had already become the butt of jokes.

The star, from Heswall, had a fit of giggles as she collected the title and said many viewers had no idea she even had legs after sitting behind a desk for so many years.

Former Hollyoaks and Strictly Come Dancing star Ricky Whittle, of Billinge, won the men’s title.

Bruce, 46, is best known for being in the hot seat on BBC News At Ten and Crimewatch, as well as hosting Antiques Roadshow, but said her bottom began to receive admiring glances during a documentary about Queen Victoria.

As she collected her trophy in London she said: “For some reason, that programme has led to me being here today. I do not quite know how.”

The lingering shots of her in tight trousers as she presented Victoria: A Royal Love Story prompted a flurry of comments online. One viewer wrote on the Points Of View messageboard: “Is Fiona Bruce looking to win Rear of the Year with those jeans she is wearing? I reckon she has got a ruddy good chance.”

She took the award in her stride yesterday and said she was rather flattered anyone had noticed.

Bruce said: “This award has caused some hilarity among family, friends and colleagues, as you might imagine.

“What I tell them, when they have picked themselves up off the floor, is if someone had told me I had been nominated for this 20 years ago, I would have poked them in the eye. Now I am just flattered anyone is still looking.”