There’s been laughter and tears and an awful lot to be thankful for

As we head towards Christmas and New Year it’s a time to look back on 2014, and I thought I would share some of my very personal highlights with you.

This was the year that I celebrated 30 years in breakfast TV.

I started off as a young reporter covering Scotland for TVam back in 1984 and was lucky enough to be asked to come and present on the sofa beside the late great Mike Morris in 1989. It was only supposed to be for a few weeks, but somehow I managed to stay through all the changes that have occurred on early morning TV, and I’m still loving the excitement and challenge of doing a live weekday TV show.

To mark the 30-year milestone, my team on “Lorraine” trawled through the archives to find the most embarrassing fashion faux pas and bad hair days that I have inflicted on the nation, of which there are many.

It was also a chance to remember the important news stories covered over the years as well as some of the big names I have interviewed.

It’s tough to pick out favourites, but Oprah Winfrey, Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Tom Hanks, George Clooney and Hugh Jackman were definite high points.

Good Morning Britain presenter Ben Shephard wore a kilt during a special edition of my show and we both welcomed old and new friends onto the sofa, including my daughter Rosie who has done so much to improve my fashion sense over the past few years. Ben really enjoyed wearing that kilt and even gave us all a bit of a flash at the end of the show!

My favourite guest this year would have to be Sir David Jason, partly because he very rarely does any interviews, but also because he was an absolute dream to talk to. He was funny, honest, candid and a delight to everyone. Some big stars are only pleasant when the red light goes on and can be a bit nippy to the person who brings them tea, applies their make-up or puts on their microphone, but David was a proper gent to all of the team. He can come back anytime.

Bob Geldof chose to do his first interview with me after the death of his daughter Peaches. He was incredibly brave and strong and his words about grief making you “buckle” really hit home. He has been through so much and yet this year managed to organise another version of the Band Aid single to help Ebola victims, a remarkable man.

At Easter time, Steve and I saw our book, Lorraine Kelly’s Scotland, published. We managed to revisit a lot of our favourite places that have meant so much to us and also finally set foot on St Kilda, a place I have always wanted to visit. Steve’s photographs are glorious and it is something that I am very proud of, as it is a love letter to Scotland. It was wonderful to go back to islands like Harris and Barra and to revisit Orkney and Mull. I really enjoyed researching the history of all of the places we loved and it was such a joy to do.

In September the people of Scotland excelled themselves by raising well over a million pounds for the STV appeal which was doubled by the Scottish government, and I was very lucky to be part of it. Every penny raised goes to help children in poverty in Scotland and there are some incredible projects that really do change lives.

I love presenting the big live appeal show and this year, during the show, I dashed across the squinty bridge in Glasgow, gate crashed the Still Game show and asked the audience to do something you would never usually be allowed to so in a live theatre, namely switch on their mobile phones so they could text a donation.

They raised £10,000 in less than five minutes. Thanks again to all concerned, especially the impossibly cute Jack and Victor.

I decided to do a 24-hour Zumba-thon to raise funds and although it was pretty demanding, it was also great fun. My fantastic Zumba instructor Maxine Jones, who is a ball of energy and enthusiasm, kept us all going and once again I need to thank all the amazing people who came to classes and shimmied with such verve and passion. Thanks also to all the people who raised funds and donated, plus the incredible generosity of Sir Tom Hunter and his foundation. Because of their support, we managed to raise £100,000.

September was, of course, also the Scottish referendum. I presented the show for ITV from the McManus Galleries in Dundee, talking to both sides of the divide. I was incredibly impressed by the passion and grasp of politics displayed by first-time voters and the massive turnout throughout the country.

As well as turning 55 in November, I was also presented with an “outstanding achievement” Scottish BAFTA. It was a wonderful night and a chance to put on a glitzy floor-length frock and stay up until past midnight.

Normally I have to leave the ball like Cinderella as I am up so early the next day, so this was a real treat.

I am hugely indebted to my friend and BBC political editor Brian Taylor who presented the award along with a glorious surprise in the form of Dundee United manager (and handsomest man in football) Jackie McNamara. Being given the BAFTA by these two really was the icing on the cake.

Earlier this month, we had a shock when our beloved Border terrier Rocky passed away. It was very sudden and the whole family was devastated. Your kind messages helped, and special thanks to my Aunty Lydia who sent me the poem The Rainbow Bridge about the loss of a beloved pet which was very comforting. It was a sad way to end the year, but he was a fantastic little character and we were lucky to have him for 11 years.

As we all look ahead to Christmas and New Year, we will remember absent friends and the highs and lows of 2014.

I want to thank all of you for your letters emails and tweets this year and I hope you have the best festive holiday ever.

See you in 2015.