"I'm sure I will well up," the 28-yearold former Miss Northern Ireland said.

After announcing live on Wednesday's Blue Peter that she was quitting the show, Zoë was back in Belfast yesterday.

"I'm leaving behind something that I absolutely love," she said.

But the Bangor-born presenter said her three-and-a-half years at Blue Peter have been "the best thing that's ever happened to me".

"I have nothing but happy memories," Zoë added.

"Blue Peter allowed me to be the sort of all-action girl that I never thought I was.

"I remember being young and not going on rides at the funfair because I was afraid, now I'm doing things like jumping out of planes."

It was the challenges that Zoë was set which earned her daredevil status.

She has raced in a formula one car, walked on fire, barefoot water-skied, paraglided, trekked to the top of the UK's highest peaks, performed karate under a waterfall and, next week, viewers will be able to see how she got on as a wing-walker.

And she became a household name across the UK because of her attachment to the much-loved children's programme.

But Zoë is "more excited than sad"

about the prospect of moving on to a new show.

She will present Hot Rods, a children's quiz programme for CBBC.

"It's a bit like Crystal Maze - and I'll be running about like Richard O'Brien," Zoë said.

Zoë was unveiled as the 30th Blue Peter presenter in 2004, making her debut onscreen in December that year.

"It doesn't seem like it's been that long," she said.

But Zoë is the last remaining host from that time.

"All the presenters who were there when I joined have all left, and watching all those people leave was sad."

Zoë's time as a Blue Peter presenter has not been without controversy, particularly when she chose the Red Hand of Ulster as a 'best of British' logo to adorn a British Airways aeroplane, sparking a sectarian row.

"I never have any regrets," Zoë said.

"I've always tried to be a good role model for children - I don't do crazy things like take drugs, smoke or fall out of nightclubs - I'm just quite normal."

And her faith has been a constant support for her.

"I have very strong Christian beliefs and think that God has everything planned for me," she said.

"Anytime anything goes wrong or I make a bad decision I just pick myself up and continue on - it takes the weight off my shoulders if I know He's up there looking after me."

Zoë said she has been approached about a making a number of programmes - including one which involved going to Mexico with Jack Osbourne for ITV - but turned them down because of her commitments to Blue Peter.

"So many offers have come in," she said, adding that the chance to host her own show was too tempting to pass.

And we could be seeing much more of Zoë on our screens.

"It's a cliche to say I have a couple of things in the pipeline but the finer details of a few projects are being worked out," she said.

Zoë, who will make her final Blue Peter appearance on June 25, had a simple piece of advice for the presenter who takes her place on the show.

"Just enjoy every single minute of it," she said.