She grew up in the village of Rothley in the Borough of Charnwood, Leicestershire and went to the Humphrey Perkins School, until the age of 14.
[3] After a period as a researcher for Children's BBC, she took the job of sports presenter for an independent radio production company, covering amongst other events the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer.
Lear began her career as a weather presenter at Central Television in 1992 and then spent two years at LBC in London.
She was chosen to undertake the role as she and her husband have renovated four houses in London, including a cottage where they lived with their two young children.
[5] She married Ian Lear of Quorn, Leicestershire, at St Botolph's Church, Shepshed, in 1990; the honeymoon was in Florida.