text: Nobody dreams of being a step-parent says Christine Bleakley, but it's a job she's determined to do well for the two daughters of her fiance, footballer Frank Lamapard. Talking to The Times, the TV presenter has revealed that while a tough role to take on, dispelling old notions of the 'evil step-mother' has now become her main goal. The 36-year-old has been in a relationship with the Manchester City midfielder for fiver years, and says building a bond with his children has been a careful, 'well-thought-out process.' Scroll down for video . Christine Bleakley has opened up about the difficulties of becoming a step-mother to Frank Lampard's two daughters Isla (on Christine's lap), seven, and Luna (far right), nine . Frank and Christine are engaged to be married after meeting at the Pride of Britain Awards five years ago, and enjoying what the TV presenter has called an 'old-fashioned courtship' Christine's relationship with Frank's ex-wife and the mother of his children, Spanish model Elen Rivas, has been a long-distance one, fraught with tension fuelled by Twitter rants from fiery Rivas. But that doesn't appear to have prevented her from becoming very close to Luna, nine, and Isla, seven. It hasn't been easy though, says the Irish TV star. 'I'd like to think, if you asked the girls in ten years' time, they would say that it was a well-thought-out process - I didn't meet them for a year, on purpose.' Christine says she's glad to have forged a close bond with Frank's two daughters Isla (centre) and Luna (right), but admits that it has been a slow and carefully thought-out process . 'They know I'm their little mate. I don't want to be their mummy. That was never even a thought,' says TV presenter Christine of her closeness with Frank's children from his relationship with model Elen Rivas . Wanting to be careful of disrupting their lives, Christine, who currently presents new TV series Wild Ireland, says she and Frank waited until they were sure of their long-term feelings for each other, before introducing her into their lives. But if things got off to a slow start, it seems she's very much a permanent fixture in their world going forward. The star has a very hands-on with the two girls, who spend half the week at her and Franks home, and half the week with their mother Elen. She said: 'Frank's away a lot, their mummy could be away, I have them on my own. It's me going to violin recitals, me doing their homework, me doing the bathtime tonight and getting them to school in the morning - I've grown into that and we have our own little system.' Both Christine and Frank have expressed their desire to have children together in the past, but now say there are no current plans to have babies due to busy career schedules and a possible move to New York . Christine is currently presenting ITV show Wild Ireland, which sees her travel the west coast of her homeland . But while she's clearly a big influence in their lives and it's obvious that she enjoys the quality time she spends with the girls, Christine says she is very clear when it comes to the boundaries. She said: 'They know I'm their little mate. I don't want to be their mummy. That was never even a thought.' And while the pair have expressed desires to have their own children in the past, the 36-year-old is keen to add that with plenty of time taken up with careers and step-children, there are no current plans to make babies of her own any time soon. Despite not wanting to be seen as a 'mummy' replacement, Christine has said that she has a very hands-on role when it comes to looking after Frank's two children, given that he can be away a lot for football games . Christine recently joined Phillip Schofield as a guest presenter on This Morning while Holly Willoughby is currently on maternity leave following the birth of her third child in September . But while she's so far nailed the step-mother role and a Lampard/Bleakley wedding is slated for 'some time in the future', Christine says she won't be conforming to typical WAG traditions any time soon. Confessing the interview that she never for one minute ever imagined herself dating a footballer, the guest This Morning host says that her relationship with Frank began with 'an old-fashioned courtship.' After meeting at the Pride Of Britain Awards in 2009 following an introduction by Piers Morgan, Christine says the pair forged a deep and meaningful bond over long distance phone calls. 'I'd like to think, if you asked the girls in ten years' time, they would say that it was a well-thought-out process,' says the Irish TV star on her approach to becoming a step-mother to Frank's daughters . As for the gimmicky style that so often comes with being a top WAG? Forget it, says Christine. When it comes to her beauty regime, the brunette says she's extremely low maintenance, loving nothing more than the days she kicks back with little effort in the hair and make-up department, . Botox sounds like it's not on the menu either. When asked about facial fillers, she merely scoffed at the current craze for girls in their twenties even opting for the stuff. The TV presenter says she'll never become a typical WAG and has a low-maintenance beauty routine . Frank Lampard's former fiance, Spanish model Elen Rivas is known for her fiery rants about both Frank and Christine on Twitter .
target: Christine Bleakely and Frank Lampard have been together for five years .
  Bonding with daughters by model Elen Rivas has been a slow process .
  The TV presenter admits that becoming a step-mother is very delicate .