Saira Khan: I celebrated my 50th in lockdown and let my husband organise it

On Friday I turned 50 – a birthday I had spent years ­planning. I was supposed to have been on a once-in-a-lifetime, celebratory trip to the ­Maldives last month.

I had a spa ­weekend with my bestie booked and was taking my Loose Women girls away to a country house in Norfolk.

How lucky was I? I’d saved for a whole year to make all this happen and I was so excited.

But, like so many others who had big birthday plans, they all went out the window.

I was gutted and I told my hubby I would have a low-key day with him and the kids, and put celebrations on hold.

Then I settled into lockdown living, doing virtual quizzes, chats and even drinks nights with mates. I realised it was better to connect somehow with those you love than not at all. The fun hasn’t all been cancelled.

Saira Khan with her husband Steve (Saira Khan)

So I handed control of my 50th to my hubby, something that would never have happened pre-lockdown.

And what happened has shone a light on the generosity of people and really made me appreciate the lengths they will go to, helping turn a bad situation into a good one.

So May 15 arrived and I came downstairs to find my kids and hubby had filled the room with balloons.

Saira holding her cake (Saira Khan)

Then I had an 8am birthday workout with my Instagram community, led by my trainer Bradley Simmonds – it was surreal to see so many comments scrolling up the screen wishing me a happy birthday.

Then I got my birthday outfit on, did my hair and make-up and was a guest on Loose Women – they’d had a beautiful cake delivered and sent me a video compilation of good wishes.

Steve then treated me to a private dining experience – he had a lady cook all the food and she delivered it.

And the doorbell did not stop ringing, with friends and neighbours dropping off presents and raising a distant glass.

The evening was spent with a drink in my hand, laptop on the kitchen table, picking up FaceTime calls.

The highlight was the handmade cards from my kids, with poems that melted my 50-year-old heart.

So my birthday wasn’t the one I’d planned. But it’s been an eye-opener and made me appreciate my wonderful, thoughtful, generous friends and family.

I couldn’t be happier.