Jeannie D engagement called off

Cape Town – Top Billing presenter Jeannie D's long-time engagement to Jon Firth is over.

"One thing that has taken a turn for the worse in Jeannie D's life is her long-term relationship with the UK-born model turned businessman, Jon Firth," reported Nicky Greenwall in The Close Up on e.tv on Saturday night.

This week's episode of the second season of The Close Up featured an intimate portrait of the Top Billing presenter in which it is was revealed that her engagement has been called off after a year.

In the half hour profile piece, in which Greenwall talks to South African celebrities, it's revealed that Jeannie D is no longer engaged to Firth. The couple were engaged in March 2011 and were together for four years.

'I do have that amazing life'

"People always said to me, "Oh, when you meet the right one, you'll know," said Jeannie D. "That ... it's not that simple. You don't. It is difficult to have a relationship in the public eye."

"I'd much rather my work and the things that I do on TV for a living be highlighted in the media, than my private life," said Jeannie D. "You know, I remember once, Jon said to me: 'You've chosen to be part of this circus, I didn't'."

About her Top Billing job she says, "I really like what I do now. Every day is completely different."

"I do go overseas all the time; I do stay in the best hotels; I do have that amazing life," she said, "but if you're living it all the time and you're part of that grind, it's maybe not all its cut out to be.

"You miss out on birthdays, you miss out on family moments. You miss out on a regular life because you're always here; there; everywhere ..."

About her dad Jeannie D revealed that he always says, "'Are you happy with what you're doing? Are you going to be on TV forever? What are you going to do when you don't want to be on TV anymore?' I think it’s because he wants me to have security.

"And I mean, he couldn't be prouder of what I'm doing."