Our leading story today is about a celebrity who has starred on stage and screen - and has a famous popstar husband to boot.

But the struggle former Escala musician Izzy Judd, from Harpenden, is speaking about is one that will be familiar to so many couples.

According to statistics, fertility problems affect one in seven women - and as Mrs Judd points out, it is very much a couples’ issue rather than a men’s or women’s one.

Quite understandably, many people - including Mrs Judd before she wrote her new book, Dare to Dream - feel unable to speak openly about it.

For one, it is an incredibly personal and private issue.

As Mrs Judd explains, many couples are trying to work out for themselves why they are having problems - which makes explaining it to others all the more difficult.

According to Mrs Judd, there are also feelings of pressure when friends and relatives around you may be having children of their own.

If you have set your sights on starting a family as well, the realisation that it may be a challenge to have children is understandably difficult.

The frequency of fertility problems in couples however means it is not something anyone should feel remotely bad about. It is no-one’s fault and doesn’t mean a couple is inferior. It is normal and can happen to anyone.

And as Mrs Judd has showed, the problems may only be temporary or there may be other solutions, such as IVF or adoption. Hopefully her story shows there is always reason to be optimistic.

What is important though is that people are encouraged to talk about it as an issue, if they feel they can.

Of course no-one should feel pressured to talk about the most private of matters unless they are comfortable doing so.

However the more we as a society create a supportive atmosphere which allows couples to talk about it if and when they are ready to do so, the better - as talking about it might help couples to realise they are not alone and there is support out there.

By bravely speaking out openly about the most personal of issues, Mrs Judd has done a great deal to encourage that - for which she should be highly commended.