Celebrity Big Brother star Kellie Maloney, formerly boxing promoter Frank, will have her sex change operation in the New Year, she has revealed.

The 60-year-old, who previously managed boxer Lennox Lewis, told the Daily Mirror newspaper she is looking forward to becoming a woman in January, after one final consultation with a doctor to approve the surgery.

"For the first time in my life, I'm going to be complete in my body and my mind. I can really start getting on with my life," she told the paper.

Kellie, who has been having hormone therapy, went public in August with the news that she was living as a transsexual, saying it had been "like a complete release" revealing the information.

Speaking of the operation ahead, which will see her in hospital for 10 days followed by a 12-week recovery period, Kellie said she is excited about the moment she sees her new body.

"As soon as I get out of that bed, I'm going to look in a full-length mirror at myself and for the first time ever, I will see the person I should have been all of my life staring back at me."

Although she quit boxing last year after a 30-year career, Kellie said she would consider taking up a role in the sport at some point in the future.

She appeared in this year's celeb version of Big Brother during which she threatened to leave the show, saying she felt "vulnerable" and feared she was "breaking up".