Alright Chumps! Well, if you’ve visited me before now, you might notice that I’ve revised this little bit of stuff about me.
Reason being, I read all the other girls’ pages and well, theirs were so detailed and informative whereas mine made it seem like the only thing I’d ever done in my whole life was snog Russell Brand!
Well, that’s not true because I’ve snogged Danny Dyer, Gary Rhodes and Dougie McFly as well!
But I’ve done a few other things too.
But first, let me answer the question that I always get asked. How did I get to be a Loose Woman and how long have you been doing it?
Well, I answered the phone one day and someone said, “We’re doing a show with a panel of 4 opinionated women, do you think it’s something you’d be interested in doing?” I thought for a nanosecond before I stifled a triumphant ‘YES!’ That was in September 2000 when Loose Women was being relaunched as LiveTalk and I couldn’t believe I was a part of it.
Loose Women is my dream job. There is nowhere else on TV that old (well, old for TV anyway) women can get an hour’s airtime without an even older man linking, patronising or interrupting them.
Loose Women is my dream job. There is nowhere else on TV that old (well, old for TV anyway) women can get an hour’s airtime without an even older man linking, patronising or interrupting them.
It’s certainly perfect for me as I’m not an actress, singer, dancer or anything that means I have to be anyone other than myself so I suppose it’s easy in that respect.
And I can write. I love writing and I wish I had more time to do it. So far I’ve written for the Sunday Mirror, Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Express, Guardian, London Evening Standard and have also done columns and opinion pieces for Woman’s Journal (sadly RIP), First (RIP), Hello!, Woman, Woman’s Own and I do a weekly column for Closer magazine. At the moment I’m working on my first book (not about me by the way) which should be out in September so watch this space for more news on that.
Lately I’ve been in Heat magazine, which I think is quite cool for a 49 year-old! I was “made under” by the wonderful Gok Wan and I actually thought I looked alright! I remember when I was 36 and I managed to get into the Rogues’ Gallery in Loaded magazine, and I thought I’d peaked then, but Heat! And twice!
I’ve also done loads of behind the scenes stuff for TV. I was a production manager for a company that did political programmes for Channel 4 and I produced The Big Breakfast. I’ve also been a radio producer.
In fact, if I’m honest, radio is my big thing. I love it. I first got into it when my lodger at the time, a certain Chris Evans, invited me to be on his Saturday morning show on the BBC’s London station, then called GLR.
The show went on to be massive for a local station. We were married during its reign and from then on it was known as “Round At Chris’s With His Missus” and had a live audience in the tiny studio every week. Most people were hideously hungover, including us.
I was at the launch of the first national commercial talk radio station in the UK, TalkRadio (now known as TalkSport) and did an award-winning evening show with Moz Dee and then a breakfast show with Paul Ross.
Until last year I did a weekly show for London talk station LBC. I loved having that platform to air my uninterrupted views (rants) but I had to leave because I wanted too much time off to go on holidays. Oh well, I know what’s more important.
Apart from Loose Women, other TV stuff I’ve done includes being a panellist and guest on lots of other TV shows like The Wright Stuff, Tonightly, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Celebrity Juice, The Justin Lee Collins Show and Paul O’Grady. I also presented a strand for Tonight With Trevor McDonald investigating the safety of women on the streets of the UK. I’ve also taken part in loads of debate programmes both on the TV and on radio.
One thing I’m particularly proud of was being invited to speak at the Oxford Union Debate, quite possibly the scariest thing I’ve ever done. Maybe apart from when Sherrie and I went on Celebrity Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and won £75,000 for our charities. Yes, Sherrie and me! Who would have thought it?
I suppose I should ask the same question about my love life. Who would have thought it eh? After nearly 16 years of blissful solo flying, I’ve only gone and got myself entangled in a proper, real love relationship. So much so that I’m sure you know I’m getting married this year.
So all that snogging of vibrant, gorgeous men on Loose Women has stopped now. I’m sorry Russell, Danny, Gary et al, I’m taken now by my wonderful fiancé, Mark Cassidy. Watch this space for wedding news.
Ciao for now babes!