Fiona Phillips
Fiona Phillips | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 January 1961 |
| Occupation | Television broadcaster |
| Spouse | Martin Frizzell |
Fiona Phillips (born 1 January 1961, Canterbury, is an English journalist, broadcaster and television presenter.
Biography
Phillips was born in Kent and Canterbury hospital in 1961. Her grandparents ran the Duke's Head pub on Church Street in St Paul's, and her parents had got married in St Paul's church. The family lived in St Stephen's Close, off St Stephen's Road and attended Kingsmead school.[1] The family later moved to Southampton where Phillips completed schooling. Fiona did work for while at Mr Kipling's Bakery in Eastleigh which is near Southampton. Fiona graduated from the University of Birmingham with a B.A. (Hons) in English, she undertook a PGC in journalism.
Career
Phillips started her career in independent radio working for local stations County Sound, Hereward Radio and Radio Mercury.
Phillips made her move from radio to television several years later, joining BBC South East's Weekend Programme as co-presenter. She then took a job as a reporter with Sky News, later moving on to become the station's entertainment's editor, producing, reporting and presenting Sky News' entertainment output.
===GMTV===
Phillips joined GMTV at the beginning of 1993 as entertainment correspondent and was promoted to GMTV/Reuters Television's LA correspondent in December 1993. For over two years Fiona provided daily/weekly reports and covered a number of big news stories including the Michael Jackson alleged child molestation case, the LA earthquake, the OJ Simpson trial and the Oscars. She also interviewed some of the screen's hottest names from Leonardo di Caprio and Clint Eastwood, to Brad Pitt and Mel Gibson. In 1996 Fiona was nominated for the RTS Interview of the Year Award. Since 1997, she has been the main presenter on the ITV1 morning show, GMTV. Many people believe she is still the anchorwoman, however the GMTV website states that it is now Kate Garraway. On November 3, 2007, Fiona defended Heather Mills on her Daily Mirror column for her outspoken and emotionial interview on GMTV, whereas the tabloids and some columnsists, such as Carole Malone, thought otherwise.[2]
Other activities
Phillips has also presented other programmes, including as the celebrity lifestyle show OK!TV, Loose Women, Baby House and Room to Rent, Carlton's entertainment guide Good Stuff, LWT's Friday evening entertainment show Start the Weekend, ITV's Sunday Night and the Rich and Famous series. Phillips currently writes an opinion column in The Daily Mirror on Saturdays.
Phillips voiced the character of Katie Current in the British release of Shark Tale. She took part in the third series (2005) of Strictly Come Dancing with professional partner Brendan Cole. The pair were voted out on Week 4, whose popularity shone as they had surprised many for staying in the competition for so long despite their low scores.
Fiona had also been in the documentary The Killer in Me on 8 November 2007, a show that saw four celebrities agree to take a groundbreaking test that revealed the secret killers lurking in their genes. Fiona joined former England footballer John Barnes, political commentator and presenter Andrew Neil, and Heart FM DJ Toby Anstis who all found out their risk of developing 11 major diseases, including cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer's disease.
On November 7, 2007, Phillips received an Honorary Master of Arts degree from Southampton Solent University for her services in media and journalism.[3]
Baroness Phillips
On November 18, 2007, according to the Mail on Sunday and News of the World, Fiona 'was offered a job as a government minister' in the summer by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, becoming Baroness Phillips, mainly because she was a 'great communicator'. However, Phillips turned the job down because, allegedly, "she would have to take a £400,000 pay cut."[4] However, in Fiona's Mirror column on November 23, 2007, she denied this claim because "she has two very young children". She also said in her column that the Shadow Chancellor George Osborne made a sarcastic comment in wanting Fiona to join the Conservative Party if they paid her more. Fiona rejected his offer, and instead wanted to focus on her "very own 10-point manifesto for a Better Britain" that she outlined in the column.[5]
Charity works
Already a supporter of many charities, Phillips' mother suffered from Breast Cancer, before dying on 15 May 2006 from Alzheimer's. Phillips took a break from presenting GMTV, and has since supported many organisations associated with the two diseases. On 15 February 2007 Fiona appeared as a contestant with her brother Andrew on Dale's Supermarket Sweep, playing to raise money for their charity for Alzheimer's.
Phillips is well known for being one of the judges of the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards, and who hands out the GMTV Emergency Services award. She has also been one of the judges for the Children of Courage awards. Among the judging panel included her colleagues Andrew Castle and Richard Arnold. From 15 October 2007, Fiona reported from Geita, North Tanzania, for one week to visit Neema, a 13-year-old girl who Fiona has been sponsoring, and her family, friends and local schools.[6] On 1 March 2007 she had published a 'Quick Reads' book for World Book Day entitled "A Day To Remember" which is aimed at emergent readers and adult learners. Phillips hosted the Breast Cancer Care's annual fashion show in October 2007.
Phillips is also a patron of Barnardos, Alzheimer's Society, Age Concern, Richard House Children's Hospice, and Mildmay Mission Hospital.
Personal life
Phillips' father Neville lives in Haverfordwest in Wales[7].
Already the Los Angeles based entertainment reporter for GMTV, Phillips had previously thought her replacement for the Christmas holidays Martin Frizzell "arrogant and cold."[8] But when he came out to LA, the pair had dinner and she found him actually very shy. When she returned to the UK four months later, the pair met up at a friends dinner party, and began dating soon afterwards. The couple married in May 1997 and have two sons, Nathaniel, born 1999, and Mackenzie, born 2002.
A vegetarian, in June 2007 Phillips was a nominee for PETA Europe’s “Sexiest Vegetarians” poll, and subsequently won the award as 'Sexiest Female Vegetarian Celebrity 2007', with Russell Brand taking the award for sexiest male vegetarian.[9]
References
- ^ Kent born & bred: Fiona Phillips BBC Kent
- ^ - Fiona Phillips defending Heather Mills
- ^ - Fiona Phillips receiving degree at Southampton Solent University
- ^ - Fiona Phillips 'was offered a job as a Government minister' News of the World - November 2007
- ^ - Why Fiona didn't accept 'Gordon Brown's offer on becoming Health Minister' Fiona Phillips' Mirror Column - November 23, 2007
- ^ Finding Neema Plan UK
- ^ The Sunday Times - The GMTV presenter’s family home is at Haverfordwest
- ^ No lifts, no botox - but I love a glass of red wine Woman & Home
- ^ Fiona Phillips and Russell Brand Named PETA Europe's Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrities of 2007
External links
- Fiona Phillips at gm.tv
- Please use a more specific IMDb template. See the documentation for available templates.
- Fiona Phillips column at the Daily Mirror