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Alison Cork

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Alison Cork
Alison Cork
Born
Alison Helen Lucy Cork

(1963-07-28) 28 July 1963 (age 60)
London, United Kingdom
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Writer, Broadcaster, Entrepreneur, Home expert
Years active1983–present
Employer(s)ITV, Channel 5 (UK), Daily Telegraph, Evening Standard
Websitewww.alisoncork.com


Alison Helen Lucy Cork (born 28 July 1963) is an English home expert, entrepreneur and founder of online homeware brand www.alisonathome.com. She appears extensively on TV, radio and in print.

Publishing

Cork co-founded mail order publishing company Carnell Ltd with entrepreneur publisher John P Gommes. It published eclectic titles such as How to Talk To Your Cat and Vinegar, Honey and Lemon, Nature’s Medicine Chest. The Government Auction Handbook sold 200,000 copies in the space of a few months.[1] In 1995, Cork wrote The Streetwise Guide To Renovating Your Home, based on her various experiences of renovating property and dealing with builders. Cork wrote Special Occasions in 2000, a book of recipes and creative ideas.

Broadcasting

Cork has worked as a presenter for Carlton Food Network, restaurant critic for LBC Radio, gardening expert for BBC Radio Wales, food journalist on BBC Radio 4's Food programme, and as a travel correspondent on BBC Radio 4’s Breakaway. Cork’s first television series was The Christmas Show, for Westcountry Television. In 1996 ITV commissioned Cork’s first network show, Home In The Country. Between 2001 and 2004, Cork presented a number of TV series, including Countdown To Christmas and Domestic Magic, both for Channel Five. She also appeared on The Wright Stuff.[2] In 2005 Cork presented a 30-part series for ITV called Don't Move, Improve, which saw her travelling the country with fellow presenter Michael Holmes.[3] In the last five years, Cork has presented various home interest shows, including Homes & Property, 60 Minute Makeover and Help I Hate My House!. She was also a regular on London Tonight and LBC[4] As of 2011, Cork is the Homes presenter for ITV This Morning.[5] >. In 2012 she presented SecretRemovers for Channel 4.

Journalism

In 2002, Cork began writing The Really Useful Column for the London Evening Standard, offering advice on where to find the best products and services for the home.[6] Since 2005, Cork has written a weekly column for the Daily Telegraph called Bargain Hunter, showing readers where to find the best deals and negotiating discounts on their behalf.[7] She has also written homes and interiors columns and features for several national publications, including the Mail on Sunday, The Telegraph, The Times, Daily Express, Observer, Sunday Mirror, Period Living, Ideal Home, Your Home and Home.[8]

Online

In September 2012, Cork launched Alison at Home, a brand new eCommerce store featuring Cork's own range of homeware such as furniture, throws,bedding and and home accessories. The brand promises to deliver affordable aspiration. Prior to that, in 2005,In 2005, Cork founded homesandbargains.co.uk, a money saving website for the home.[9] In 2006, she re-launched her tradesman’s website as problemsolved.co.uk, a nationwide directory of publicly recommended tradesmen.[10] In 2011 Cork launched two furniture collections for Made.com. She insisted all the materials be sourced locally in the United Kingdom.[11] In September 2012, Cork launched alisonathome.com, a brand new eCommerce store featuring Cork's on range of homeware such as throws, bedding and home accessories.

Personal life

Cork lives with her husband and two sons in Central London. The purchase of Cork’s Belgravia home was featured in the Telegraph under the headline “Belgravia or Bust”.[12]

In 2010, Cork ran the London Marathon in aid of the charity Shelter.[13] In 2013 Alison became an ambassador for The Prince's Initiative for Mature Enterprise (PRIME) and walked the GR20 in Corsica to raisefunds for the charity. 

Television credits

Year Programme Channel
1994-6 Carlton Food Network Carlton
1996 The Christmas Show Westcountry Television
1997-8 Home In The Country ITV
1999 Home In The Country Westcountry Television
2002 Countdown To Christmas Five
2004 Domestic Magic Five
2004-9 60 Minute Makeover ITV
2005-6 Don't Move, Improve ITV
2007-8 Homes & Property ITV
2009–10 Help! I Hate My House ITV

2010–2011 "Get The Look For Less" ITV

Bibliography

  • Cork, Alison (1994). Profit Through The Post: How to Set Up and Run a Successful Mail Order Business. Piatkus. ISBN 978-0-7499-1410-3.
  • Cork, Alison (1995). The Streetwise Guide To Renovating Your Home. Piatkus. ISBN 978-0-7499-1445-5.
  • Cork, Alison (1999). Home In The Country. Carlton Books. ISBN 978-1-85868-905-0.
  • Cork, Alison (2000). Profit Through The Post. At Home Books. ISBN 978-0-9537920-0-9.
  • Cork, Alison (2002). Special Occasions: Creative Inspirations for the Good Times in Life. At Home Books. ISBN 978-0-9537920-1-6.

References

  1. ^ Government Auction News – Government Auction Handbook Rerelease 2011
  2. ^ Women Speakers
  3. ^ Alison Cork at IMDb
  4. ^ Alison Cork on LBC
  5. ^ Alison Cork at ITV This Morning
  6. ^ Evening Standard – The Really Useful Column
  7. ^ The Telegraph – Bargain Britain
  8. ^ "read all about em – Alison Cork". Alison Cork via various – via Journalisted. Retrieved 30 March 2011.
  9. ^ – ITV Profile
  10. ^ The Daily Telegraph – It works both ways
  11. ^ Made.com – The Wolseley Collection
  12. ^ The Telegraph, Alison Cork’s Bargain Belgravia
  13. ^ Just Giving – Alison Cork


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