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Tessa Sanderson on screen and stage

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Tessa Sanderson CBE (born 14 March 1956) is a British former javelin thrower. She appeared in every Olympics from 1976 to 1996, winning the gold medal in 1984, and becoming the second track and field athlete to compete at six Olympics. She is the first Black British woman to win an Olympic gold medal.[1][2] Since 1979, Sanderson has appeared as a guest on numerous television shows as a guest.[3] When Sky News was launched in 1989, Sanderson was a sports reporter for the channel,[4] and she co-hosted ITV's Surprise Surprise with Cilla Black.[5]

Tessa Sanderson in 2008
Ron Atkinson, who was paired with Sanderson on Celebrity Wife Swap

The quiz programme Sporting Triangles featured Sanderson as a regular team captain in 1987 and 1988, but she was not asked to return in 1989.[3][6][7] She noted that in the new series of the show, all three team captains were footballers, and felt that replacing her with Emlyn Hughes reduced the variety in the show, also claiming that she had ignored invitations to guest on the new series.[8]

Announcing that Sanderson would be a reporter on Sky News, covering all sports and not only athletics, Sky's Head of News John O'Loan said that she had been selected "because her sporting credentials are excellent. On top of that, she has a sparkling personality and she is very intelligent."[7] Sanderson was one of around 30 journalists and reporters on the channel when Sky News launched in February 1989.[9] In April of that year, the Birmingham Evening Mail's Paul Cole praised Sanderson's "outspoken enthusiasm" and willingness to express her opinions frankly.[10] David Powell of The Times wrote in 1996 that by the time she started on Sky News, "Sanderson, who appeared in Los Angeles as a curly-haired, round-faced, non-sexy athlete, had realised the benefits of developing her femininity" and that "Her name and make-up survived a two-year battle against her uncomfortable delivery before she was made redundant."[11] Six years earlier, Sanderson had told Powell that her role at Sky was not as lucrative as people might expect, and that some athletes were earning more than she was as a presenter, which was one reason she had decided against retiring from athletics.[12] Sanderson starred in the fitness videos Cardiofunk (1990) and Body Blitz (c. 1992) with Derrick Evans, later known as Mr. Motivator.[13][14][15]

During the 1990s, Sanderson appeared in pantomime several time. She twice played Girl Friday in Robinson Crusoe, and was also The Genie in Aladdin and the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella .[16][17][18] Justin Cartwright in The Sunday Telegraph, discussing Sanderson's pantomime debut in 1990, wrote that "She plays the whole thing with an amiable smile and the air of someone trying not to bump into the furniture."[19] Her fellow cast member Peter Byrne was quoted by Cartwright as saying that Sanderson was "a natural ... the camera loves her".[19] According to Robin Thornber of The Guardian, the casting of Sanderson, with Russell Grant and Evadne Hinge, proved commercially successful.[20] A Daily Telegraph piece by Robert Gore-Langton praised Sanderson's 1994–95 performance, again as Girl Friday, as "marvellous",[21] while Christopher Day of The Stage wrote that she "seemed confidently at ease in panto".[22] In 1993, Sanderson and snooker player Dennis Taylor were Babes in the Wood in a pantomime edition of Big Break Christmas Special on BBC1.[23]

Performing a "traditional 'dance celebrating the return home of the menfolk'" on the 2005 Strictly African Dancing special, part of the BBC's Africa Lives season,[24] she was ranked third by viewers.[25] In 2009, she was paired with Ron Atkinson on Celebrity Wife Swap.[26] Atkinson had previously resigned from his role as a television football commentator after making a racist remark about Marcel Desailly in 2004.[27][28][29] The episode attracted 1.9 million viewers.[30] In 2012, Sanderson appeared in "Billy's Olympic Nightmare", a BBC Red Button episode of soap opera EastEnders,[31]

Appearances

[edit]

Television and radio

[edit]
Tessa Sanders she pooed>(on UK TV, unless otherwise noted)
Year Programme Role Ref
1979 The Superstars: The Women's Championship participant [32]
1979 A Question of Sport participant [3]
1979 We Were the Champions interviewee [33]
1982 We Are the Champions guest [34]
1983 Speak Out guest [35]
1984 Pot the Question participant [36]
1984 Punchlines participant [3]
1984 The Saturday Picture Show guest [37]
1984 Crackerjack guest [38]
1984 Bullseye participant [39]
1984 The Krypton Factor Olympic Celebrity Special participant [3]
1984 I've Got a Secret guest [40]
1985 Blankety Blank guest [41]
1986 Tessa Sanderson participant [3]
1987 Sporting Triangles (2 episodes) participant [3]
1987 The Grand Knockout Tournament participant [42]
1987 Through the Keyhole participant [43]
1988 Which School and Why? participant [3]
1988 Sporting Triangles (3 episodes) cast member [3]
1989 Special Awards Presentation participant [3]
1989 Sunday Sunday guest [3]
1989 Sky News sports reporter [4]
1989 Celebrity Wheel of Fortune participant [3]
1989 Grand Final participant [3]
1989 Tessa Sanderson subject [3]
1990 Afternoon participant [3]
1990 Telethon – Thanks to You participant [3]
1990 Bullying participant [3]
1990 On the Line participant [3]
1991 Get Up, Stand Up participant [3]
1991 Busman's Holiday Celebrity Special participant [3]
1991 Visions participant [3]
1991 Catchphrase Celebrity Special participant [3]
1992 TV Squash guest [3]
1992 This Is Your Life subject [44]
1992 Surprise Surprise (3 episodes) host [3]
1993 Cyberzone host [45]
1993 Benn V Eubank: Round One – The Best of Enemies guest [3]
1993 Inside Info participant [3]
1993 Celebrity Squares guest [46]
1993 The Real McCoy participant [47]
1993 Going for Gold[a] presenter [48]
1993 Cluedo (episode: The Hanged Man) participant [3]
1993 Big Break Christmas Special guest [49]
1994 Capital Woman presenter [3]
1995 They Think It's All Over participant [50]
1996 Win, Lose or Draw participant [51]
1996 Noel's Telly Years participant [52]
1996 Sunday Matters participant [3]
1996 Desert Island Discs (radio) guest [53]
1997 Ha Bloody Ha participant [3]
1997 Night Fever – Abba Special participant [3]
1999 h&p@bbc participant [54]
2002 The Essential...Daley Thompson participant [3]
2003 Russell Grant's Sporting Scandals participant [3]
2005 Trisha Goddard (2 episodes) participant [3]
2005 Big Brother's Little Brother guest [3]
2005 The Wright Stuff panellist [3]
2006 Strictly African Dancing participant [24]
2006 The Wright Stuff panellist [3]
2007 What the World Thinks of God guest [3]
1999 Antiques Roadshow participant [55]
2009 Celebrity Wife Swap participant [3]
2010 Cash in the Celebrity Attic participant [56]
2010 Celebrity MasterChef participant [57]
2011 Celebrity Eggheads participant [58]
2012 Celebrity Antiques Road Trip participant [59]
2012 EastEnders: Billy's Olympic Nightmare herself [31]
2012 A Question of Sport participant [60]
2012 Dotun Adebayo (radio) participant [61]
2012 Dancing on Ice Goes Gold participant [3]
2015 Who's Doing the Dishes? participant [62]
2016 Pointless Celebrities participant [63]
2015 All Star Mr & Mrs participant [64]
2016 Pointless Celebrities (2 episodes) participant [65][66]
2016 A Question of Sport participant [67]
2019 The Junk Food Experiment participant [68]
2016 Tenable All Stars participant [69]
2018 Celebrity 5 Go Barging participant [70]
2019 Sink Or Swim For Stand Up To Cancer participant [71]
2020 Bargain Hunt: Newmarket 31 (Sport Relief Special) participant [72]
2021 Celebrity River Cruising in France participant [73]

Pantomime

[edit]
Pantomime appearances by Tessa Sanderson
Year Title Role Venue Ref
1990–91 Robinson Crusoe Girl Friday Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford [16][74]
1991–92 Aladdin The Genie Brighton Dome [17]
1994–95 Robinson Crusoe Girl Friday Pavilion Theatre, Bournemouth [17][75]
1995–96 Cinderella Fairy Godmother Lewisham Theatre [18]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Programme about the likelihood of Manchester hosting the 2000 Olympics,[48] not Going for Gold.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Tessa Sanderson". UK Athletics. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. ^ Hubbard, Alan (15 November 2009). "Tessa Sanderson: 'I was spat on and called golliwog'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an "Tessa Sanderson". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  4. ^ a b Brooks, Richard (5 February 1989). "Sun light in the Sky for news channel". The Observer. London. p. 84.
  5. ^ Miles, Tina (15 March 2012). "Holly Willoughby on why she is nervous about stepping into her hero Cilla Black's shoes on Surprise Surprise". Liverpool Echo. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Central's new game show". The Stage. 5 June 1986. p. 23.
  7. ^ a b Trent, Henry (5 February 1989). "Tessa's back in view". Birmingham Weekly Mercury. p. 11.
  8. ^ Hickman, Leon (4 March 1989). "Brave Tessa aims for the Sky". Sandwell Evening Mail. p. 34.
  9. ^ Brooks, Richard (5 February 1989). "Sun light in the Sky news channel". The Observer. p. S5 p.84.
  10. ^ Cole, Paul (28 April 1990). "Five-a-side challenge". Birmingham Evening Mail. p. 19.
  11. ^ Powell, David (25 May 1996). "Joan Collins of javelin aims for dramatic final episode of dynasty". The Times. p. 42.
  12. ^ Powell, David (19 June 1990). "Sanderson decides to fill javelin void left by Whitbread". The Times. p. 43.
  13. ^ "Fighting the flab". Kensington Post. London. 4 January 1990. p. 18.
  14. ^ "Video Gems Firm". trove.nla.gov.au. National Library of Australia. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
  15. ^ Figg, Oliver (26 September 1998). "Fitness fat cats". p. This Life 50.
  16. ^ a b Hiley, Jim (18 December 1990). "Mass production of a golden egg?". The Times. London. p. 17.
  17. ^ a b c "Sports stars". pantoarchive.com. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  18. ^ a b Chadband, Ian (7 January 1996). "Olympic fairytail – Olympic Games". The Sunday Times. London. p. 2/12.
  19. ^ a b Cartwright, Justin (23 December 1990). "All aboard with the Crusoes and Tessa Friday". The Sunday Telegraph. p. 51.
  20. ^ Thornber, Robin (8 January 1991). "Spoting chancers". The Guardian. p. 33.
  21. ^ Gore-Langton, Robert (16 Dec 1994). "Boo! Hiss1 It's the villain of pantoland". The Daily Telegraph. p. 19.
  22. ^ Day, Christopher (6 January 1995). "Bournemouth: Robinson Crusoe". The Stage. p. 21.
  23. ^ "TV tonight". Evening Mail. West Bromwich. 27 Dec 1993. p. 16.
  24. ^ a b "Strictly African Dancing". BBC. 20 June 2005. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  25. ^ Smith, Giles (12 July 2005). "Triumphant Earle more than simply here for the spear – Sport on television". The Times. London. p. 68.
  26. ^ "Football pundit Ron doesn't play ball in conflict-free wife swap". Leicester Mercury. 17 August 2009.
  27. ^ Herbert, Ian (22 September 2016). "Ron Atkinson: Former Manchester United manager still seeking redemption after all these years from racist storm". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  28. ^ "Midlands football legend apologise for racist remark on Wife Swap". Birmingham Live. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  29. ^ Rifkind, Hugo (22 August 2009). "There's an awful lot of good people, doing an awful lot of good works". The Times. p. 14.
  30. ^ "TV ratings: Usain Bolt world record puts BBC2 ahead of the pack". TheGuardian.com. 17 August 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  31. ^ a b "Billy's Olympic Nightmare". BBC. Archived from the original on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  32. ^ Pacey, Ann (4 February 1979). "Pick of the week: Friday". Sunday Mirror. p. 27.
  33. ^ "BBC2". Liverpool Echo. 2 June 1979. p. 6.
  34. ^ "BBC 1". Radio Times. BBC. 7 August 1982. p. 36.
  35. ^ "Games in view". Burton Daily Mail. 1 May 1984. p. 13.
  36. ^ "BBC1". Liverpool Echo. 31 May 1984. p. 24.
  37. ^ "BBC1". Liverpool Echo. 31 August 1984. p. 24.
  38. ^ "TV: BBC1". Reading Evening Post. 28 September 1984. p. 2.
  39. ^ "London". Sunday Mirror. London. 21 October 1984. p. 26.
  40. ^ "Tonight's highlights". Reading Evening Post. 12 December 1984. p. 2.
  41. ^ "TV Guide: BBC-1". Liverpool Echo. 1 February 1985. p. 24.
  42. ^ "Royal fun and games". Perthshire Advertiser. 10 June 1987. p. 29.
  43. ^ "Last night's TV". Dundee Courier. 20 June 1987. p. 3.
  44. ^ Roberts, Roy (19 November 1992). "TV review". Sandwell Evening Mail. p. 29.
  45. ^ Young, Graham (1 January 1993). "Weird". Sandwell Evening Mail.
  46. ^ "TV weekly: Carlton". Daily Mirror. 17 April 1993. p. 22.
  47. ^ "BBC1". Sandwell Evening Mail. 4 June 1993. p. 36.
  48. ^ a b Pratt, Tony (3 September 1993). "TV guide: BBC2". Daily Mirror. p. 30.
  49. ^ "TV Guide: BBC-1". Liverpool Echo. 27 December 1993. p. 16.
  50. ^ Baker, Andrew (24 September 1995). "Monster week for Eric and a pink rubber suit". The Independent. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  51. ^ "Today's television and radio: Grampian". Dundee Courier. 18 March 1994. p. 6.
  52. ^ "BBC1". Liverpool Echo. 5 February 1996. p. 16.
  53. ^ "Desert Island Discs: Tessa Sanderson". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  54. ^ Pratt, Tony; Sacre, Paul (12 May 1999). "TV guide: BBC1". Daily Mirror. p. 24.
  55. ^ "Sunday's TV: BBC One". Evening Herald. Dublin. 15 March 2008. p. 33.
  56. ^ "Cash in the Celebrity Attic". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  57. ^ "Celebrity MasterChef". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  58. ^ "Celebrity Eggheads". BBC. Retrieved 27 April 2022.
  59. ^ "Celebrity Antiques Road Trip". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  60. ^ "A Question of Sport". BBC. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  61. ^ "Dotun Adebayo". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  62. ^ Virtue, Graeme (28 September 2015). "Comedy chops: celeb cook-off Who's Doing the Dishes? is absurdly tasty". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  63. ^ "Pointless Celebrities: 1980s". BBC. Archived from the original on 11 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  64. ^ "3 to see – Wednesday November 4". Daily Mirror. 31 October 2015. p. 39.
  65. ^ "Pointless Celebrities: Sport". BBC. Archived from the original on 6 September 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  66. ^ "Pointless Celebrities: Olympic Golds". BBC. Archived from the original on 15 October 2016. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  67. ^ "A Question of Sport". BBC. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  68. ^ Sturges, Fiona (23 February 2019). "Mysterious grill: Peter Andre eats himself high in The Junk Food Experiment". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 13 December 2019. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  69. ^ "Tenable All Stars". ITV. 24 April 2019. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  70. ^ Taylor, Frances. "Celebrity 5 Go Barging". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 23 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2019.
  71. ^ Gilbert, Gerard (3 September 2019). "What's on TV tonight: Holliday Grainger stars in fake news drama The Capture". inews.co.uk. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
  72. ^ "Bargain Hunt: Newmarket 31 (Sport Relief Special)". BBC. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
  73. ^ "Channel 5". Liverpool Echo. 18 April 2021. p. 44.
  74. ^ "Guildford pantomime history". pantoarchive.com. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2022.
  75. ^ Beacom, Brian (19 October 2012). "Panto – Krankies are having too much fun to retire". Glasgow Times. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2012.
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