Dawn Porter
Encyclopedia
Dawn Porter is a British television presenter
and writer. She was born in Scotland
, but grew up in Guernsey
.
, before graduating in 2001 and becoming a reporter/presenter for BBC Radio Humberside
.
by using drastic dieting regimes for the BBC
documentary Super Slim Me
. Porter also presented the product-testing section of How to Look Good Naked
on Channel 4.
In 2008, Porter presented a BBC Three
series of four documentary films, 'Dawn...', exploring attitudes to nudity
, lesbianism, dating, pregnancy and childbirth. Porter also appeared in Seriously Dirty Dancing
, a tribute to her favourite film, for Five.
In 2008 she made a four-part series for Channel 4. The first programme, "Dawn Porter: Free Lover", was broadcast on Channel 4
on 30 September 2008. Dawn travelled to Germany to visit Zegg, a German Free love commune. The programme highlighted the world of Free love
and included discussions with the people who lived in the commune. It premièred with 1.75m viewers (10.7% share). The second programme, "Dawn Porter: Mail Order Bride", was broadcast a week later. Dawn travelled to Ukraine
with a group of American men in their search for a partner. The third programme, "Dawn Porter: Geisha Girl", saw Dawn travel to Japan and spend a week in a geisha
house. The fourth programme, "Dawn Porter: Polygamist's Wife", investigated women who are prepared to share their husbands with other women. This included a stay in Centennial Park
, Arizona.
In February 2009, Porter narrated the BBC Three
series Undercover Princes
.
In May 2009, it was announced that Dawn Porter would present a documentary, entitled 'The Booby Trap', exploring breast cancer, for Sky1. The show aired on 6–7 July 2009 – under the title My Breasts Could Kill Me. It premiered with 181,000 viewers (0.9% share).
Porter has her own TV production company "Hot Patootie TV."
In Nov 2011, Porter was seen appearing in Derren Brown's - The Experiments entitled "The Secret of Luck"
, a journal of her experiences of meeting people on the internet.
on 11 February 2009 about sex, food, fashion and questions from her Twitter followers. Porter is currently in a relationship with comedian and actor Chris O'Dowd
.
Presenter
A presenter, or host , is a person or organization responsible for running an event. A museum or university, for example, may be the presenter or host of an exhibit. Likewise, a master of ceremonies is a person that hosts or presents a show...
and writer. She was born in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, but grew up in Guernsey
Guernsey
Guernsey, officially the Bailiwick of Guernsey is a British Crown dependency in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy.The Bailiwick, as a governing entity, embraces not only all 10 parishes on the Island of Guernsey, but also the islands of Herm, Jethou, Burhou, and Lihou and their islet...
.
Early life
Porter's mother died of breast cancer two days before her seventh birthday, and she was then raised by her aunt. She studied acting at the Liverpool Institute for Performing ArtsLiverpool Institute for Performing Arts
The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts is, despite its young age, one of the United Kingdom's leading institutions for the performing arts. The university is situated in the English city of Liverpool...
, before graduating in 2001 and becoming a reporter/presenter for BBC Radio Humberside
BBC Radio Humberside
BBC Radio Humberside is a BBC Local Radio service covering the area of the former English county of Humberside, which was returned to North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire the East Riding of Yorkshire and the City of Kingston upon Hull on 1 April 1996....
.
TV career
Having established her credentials as a writer and journalist, Porter first came to widespread public attention when she attempted to slim down to a size zeroSize Zero
Size 0 is a women's clothing size in the US catalog sizes system. Size 0 and 00 were invented due to the changing of clothing sizes over time , which has caused the adoption of lower numbers...
by using drastic dieting regimes for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
documentary Super Slim Me
Super Slim Me
Super Slim Me is a TV documentary presented by Dawn Porter. It was broadcast in the U.K. by BBC Three on 25 February 2007. Dawn was on a mission to see what it takes to shrink her UK size 12 figure to the much-touted super skinny Hollywood zero....
. Porter also presented the product-testing section of How to Look Good Naked
How to Look Good Naked
How to Look Good Naked is a television program, first aired on British Channel 4 in 2006, in which fashion stylist Gok Wan encourages women and men who are insecure with their bodies to strip nude for the camera...
on Channel 4.
In 2008, Porter presented a BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
series of four documentary films, 'Dawn...', exploring attitudes to nudity
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
, lesbianism, dating, pregnancy and childbirth. Porter also appeared in Seriously Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing
Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic film. Written by Eleanor Bergstein and directed by Emile Ardolino, the film features Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in the lead roles, as well as Cynthia Rhodes and Jerry Orbach...
, a tribute to her favourite film, for Five.
In 2008 she made a four-part series for Channel 4. The first programme, "Dawn Porter: Free Lover", was broadcast on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
on 30 September 2008. Dawn travelled to Germany to visit Zegg, a German Free love commune. The programme highlighted the world of Free love
Free love
The term free love has been used to describe a social movement that rejects marriage, which is seen as a form of social bondage. The Free Love movement’s initial goal was to separate the state from sexual matters such as marriage, birth control, and adultery...
and included discussions with the people who lived in the commune. It premièred with 1.75m viewers (10.7% share). The second programme, "Dawn Porter: Mail Order Bride", was broadcast a week later. Dawn travelled to Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
with a group of American men in their search for a partner. The third programme, "Dawn Porter: Geisha Girl", saw Dawn travel to Japan and spend a week in a geisha
Geisha
, Geiko or Geigi are traditional, female Japanese entertainers whose skills include performing various Japanese arts such as classical music and dance.-Terms:...
house. The fourth programme, "Dawn Porter: Polygamist's Wife", investigated women who are prepared to share their husbands with other women. This included a stay in Centennial Park
Centennial Park group
The Centennial Park group is a Fundamentalist Mormon group, with approximately 1,500 members, who broke with Leroy S. Johnson, the senior member of the "Priesthood Council" and leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. However, there is no formal relationship...
, Arizona.
In February 2009, Porter narrated the BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
series Undercover Princes
Undercover Princes
Undercover Princes is a BBC Three reality TV show which took three royal claimants from foreign cultures and placed them in Brighton where they had to 'live and date' like normal people...
.
In May 2009, it was announced that Dawn Porter would present a documentary, entitled 'The Booby Trap', exploring breast cancer, for Sky1. The show aired on 6–7 July 2009 – under the title My Breasts Could Kill Me. It premiered with 181,000 viewers (0.9% share).
Porter has her own TV production company "Hot Patootie TV."
In Nov 2011, Porter was seen appearing in Derren Brown's - The Experiments entitled "The Secret of Luck"
Bad Girls Guide
In August 2011 Dawn Porter began providing the voice over for a new online comedy series aimed at young women called "Bad Girl Guides". The first episode entitled "Perving Boss" featured lighthearted tips on how to deal with sexual harassment in the workplace debut on YouTube on 8 August 2011 .Writing
In 2006 she published Diaries of an Internet LoverDiaries of an Internet Lover
Diaries of an Internet Lover is a book by TV Presenter and Journalist Dawn Porter.Dawn places an ad on a website and the book highlights the email exchange leading up to each date. There is then an in depth tale for each of the guys she met....
, a journal of her experiences of meeting people on the internet.
Personal life
Porter started a weekly podcastPodcast
A podcast is a series of digital media files that are released episodically and often downloaded through web syndication...
on 11 February 2009 about sex, food, fashion and questions from her Twitter followers. Porter is currently in a relationship with comedian and actor Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd
Chris O'Dowd is an Irish comedian and actor. He is best known for playing Roy Trenneman in British sitcom The IT Crowd...
.