Gail McKenna
Encyclopedia
Gail McKenna is an English actress
who rose to fame in the 1980s as a Page Three girl
and glamour model. She subsequently became a theatre and television actress, a sports presenter for L!VE TV
and Five, and a presenter of children's programmes
for CITV
.
and history
. However, after achieving success as a glamour model, she decided not to return to school.
On 21 May 1986, aged 17, McKenna made her Page Three debut in British tabloid newspaper The Sun
. She went on to become one of the most popular glamour models of her era, with her photographs appearing regularly in tabloid newspapers and men's magazines. In 1988, she appeared in a Playboy
magazine pictorial with a number of other Page Three girls, including Maria Whittaker
and Suzanne Mizzi
.
McKenna gave up topless and nude modeling in 1990, at the age of 21, after becoming a born-again Christian.
s and fringe theatre
productions. Her film and television credits include a minor uncredited role in the 1988 film Consuming Passions
and a brief role in the Channel 4
soap opera Brookside
, where she played the girlfriend of character Barry Grant
.
In 1996, McKenna became a television sports presenter
for L!VE TV
's Sports Live. She went on to present the sports shows Turnstile and Live and Dangerous on the TV channel Five.
In 1998, she became a children's television presenter for CITV
. She worked on Brilliant Creatures
from 1998–2004, where her co-hosts included Terry Nutkins
and Stephen Mulhern
, and How 2
from 2000–06, which she co-presented with Fred Dinenage
and Gareth Jones
.
Tony Potter, whom she had met on the set of a pantomime production two years earlier. The couple had a son in 1992 but their marriage was short-lived. She married her second husband, restaurateur James Rhodes, on 25 January 1997 at Dalhousie Castle
, Midlothian
, in Scotland
. In December 1997, she gave birth to a second son.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
who rose to fame in the 1980s as a Page Three girl
Page Three girl
Page Three is a tabloid newspaper feature consisting of a topless photograph of a female glamour model, usually printed on the paper's third page...
and glamour model. She subsequently became a theatre and television actress, a sports presenter for L!VE TV
L!VE TV
L!VE TV was a British television station that was operated by MGN on cable television from 15 August 1995 - 31 October 1999. It was later revived for Sky Digital from 2003...
and Five, and a presenter of children's programmes
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
for CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
.
Glamour Modelling
As a teenager, McKenna attended a Catholic convent school in Liverpool. After attaining eight O-levels, she took a year off, intending to return to pursue A-levels in classicsClassics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
. However, after achieving success as a glamour model, she decided not to return to school.
On 21 May 1986, aged 17, McKenna made her Page Three debut in British tabloid newspaper The Sun
The Sun (newspaper)
The Sun is a daily national tabloid newspaper published in the United Kingdom and owned by News Corporation. Sister editions are published in Glasgow and Dublin...
. She went on to become one of the most popular glamour models of her era, with her photographs appearing regularly in tabloid newspapers and men's magazines. In 1988, she appeared in a Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
magazine pictorial with a number of other Page Three girls, including Maria Whittaker
Maria Whittaker
Maria Whittaker is a former English glamour model and Page Three girl.-Modelling career:Whittaker made her début as a Page Three girl in British newspaper The Sun in 1985, at the age of 16...
and Suzanne Mizzi
Suzanne Mizzi
Suzanne Mizzi was a glamour model, singer, interior designer, and artist. She made regular appearances as a Page Three girl in the British newspaper The Sun during the 1980s and 1990s, before going on to have a career as a catwalk model, as well as being involved in film and music...
.
McKenna gave up topless and nude modeling in 1990, at the age of 21, after becoming a born-again Christian.
Theatre, Film, and Television
In the late 1980s and early 1990s, McKenna regularly played parts in pantomimePantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
s and fringe theatre
Fringe theatre
Fringe theatre is theatre that is not of the mainstream. The term comes from the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, which name comes from Robert Kemp, who described the unofficial companies performing at the same time as the second Edinburgh International Festival as a ‘fringe’, writing: ‘Round the fringe...
productions. Her film and television credits include a minor uncredited role in the 1988 film Consuming Passions
Consuming Passions
Consuming Passions is a 1988 black comedy film conceived - though not actually written by - Michael Palin and Terry Jones. The film stars Vanessa Redgrave, Jonathan Pryce, and Sammi Davis and was directed by Giles Foster...
and a brief role in the 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...
soap opera Brookside
Brookside
Brookside is a defunct British soap opera set in Liverpool, England. The series began on the launch night of Channel 4 on 2 November 1982, and ran for 21 years until 4 November 2003...
, where she played the girlfriend of character Barry Grant
Barry Grant
Barry Grant is a fictional character in the defunct Channel 4 soap opera Brookside. He was portrayed by Paul Usher and was in the series from episode one in 1982 until 1995 with several sporadic guest appearances in 1997, 1998 and the final episode in 2003....
.
In 1996, McKenna became a television sports presenter
Sportscaster
In sports broadcasting, a commentator gives a running commentary of a game or event in real time, usually during a live broadcast. The comments are normally a voiceover, with the sounds of the action and spectators also heard in the background. In the case of television commentary, the commentator...
for L!VE TV
L!VE TV
L!VE TV was a British television station that was operated by MGN on cable television from 15 August 1995 - 31 October 1999. It was later revived for Sky Digital from 2003...
's Sports Live. She went on to present the sports shows Turnstile and Live and Dangerous on the TV channel Five.
In 1998, she became a children's television presenter for CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
. She worked on Brilliant Creatures
Brilliant Creatures
Brilliant Creatures is a children's wildlife TV show which produced six series and aired in the UK on ITV's children's slot CITV between 1998 and 2003. It was produced by The Foundation.The original presenters were Terry Nutkins and Gail McKenna...
from 1998–2004, where her co-hosts included Terry Nutkins
Terry Nutkins
Terence P. Nutkins is an English naturalist, television presenter and author. He is known for his television appearances, notably in the UK children's programmes Animal Magic, The Really Wild Show, Brilliant Creatures and Growing Up Wild.-Biography:Terry Nutkins was born in Marylebone, London, and...
and Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Mulhern
Stephen Daniel Mulhern is a British TV presenter, entertainer, and former magician. He began presenting in the studio on CITV in May 1998 and became a leading presenter until he left in August 2002. He has presented a number of shows, including SMTV Live, Holly & Stephen's Saturday Showdown and...
, and How 2
How 2
How 2 was an informative children's programme produced by TVS between 1990 and 1992, and STV Productions from 1993 to 2006....
from 2000–06, which she co-presented with Fred Dinenage
Fred Dinenage
Frederick Edgar Dinenage, MBE is an English television host and newsreader, based in the south of England.Dinenage has appeared as presenter of many British television programmes , such as Gambit , Tell The Truth, How and its successor How...
and Gareth Jones
Gareth Jones (presenter)
Gareth Jones is a Welsh television presenter and celebrity. He began his broadcasting career under the name Gaz Top....
.
Personal life
In 1990, McKenna married stuntmanStuntman
A stuntman or stunt performer is someone who performs dangerous stunts.Stuntman may also refer to:*The Stunt Man, a 1980 film starring Peter O'Toole*Stuntman , a 2002 video game**Stuntman: Ignition, its sequel...
Tony Potter, whom she had met on the set of a pantomime production two years earlier. The couple had a son in 1992 but their marriage was short-lived. She married her second husband, restaurateur James Rhodes, on 25 January 1997 at Dalhousie Castle
Dalhousie Castle
Dalhousie Castle is a castle in Midlothian, Scotland. Dalhousie Castle is situated near the town of Bonnyrigg, 8 miles south of Edinburgh. The castle was the seat of the Earls of Dalhousie, the chieftains of Clan Ramsay.-History:...
, Midlothian
Midlothian
Midlothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy area. It borders the Scottish Borders, East Lothian and the City of Edinburgh council areas....
, 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...
. In December 1997, she gave birth to a second son.