Gail Porter
Encyclopedia
Gail Porter is a Scottish
television presenter.
. She studied a BTEC HND in Media Production at West Herts College
. After making an unsuccessful bid to join the presentation team of the BBC children's show Blue Peter
, Porter has tended to present family-friendly television programmes, or ones aimed directly at children. This includes The Movie Chart Show, Top of the Pops
, and Live & Kicking
, work for CITV
, and other programmes such as The Big Breakfast
and Gail Porter's Big 90s for VH1
.
In the late 1990s she began to pose for photos in men's magazines such as FHM
. Probably the best-known product of her many photo sessions is one particular still in which she is seen completely nude from behind. The image became well known due to the events of one night in 1999, when FHM, along with guerrilla marketing
company Cunning Communications and projectionist/artist Malcolm Litson and Jason Bridges, beamed an enormous projection of her onto the exterior of the Houses of Parliament
, with an accompanying message urging people to vote for Porter in the FHM
Top 100 Sexiest Women Poll. In her autobiography, Porter claims that she did not know about the stunt until it was reported in the news the following day.
In 2001, Porter took part in the Reality TV show Celebrity Blind Man's Bluff
and in 2003, she was a contestant on Channel 4
's The Games, although injury truncated her participation.
Recently she presented three series of Dead Famous
and episodes of The Gadget Show
, temporarily replacing Suzi Perry
.
Since 2008, Porter has been a regular panellist on Channel 5's The Wright Stuff
.
In early 2009, Porter's mother died of lung cancer
, aged 60.
In 2010 she was a celebrity guest team captain on What Do Kids Know?
along with Rufus Hound
, Joe Swash
and Sara Cox
on Watch
. In August 2010, Gail launched the Two Way Street campaign on behalf of national solicitors Russell Jones & Walker: an initiative to develop the relationship between HGV drivers and cyclists on the road, keeping them safer. In October 2010, Porter hosted a documentary on Current TV
titled Gail Porter on Prostitution which investigated prostitution
laws.
, causing her to lose much of her hair. She refused to wear a hat or wig, deciding instead to maintain a public profile and raise awareness of the condition. She became Ambassador for the Little Princess Trust
, a charity which provides wigs to children with hairloss. On an appearance on the Richard & Judy
show on 15 February 2006 she showed that her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes were beginning to grow back. On 12 April 2006 Porter said "It is possible that I'm going to get my hair back." As of May 2010, hair had grown back on over 75% of her scalp, and she was beginning to colour and style her hair. By the end of the year, her hair had started falling out again.
Porter's experience with alopecia areata
was the subject of the BBC
ONE Life series documentary Gail Porter Laid Bare on 31 May 2006.
Her autobiography, Laid Bare: My Story Of Love, Fame And Survival, was published in September 2007.
guitarist Dan Hipgrave
in August 2001 and gave birth to their daughter Honey on 3 September 2002. She revealed in February 2005 they had separated eight months earlier.
She dated guitarist Jonny Davies from late 2009.
Porter says she is suffering from Bipolar disorder and Insomnia.
On the 8th of September 2011 Porter gave a Radio interview to Radio 5 live's Phil Williams (a first for Porter) in which she stated that she had been detained (under the Mental Health Act 1983
) for 17 days of treatment against her will. Porter also stated that one of the signatures on the documents to have her sectioned was that of her (at the time) boyfriend after sending a text to him stating that she was feeling suicidal, even though she says she had no intention of acting on it she admits to "being very frail, so who knows". She claims to have felt no benefit to the stay at all. Porter has praise for the staff at the facility but does say that the resources and facilities are under funded and was only seen by 3 Doctors for a very short amount of time in the 17 days.
Scottish people
The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,...
television presenter.
Life and career
Porter attended Portobello High SchoolPortobello High School
Portobello High School is a large secondary school in Portobello in the east of Edinburgh. With 1450 pupils it is one of the largest state schools in Edinburgh and Scotland. At one time it was the largest school in Europe mentioned in The Guinness Book of Records as having 2,500 pupils...
. She studied a BTEC HND in Media Production at West Herts College
West Herts College
West Herts College is a college in Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom. The College has campuses in Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Kings Langley.-Range of courses:...
. After making an unsuccessful bid to join the presentation team of the BBC children's show Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
, Porter has tended to present family-friendly television programmes, or ones aimed directly at children. This includes The Movie Chart Show, Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
, and Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking was a BBC Saturday morning children's magazine programme, running from 1993 to 2001. The fourth in a succession of Saturday morning shows, it was the replacement for Going Live!, and took many of its features from it, such as phone-ins, games, comedy, competitions and the showing of...
, work 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...
, and other programmes such as The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast was a British light entertainment television show shown on Channel 4 and S4C each weekday morning from 28 September 1992 until 29 March 2002 during which period 2,482 shows were produced. The Big Breakfast was produced by Planet 24, the production company co-owned by former...
and Gail Porter's Big 90s for VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
.
In the late 1990s she began to pose for photos in men's magazines such as FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
. Probably the best-known product of her many photo sessions is one particular still in which she is seen completely nude from behind. The image became well known due to the events of one night in 1999, when FHM, along with guerrilla marketing
Guerrilla marketing
Guerrilla warfare is about waging small intermittent attacks on different territories of the opponent with the aim of harassing and demoralising the opponent and eventually securing permanent footholds....
company Cunning Communications and projectionist/artist Malcolm Litson and Jason Bridges, beamed an enormous projection of her onto the exterior of the Houses of Parliament
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
, with an accompanying message urging people to vote for Porter in the FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
Top 100 Sexiest Women Poll. In her autobiography, Porter claims that she did not know about the stunt until it was reported in the news the following day.
In 2001, Porter took part in the Reality TV show Celebrity Blind Man's Bluff
Blind man's bluff
Blind man's bluff may refer to:* Blind man's bluff , a children's game related to tag* Blind man's bluff , a version of poker* Blind Man's Bluff , a British film...
and in 2003, she was a contestant 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...
's The Games, although injury truncated her participation.
Recently she presented three series of Dead Famous
Dead Famous (TV)
Dead Famous: Ghostly Encounters is a British paranormal reality television series that originally aired on LivingTV from June 15, 2004 to June 13, 2006. The program searches for the alleged ghosts of famous deceased people...
and episodes of The Gadget Show
The Gadget Show
The Gadget Show is a British television series focusing on technology and is broadcast on Channel 5. Originally a thirty minute show, it was extended to forty-five minutes, then later to fifty five minutes. Repeats have also aired on the digital channels 5*, Dave and Channel 5's Internet on-demand...
, temporarily replacing Suzi Perry
Suzi Perry
Suzi Perry is an English television presenter, best known for covering MotoGP for the BBC for 13 years and The Gadget Show.-Early life:...
.
Since 2008, Porter has been a regular panellist on Channel 5's The Wright Stuff
The Wright Stuff
The Wright Stuff is a British television chat show, hosted by Matthew Wright, and currently airing on Channel 5 each weekday morning from 9:15 to 11:10am....
.
In early 2009, Porter's mother died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
, aged 60.
In 2010 she was a celebrity guest team captain on What Do Kids Know?
What Do Kids Know?
What Do Kids Know? Is a brand new family entertainment show exclusive to Watch, where celebrities and children celebrate the humour and bewilderment of Britain's generation gap. Hosted by Rufus Hound with resident team captains Joe Swash and Sara Cox. It has similarities to Small Talk...
along with Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound
Rufus Hound is a British comedian and presenter. He is also the winner of 2010 "Let's Dance for Comic Relief".-Career:...
, Joe Swash
Joe Swash
Joseph Adam Swash is an English actor and presenter. He once played Mickey Miller in the British television soap opera EastEnders. He is the older brother of Shana Swash, who played his on-screen younger sister Demi Miller until July 2006. He also won the TV reality show I'm a Celebrity... Get Me...
and Sara Cox
Sara Cox
Sara Cox , known as "Coxy", is an English TV presenter and radio DJ, most well known for presenting the breakfast show on BBC Radio 1 between 2000 and 2003...
on Watch
Watch (TV channel)
Watch is a general entertainment channel broadcasting in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as part of the UKTV network. The channel launched on 7 October 2008 on satellite through Sky and on cable primarily through Virgin Media.-History:...
. In August 2010, Gail launched the Two Way Street campaign on behalf of national solicitors Russell Jones & Walker: an initiative to develop the relationship between HGV drivers and cyclists on the road, keeping them safer. In October 2010, Porter hosted a documentary on Current TV
Current TV
Current TV, or Current, is a media company led by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and businessman Joel Hyatt. Comcast owns a ten percent stake of Current's parent company, Current Media LLC....
titled Gail Porter on Prostitution which investigated prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
laws.
Alopecia
In 2005 Porter started suffering from alopecia areataAlopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a medical condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body, usually from the scalp. Because it causes bald spots on the scalp, especially in the first stages, it is sometimes called spot baldness. In 1–2% of cases, the condition can spread to the entire scalp ...
, causing her to lose much of her hair. She refused to wear a hat or wig, deciding instead to maintain a public profile and raise awareness of the condition. She became Ambassador for the Little Princess Trust
Little Princesses
Little Princess Trust is a charity in the United Kingdom which supplies and funds high quality wigs made of real hair to children suffering hair loss as a result of cancer treatment....
, a charity which provides wigs to children with hairloss. On an appearance on the Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy
Richard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
show on 15 February 2006 she showed that her hair, eyebrows and eyelashes were beginning to grow back. On 12 April 2006 Porter said "It is possible that I'm going to get my hair back." As of May 2010, hair had grown back on over 75% of her scalp, and she was beginning to colour and style her hair. By the end of the year, her hair had started falling out again.
Porter's experience with alopecia areata
Alopecia areata
Alopecia areata is a medical condition in which hair is lost from some or all areas of the body, usually from the scalp. Because it causes bald spots on the scalp, especially in the first stages, it is sometimes called spot baldness. In 1–2% of cases, the condition can spread to the entire scalp ...
was the subject of 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...
ONE Life series documentary Gail Porter Laid Bare on 31 May 2006.
Her autobiography, Laid Bare: My Story Of Love, Fame And Survival, was published in September 2007.
Comedy
Porter tried stand-up comedy and appeared at the Comedy Store on 23 November 2009, as part of the Laughing Point event in aid of the youth homelessness charity Centrepoint.Personal life
Porter married ToploaderToploader
Toploader are an English band from Eastbourne who formed in 1997, with over two million album sales to their name and a string of top 20 hits both home and abroad. Their debut album, Onka's Big Moka, sold over 1 million units and remained in the Top 5 of the UK album chart for over six months...
guitarist Dan Hipgrave
Dan Hipgrave
Dan Hipgrave is a musician, writer and presenter. He is best known as the guitarist of the indie rock band Toploader.-Early life:...
in August 2001 and gave birth to their daughter Honey on 3 September 2002. She revealed in February 2005 they had separated eight months earlier.
She dated guitarist Jonny Davies from late 2009.
Porter says she is suffering from Bipolar disorder and Insomnia.
On the 8th of September 2011 Porter gave a Radio interview to Radio 5 live's Phil Williams (a first for Porter) in which she stated that she had been detained (under the Mental Health Act 1983
Mental Health Act
Mental Health Act is a stock short title used for legislation in the United Kingdom relating to Mental health law.The Bill for an Act with this short title may have been known as a Mental Health Bill during its passage through Parliament....
) for 17 days of treatment against her will. Porter also stated that one of the signatures on the documents to have her sectioned was that of her (at the time) boyfriend after sending a text to him stating that she was feeling suicidal, even though she says she had no intention of acting on it she admits to "being very frail, so who knows". She claims to have felt no benefit to the stay at all. Porter has praise for the staff at the facility but does say that the resources and facilities are under funded and was only seen by 3 Doctors for a very short amount of time in the 17 days.