Natalie Pinkham
Encyclopedia
Natalie Pinkham is a British
television and radio presenter, who is currently the pitlane correspondent for BBC Radio 5 Live
's Formula 1 coverage. She is also known for hosting Police Interceptors
Special Edition on 5*. She had appeared on Live From Studio Five
as a guest presenter before the show was cancelled, and was a regular panellist on The Wright Stuff
.
to barrister
mother Joy, and property developer John, Her parents presently live in Northampton
. Natalie and her older DJ brother Sam, who presents the breakfast show for Heart 106
in Nottingham
, were raised at the family home in Northants. Pinkham was educated at Queenswood
boarding school
with now Sky Sports
presenter and friend Georgie Thompson
; and then as a day girl at Rugby School
, before reading politics
at the University of Nottingham
. A capable 800m runner, she gave up the event to study at university.
as a researcher on BBC Two
's Ready Steady Cook
, and then as an assistant producer on International King of Sports
. She then worked for IMG/TWI
as an assistant producer on Superstars
.
Moving in front of the camera, she hosted the Isle of Man TT
races for Men and Motors, reported from the Tennis Masters Cup
in the United States
for Sky Sports
, and fronted Chelsea F.C.
's Blues News. Pinkham co-hosted ITV4
's World Cuppa with Absolute Radio's Christian O'Connell
and BBC Radio Five Live
's Steve Bunce
during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
; whilst also presenting an internet World Cup show for Nobok Sports site. In recent years Pinkham has also hosted the International Rugby Awards with Joel Stransky
in 2004; the SALSA fashion show in 2004 with Craig Doyle
; GOAL's Aura of Asia fundraising event with Liz Bonnin
in 2005, and Extreme Sports Channel's coverage of the Euro Beach Soccer League
and the Beach Soccer World Cup Draw with Eric Cantona
in 2006. Along with ITV Fixers 'The Big Fix', The Salon Prive dinner, and the Boodles Tennis Invitational, all in 2010.
Pinkham has become a specialist poker presenter, becoming the face of The Poker Channel
for the past two years - hosting the British Poker Open, the World Cup of Poker
, The Scandinavian Poker Awards with Mads Mikkelsen
in 2007; and a How to Play Poker DVD
for Virgin Games. She also pens interviews with some of the world's top pros, and filmed the European Poker Tour
for Challenge TV and Eurosport
.
Scheduled to present Heart London's Friday evening show from January 2008, on 7 January 2008 it was officially announced that she would be competing in ITV1
's Dancing on Ice
, partnered with Russia
n Andrei Lipanov
and being taught to skate by ice legends Torvill and Dean
. Pinkham was reported to earn £35,000 for taking part, but exited in Week2 on the 20 January 2008 after a skate-off with ex-Blue Peter
presenter Tim Vincent
.
In 2009, Pinkham co-hosted The Goodwood Festival of Speed
with Steve Rider
and in 2009 and 2010 co-hosted The Goodwood Revival
with Craig Doyle
and Ben Fogle
respectively. So far in 2010, Pinkham has guest presented Five's Live from Studio Five
and continues to be a regular panelist on The Wright Stuff
. She has also hosted the World Series of Poker Europe for ESPN.
Pinkham writes regular pieces for the Mail on Sunday in the Health, Travel and Review sections.
It was confirmed on 13 January 2011 that Pinkham was to join BBC Radio 5 Live
's Formula 1 commentary team as a pit lane reporter for the 2011 season - a role she took up beginning with the 2011 Australian Grand Prix
.
.
Pinkham previously dated ex-England rugby team
captain Matt Dawson
, whom she met when he was a 22 year old student sports teacher at a local school near Rugby
. Dawson introduced Pinkham to Prince Harry, who she was scheduled to look after with Clive Woodward
's wife Jane during the 1999 Rugby World Cup
. Although repeatedly linked romantically to the Prince, Pinkham has successfully sued for damages, and has always denied any romantic liaison.
In November 2010 Pinkham became engaged to longtime boyfriend Owain Walbyoff
A keen fundraiser and campaigner, Pinkham is on the board of trustees for Access Sport, and is an ambassador for her mother's charity KidsAid and the Motor Neurone Disease Association
.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
television and radio presenter, who is currently the pitlane correspondent for BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
's Formula 1 coverage. She is also known for hosting Police Interceptors
Police Interceptors
Police Interceptors is a TV documentary series that profiles the work of a police ANPR Intercept Team in Essex, United Kingdom and in series 4 profiles the work of South Yorkshire Police's Road Crime Unit...
Special Edition on 5*. She had appeared on Live From Studio Five
Live from Studio Five
Live From Studio Five was an early evening, British magazine programme which was produced by Sky News for Channel 5. The show was presented by Kate Walsh and a line-up of other co-presenters during its run. It consisted of interviews and discussing topical issues, with an emphasis on showbusiness...
as a guest presenter before the show was cancelled, and was a regular panellist on 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....
.
Early life and education
Natalie Jane Pinkham was born in BuckinghamshireBuckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
to barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
mother Joy, and property developer John, Her parents presently live in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
. Natalie and her older DJ brother Sam, who presents the breakfast show for Heart 106
Heart 106
Gem 106, previously known as Heart East Midlands, is a regional radio station broadcasting to the East Midlands, owned and operated by Orion Media.-History:...
in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, were raised at the family home in Northants. Pinkham was educated at Queenswood
Queenswood School
Queenswood School is a girls-only private school located near Hatfield in the English county of Hertfordshire. It offers admission at ages 11, 13 or 16 . The current headmistress is Pauline Edgar.-History:...
boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
with now Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
presenter and friend Georgie Thompson
Georgie Thompson
Georgina Jane 'Georgie' Thompson is an English broadcast journalist and television presenter for Sky Sports and Sky Sports News.-Education:...
; and then as a day girl at Rugby School
Rugby School
Rugby School is a co-educational day and boarding school located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire, England. It is one of the oldest independent schools in Britain.-History:...
, before reading politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
at the University of Nottingham
University of Nottingham
The University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
. A capable 800m runner, she gave up the event to study at university.
Career
After graduation, she joined EndemolEndemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
as a researcher on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
's Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook was a BBC daytime TV cooking programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott became the new host...
, and then as an assistant producer on International King of Sports
International King of Sports
International King of Sports was a multi-sport competition held yearly. The events were unusual sports rarely undertaken outside of this competition and were often variants of standard track and field sports....
. She then worked for IMG/TWI
IMG (business)
IMG, originally known as the International Management Group is a global sports and media business headquartered in New York City.-History:...
as an assistant producer on Superstars
Superstars
Superstars is an all-around sports competition that pits elite athletes from different sports against one another in a series of athletic events resembling a decathlon....
.
Moving in front of the camera, she hosted the Isle of Man TT
Isle of Man TT
The International Isle of Man TT Race is a motorcycle racing event held on the Isle of Man and was for many years the most prestigious motorcycle race in the world...
races for Men and Motors, reported from the Tennis Masters Cup
Tennis Masters Cup
The Barclays ATP World Tour Finals is a tennis tournament played at the end of each year, involving the top eight players in the men's tennis world rankings....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
, and fronted Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
's Blues News. Pinkham co-hosted ITV4
ITV4
ITV4 is a British television station which was launched on 1 November 2005. It is owned by ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc, and is part of the ITV network. The channel has a male-oriented line-up, including sport, cop shows and US comedies and dramas, as well as classic ITV action...
's World Cuppa with Absolute Radio's Christian O'Connell
Christian O'Connell
Christian O'Connell is an English radio DJ who presents the Absolute Radio weekday breakfast show.He has formerly hosted BBC Radio Five Live's weekend sports game show Fighting Talk alongside the weekday breakfast show on indie music station Xfm London...
and BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio Five Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
's Steve Bunce
Steve Bunce
Steve Bunce is a freelance television and radio sport pundit and newspaper columnist. He has regularly appeared as a pundit on the BBC sports programme Inside Sport and on BBC Radio Five Live's Fighting Talk...
during the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
; whilst also presenting an internet World Cup show for Nobok Sports site. In recent years Pinkham has also hosted the International Rugby Awards with Joel Stransky
Joel Stransky
Joel Theodore Stransky is a former South African rugby union rugby player, most notable for scoring all of South Africa's points, including the famous dramatic winning drop goal, against New Zealand in the 1995 Rugby World Cup final. He played as a fly-half.-Early life:Stransky was born in...
in 2004; the SALSA fashion show in 2004 with Craig Doyle
Craig Doyle
Craig Doyle is an Irish television and radio presenter. To British viewers he is recognisable as working for the BBC and ITV...
; GOAL's Aura of Asia fundraising event with Liz Bonnin
Liz Bonnin
Liz Bonnin is a French television presenter who has worked on television in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom. She currently works for the BBC.-Biography:...
in 2005, and Extreme Sports Channel's coverage of the Euro Beach Soccer League
Euro Beach Soccer League
The Euro Beach Soccer League is an annual European competition in beach soccer. Started in 1998 as the European Pro Beach Soccer League, the competitions allow national teams to compete in beach soccer in a league format over the summer months. Each season ends with a superfinal in Marseille...
and the Beach Soccer World Cup Draw with Eric Cantona
Eric Cantona
Eric Daniel Pierre Cantona is a French actor and former French international footballer. He played for Auxerre, Martigues, Marseille, Bordeaux, Montpellier, Nîmes and Leeds United before ending his professional footballing career at Manchester United, where he won four Premier League titles in...
in 2006. Along with ITV Fixers 'The Big Fix', The Salon Prive dinner, and the Boodles Tennis Invitational, all in 2010.
Pinkham has become a specialist poker presenter, becoming the face of The Poker Channel
The Poker Channel
The Poker Channel is a dedicated gaming TV network and broadcasts to over 30 million TV homes in 30 countries.The Channel is typically carried in the basic packages of cable and satellite operators in Europe and classified as a sport or entertainment channel in electronic programme guides...
for the past two years - hosting the British Poker Open, the World Cup of Poker
World Cup of Poker
The World Cup of Poker is an annual poker tournament which was established in 2004. The preliminary rounds are conducted online, and the finals were initially held in Barcelona, Spain, but since 2009, they have been moved to the Atlantis Resort & Casino in the Bahamas...
, The Scandinavian Poker Awards with Mads Mikkelsen
Mads Mikkelsen
' is a Danish actor.-Life and career:Mikkelsen was born in the Østerbro area of Copenhagen, the son of Bente Christiansen and Henning Mikkelsen, a cab driver. He is the brother of actor Lars Mikkelsen. After attending Århus Theatre School, he made his film debut in the movie Pusher...
in 2007; and a How to Play Poker DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
for Virgin Games. She also pens interviews with some of the world's top pros, and filmed the European Poker Tour
European Poker Tour
The Pokerstars European Poker Tour is a series of poker tournaments similar to those in the World Poker Tour , created by John Duthie, winner of the inaugural Poker Million tournament. It began in 2004 as part of the worldwide explosion in Texas Hold 'em popularity...
for Challenge TV and Eurosport
Eurosport
Eurosport is a pan-European television sport network operated by French broadcaster TF1 Group. The network of channels are available in 59 countries, in 20 different languages providing viewers with European and international sporting events...
.
Scheduled to present Heart London's Friday evening show from January 2008, on 7 January 2008 it was officially announced that she would be competing in ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
's Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...
, partnered with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n Andrei Lipanov
Andrei Lipanov
Andrei Lipanov is a Russian ice skater. He appears on British television's Dancing On Ice as a professional partner.-Early life:...
and being taught to skate by ice legends Torvill and Dean
Torvill and Dean
Torvill and Dean are British ice dancers and former British-, European-, Olympic- and World champions...
. Pinkham was reported to earn £35,000 for taking part, but exited in Week2 on the 20 January 2008 after a skate-off with ex-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...
presenter Tim Vincent
Tim Vincent
Tim Vincent is a Welsh actor and television presenter who was a presenter on the popular children's programme Blue Peter between 1993 and 1997...
.
In 2009, Pinkham co-hosted The Goodwood Festival of Speed
Goodwood Festival of Speed
The Goodwood Festival of Speed, commonly abbreviated as FoS and referred within the United Kingdom as simply the Festival of Speed, is an annual hill climb featuring historic motor racing vehicles that is held in the grounds of Goodwood House, West Sussex, England.Typically held in late June or...
with Steve Rider
Steve Rider
Stephen Rider is an English sports presenter, and was the anchorman of ITV's football coverage, which included the Champions League, England Internationals, the FA Cup and the 2006 World Cup. He anchored ITV's Formula One coverage from 2006 to 2008, and football coverage from 2006 to April 2010...
and in 2009 and 2010 co-hosted The Goodwood Revival
Goodwood Revival
The Goodwood Revival is a three-day festival held each September since 1998 for the types of road racing cars and motorcycle that would have competed during the circuit's original period—1948-1966. It is one of the world’s most popular motor race meetings and the only UK event which recreates the...
with Craig Doyle
Craig Doyle
Craig Doyle is an Irish television and radio presenter. To British viewers he is recognisable as working for the BBC and ITV...
and Ben Fogle
Ben Fogle
Ben Fogle is an English television presenter, adventurer and writer.-Early life:Fogle is the son of actress Julia Foster and broadcasting veterinary surgeon Bruce Fogle...
respectively. So far in 2010, Pinkham has guest presented Five's Live from Studio Five
Live from Studio Five
Live From Studio Five was an early evening, British magazine programme which was produced by Sky News for Channel 5. The show was presented by Kate Walsh and a line-up of other co-presenters during its run. It consisted of interviews and discussing topical issues, with an emphasis on showbusiness...
and continues to be a regular panelist on 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....
. She has also hosted the World Series of Poker Europe for ESPN.
Pinkham writes regular pieces for the Mail on Sunday in the Health, Travel and Review sections.
It was confirmed on 13 January 2011 that Pinkham was to join BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live
BBC Radio 5 Live is the BBC's national radio service that specialises in live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries...
's Formula 1 commentary team as a pit lane reporter for the 2011 season - a role she took up beginning with the 2011 Australian Grand Prix
2011 Australian Grand Prix
The 2011 Australian Grand Prix was a Formula One motor race held on 27 March 2011 at the Albert Park Circuit in Melbourne. It was the 76th race in the combined history of the Australian Grand Prix that dates back to the 100 Miles Road Race of 1928...
.
Personal life
Pinkham is engaged to long term boyfriend Owain Walbyoff, who works in business development at EndemolEndemol
Endemol is an international television production and distribution company based in the Netherlands, with subsidiaries and joint ventures in 23 countries, including the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Mexico, Spain, Italy, Germany, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Poland,...
.
Pinkham previously dated ex-England rugby team
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
captain Matt Dawson
Matt Dawson
Matthew James Sutherland "Daws" Dawson, MBE is a retired English rugby union player who played scrum half for Wasps and Northampton Saints. During his international career he toured with the British and Irish Lions three times and was part of England's 2003 Rugby World Cup winning side...
, whom she met when he was a 22 year old student sports teacher at a local school near Rugby
Rugby, Warwickshire
Rugby is a market town in Warwickshire, England, located on the River Avon. The town has a population of 61,988 making it the second largest town in the county...
. Dawson introduced Pinkham to Prince Harry, who she was scheduled to look after with Clive Woodward
Clive Woodward
Sir Clive Ronald Woodward OBE is an English former rugby union player and coach. He was coach of the team from 1997 to 2004, managing them to victory in the 2003 Rugby World Cup. He is currently the British Olympic Association's Director of Elite Performance.-Early life:Woodward was born in Ely...
's wife Jane during the 1999 Rugby World Cup
1999 Rugby World Cup
The 1999 Rugby World Cup was the fourth Rugby World Cup, and the first to be held in rugby union's professional era. The principal host nation was Wales, although the majority of matches were played outside the country, shared between England, France, Scotland and Ireland...
. Although repeatedly linked romantically to the Prince, Pinkham has successfully sued for damages, and has always denied any romantic liaison.
In November 2010 Pinkham became engaged to longtime boyfriend Owain Walbyoff
A keen fundraiser and campaigner, Pinkham is on the board of trustees for Access Sport, and is an ambassador for her mother's charity KidsAid and the Motor Neurone Disease Association
Motor Neurone Disease Association
The Motor Neurone Disease Association is a British charity, operating in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, established in 1979 by a group of volunteers to coordinate care, support, and research for people affected by motor neurone disease .The aim of the MND Association is a world free of MND.The...
.