Tricia Penrose
Encyclopedia
Patricia "Tricia" Penrose (born 9 April 1970, Kirkby
, Merseyside
) is an English
actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Gina Ward in ITV1
's long-running 1960s drama Heartbeat, a role she played continuously from 1993 to 2010. She has also appeared in The Royal
, Coronation Street
, Emmerdale
, Boon
, Justice
and Dancin' Thru the Dark
.
Although Tricia primarily focused on her acting career, she also had an interest in the music industry as she released two singles
– "Where Did Our Love Go?" (1996, UK
#71) and "Don't Wanna Be Alone" (2000, UK #44) In 2002, she reached the final of A Song for Europe
(the competition to select the UK
's Eurovision Song Contest
entry) but did not win. In 2004, however, she won a Christmas edition of the ITV show Stars in Their Eyes
, performing as Brenda Lee and singing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
". She has also sung a number of times on Heartbeat. In 2006 she signed a new contract with the show, thought to be worth £100,000. The final series of Heartbeat aired in 2009–2010.
In 2007, Penrose came second in the third series of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
on BBC1, beaten by Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
. In 2008 she released an aerobics
DVD.
In July 2010, she was a contestant on the BBC
programme Celebrity MasterChef, but she was eliminated at the first hurdle after serving up uncooked liver.
Tricia appeared in the popular ITV
programme Sing If You Can
in May 2011 in order to help raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust
charity where an amazing £16,333 was raised.
As from November 2011, Tricia has become a client of Urban Associates, the largest independent personal management and PR agency in the UK.
She is married to TV presenter Mark Simpkin, with two sons, Jake (born 10 September 2003), and Freddy Jay (born 8 August 2008). She has an older brother called Paul and a long-lost sister Julie, whom she met for the first time only in 2001.
Kirkby
Kirkby is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley in the metropolitan county of Merseyside in England. The town was developed from the 1950s through 1970s as a means to house the overspill of Liverpool. It is situated roughly north of Huyton, the administrative HQ of the borough and about...
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
actress and singer. She is best known for her role as Gina Ward 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 long-running 1960s drama Heartbeat, a role she played continuously from 1993 to 2010. She has also appeared in The Royal
The Royal
The Royal is a British medical drama series produced by ITV. The show comprises one hour episodes which were normally first aired on ITV in the Sunday early evening slot....
, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
, Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
, Boon
Boon (TV series)
Boon is a British television drama and modern-day western series starring Michael Elphick, David Daker, and later Neil Morrissey. It was created by Jim Hill and Bill Stair and filmed by Central Television for ITV...
, Justice
Justice
Justice is a concept of moral rightness based on ethics, rationality, law, natural law, religion, or equity, along with the punishment of the breach of said ethics; justice is the act of being just and/or fair.-Concept of justice:...
and Dancin' Thru the Dark
Dancin' Thru the Dark
Dancin' thru the Dark is a 1990 British film directed by Mike Ockrent and written by Willy Russell. It is based on the play Stags and Hens by the same author. The film stars Con O'Neill, Claire Hackett, Simon O'Brien, Julia Deakin and Mark Womack....
.
Although Tricia primarily focused on her acting career, she also had an interest in the music industry as she released two singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
– "Where Did Our Love Go?" (1996, UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#71) and "Don't Wanna Be Alone" (2000, UK #44) In 2002, she reached the final of A Song for Europe
Making Your Mind Up (TV series)
Eurovision: Your Country Needs You was a BBC TV show broadcast annually to select the United Kingdom's entry into the Eurovision Song Contest...
(the competition to select the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
entry) but did not win. In 2004, however, she won a Christmas edition of the ITV show Stars in Their Eyes
Stars In Their Eyes
Stars in Their Eyes is a British television talent show that ran on Saturdays nights from 21 July 1990 until 23 December 2006 in which contestants impersonate showbiz stars...
, performing as Brenda Lee and singing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
Rockin' around the Christmas Tree
"Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" is a Christmas song written by Johnny Marks and recorded by Brenda Lee in 1958 on Decca 9-30776.-Background:...
". She has also sung a number of times on Heartbeat. In 2006 she signed a new contract with the show, thought to be worth £100,000. The final series of Heartbeat aired in 2009–2010.
In 2007, Penrose came second in the third series of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
Comic Relief Does Fame Academy
Comic Relief Does Fame Academy is a spin-off of the original Fame Academy show where celebrities sing as students of the Academy. The programme was launched in 2003 to help raise money for the charities supported by Comic Relief, with the final of the show occurring on Red Nose Day...
on BBC1, beaten by Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson also known as T P-T, is an English socialite, "it girl", television presenter, columnist and model...
. In 2008 she released an aerobics
Aerobics
Aerobics is a form of physical exercise that combines rhythmic aerobic exercise with stretching and strength training routines with the goal of improving all elements of fitness...
DVD.
In July 2010, she was a contestant on 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...
programme Celebrity MasterChef, but she was eliminated at the first hurdle after serving up uncooked liver.
Tricia appeared in the popular ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
programme Sing If You Can
Sing If You Can
Sing If You Can is an ITV1 game show which features celebrities attempting to sing in front of a live studio audience whilst various attempts are made to disrupt their performances. It is presented by Keith Lemon and Stacey Solomon, though originally Vernon Kay was scheduled to host, but he felt...
in May 2011 in order to help raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust
Teenage Cancer Trust is a charity that focuses on the needs of teenagers and young adults with cancer, leukaemia, Hodgkin’s and related diseases by providing specialist teenage units in NHS hospitals. The units are dedicated areas for teenage patients, who are involved in their concept and creation...
charity where an amazing £16,333 was raised.
As from November 2011, Tricia has become a client of Urban Associates, the largest independent personal management and PR agency in the UK.
She is married to TV presenter Mark Simpkin, with two sons, Jake (born 10 September 2003), and Freddy Jay (born 8 August 2008). She has an older brother called Paul and a long-lost sister Julie, whom she met for the first time only in 2001.
External links
- Tricia Penrose Official website
- Tricia to appear on Fame Academy
- Tricia Penrose Twitter page
- Tricia Penrose Facebook page