- Melinda Messenger
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Melinda Messenger 
Messenger in 2008Born Melinda Jayne Messenger
23 February 1971
Swindon, Wiltshire, EnglandNationality UK Occupation Presenter
former glamour modelYears active 1997–present Television Eurotrash (TV series)
Fort Boyard
Celebrity Big Brother
Live from Studio FiveSpouse Wayne Roberts
(1998–present)Children 3 Parents Terry and Avis Melinda Jayne Messenger (born 23 February 1971) is an English ex-glamour model, Page 3 Girl and a former presenter on the magazine programme Live from Studio Five. She is currently co-broadcaster of the reality show Cowboy Builders.
Contents
Biography
Messenger was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, the middle child between two brothers, Jamie and Warren. Her parents Terry and Avis divorced when she was aged five.[1] After attending different schools, one of which, Dorcan Technology College, she spent six months working as a flight attendant for Britannia Airways. Messenger later joined a local marketing company, rising to become customer services manager, overseeing a staff of 50.[citation needed]
Modelling career
Deciding she wanted to become a model,[2] Messenger was advised by her agent at the Jason Paul Modelling Agency to enhance her breasts, which she enlarged to a 34DD cup.[3] She then took a job modelling for Gloucester-based double glazing company Glevum Windows, dressed only in knickers and a bra.[4] After being put up as part of an advertising campaign with the slogan "Class Behind Glass", the posters quickly began disappearing from bus stops, taken by local lads. After a complaint at the lack of clothes on Messenger, the Advertising Standards Authority banned the campaign, claiming they were not as "classy" as they claimed to be.[2]
After local newspapers picked up on the story, the Daily Star ran the story on 28 January 1997 as a photo-shoot of Messenger,[4] under the headline, "Move Over Eva Herzigova".[2] Soon after Messenger shot to fame, her mother Avis, publicly denounced her for her glamour career choice, and the two became estranged. It wasn't until the birth of Melinda's first son that the two were reconciled.[1] Later in 1997 she won Rear of the Year.
Signed by modelling agent Yvonne Paul – who had earlier steered Samantha Fox to fame in the 1980s[3] – Messenger's career took off. Posing for artistes including Vivienne Westwood, she was poached for exclusive appearance on the The Sun newspaper's Page Three, they later hailed her as the "Girl of the Thrillenium!".[1] Her work for the newspaper entailed visiting the Spanish costas, as well as visits to English seaside resorts – an assignment known as "Mel's Big Bus Tour".[2] She continued working for The Sun until readers voted to ban models with breast implants.
Move from modelling
She appeared in a cameo role in 1999's Virtual Sexuality as Superbra Girl, and co-starred in the 2000 cult movie The Mumbo Jumbo in the role of Princess Vanilla. She worked on Channel 4 cult show Eurotrash and became a popular pantomime actress, taking on roles such as Cinderella (2004–2005) and Aladdin (with Bobby Davro and John Rhys-Davies; Woking – 2005–2006).
Mother and presenter
Following the birth of her first child Morgan on 7 April 2000, which was by emergency caesarian section after she collapsed with pre-eclampsia,[5] Messenger then concentrated on developing her career as a television presenter.
Messenger released the "Back Into Shape Workout" DVD after the birth of her first child. It was a six week fitness programme designed to get mothers back into shape after the birth of their baby. She appeared on "Noel Edmonds – Gotcha!" in which she was one of the subjects to receive the treatment from Noel and his team.
Messenger had her own issue of ‘At Home With…” magazine called 'At Home With Melinda Messenger", which was aimed at parents. She joined with chef Antony Worrall Thompson in May 2008 for the recipe book “The Sweet Life”, in which she contributed some recipes.
Television
Messenger's TV career began in 1997 on Channel 4's Eurotrash. That same year she was given her own show on Channel 5 called Melinda's Big Night In.
From 1998, Messenger became assistant in Fort Boyard on Five which ran for five series. She initially joined ex-Eastender Leslie Grantham and later Catweazle star Geoffrey Bayldon in the game show which tested contestants' physical agility and brainpower on the identically named sea fortress in France.[3]
In 2002, she appeared on Celebrity Big Brother where she was described as a "blonde Vulcan" by fellow contestant Sue Perkins, who questioned her apparent lack of range of emotions.[4] She has since presented many TV programmes, including Loose Lips (with Richard Arnold), Baby Baby, Can We Still Be Friends, Beat The Dealer and Beat The Crusher.
In 2004, she appeared on Age Swap episode of Celebrity Swap as 83 year-old Margaret Doyle, supposedly Melinda’s old ballet teacher, disguised with prosthetic make-up, a black lycra suit, a red-white wig and fake teeth.[6]
In 2006, Messenger recorded a pilot for a gameshow called Messenger of Doom. It was essentially a remake of The Crystal Maze, with contestants completing a series of challenges in exchange for "life candles." If a contestant failed to complete a challenge, a leather-clad Messenger appeared on screen with the words "I send you to your doom, foolish traveller!" The contestant then spent the next 20 minutes stripped to their underwear in an ice bath. The pilot was well received at test screenings, but the elaborate and expensive sets and costumes discouraged channels from commissioning a full series.
In 2008, Messenger has presented a host of programmes including for the BBC To Buy or Not to Buy, ITV1's Bingo Night Live,[7] and A Garden For Eden for ITV Westcountry.
Messenger's show Cowboy Builders started on Five on 8 January 2009. Alongside this, Melinda was a contestant in the fourth series of Dancing on Ice, which began on 11 January 2009. This was confirmed on 5 January 2009, on This Morning. She was voted out in Week 7 after losing a surprise skate-off against Jessica Taylor. She had survived three previous skate-offs.
In 2009, Messenger, along with ex-footballer Ian Wright and The Apprentice runner-up Kate Walsh began presenting a new show on Five called Live from Studio Five. The show was first was broadcast on 14 September 2009 and has run continuously since.
It was announced on 29 January 2010 that Messenger was leaving her role on Live from Studio Five, to focus on other projects.[8] Her last show was on 26 February 2010. A series of guest hosts have replaced her. Messenger later revealed that she had quit the show due to differences with Wright.[9]
It was confirmed on 5th October 2011 that she would host the new Health Lottery Draws on ITV 1 and Channel 5.[10] Health Lottery is run by Northern & Shell a British publishing and television group. The company is owned by Richard Desmond and along with several newspapers and magazines it also operates channel 5 and several porn TV channels. If Messenger's TV career will survive the association with a provider of pornography is unclear.
Personal life
Having dated since they met at his local Swansea night club,[11] Messenger married Welshman Wayne Roberts in Bali, Indonesia, on 26 November 1998.[3] The couple have three children: Morgan Kelly (born 7 April 2000), Flynn Jefferson (born 2002) and Evie Brooke (born December 2003).[12] As she suffered from post-natal depression after the birth of her second and third children, although she planned a large family of five/six children she has decided not to have any more. In 2003, Messenger won Quality Street "Celebrity Mum of the Year".[13] Roberts runs a Swindon-based electronics company, of which Messenger is a director.[1]
In 2005, Messenger became concerned for the education of her children, and although the couple had just completed renovation of their Wanborough-based 25-room former rectory, Messenger insisted that they move closer to a Steiner-Waldorf school in Reading, Berkshire.[1] This brought tensions into the couple's relationship, and, as a result, they separated on 15 April 2008,[4] later re-uniting that same month to discuss their split for a photo-spread in Hello![14]
On 22 January 2009, Messenger was made an Ambassador to Barnardo's by its president, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
References
- ^ a b c d e Middlehurst, Lester (24 October 2007). "How Melinda Messenger fought back from the brink of suicide". Daily Mail. UK. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-489151/How-Melinda-Messenger-fought-brink-suicide.html. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Melinda Messenger". AskMen.com. http://www.askmen.com/women/models_60/71_melinda_messenger.html. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Melinda Messenger Fact File". BBC Wiltshire. http://www.bbc.co.uk/wiltshire/melinda/factfile.shtml. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d "Mother-of-three Melinda Messenger splits from husband after ten years of marriage". Daily Mail. UK. 15 April 2008. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-559758/Mother-Melinda-Messenger-splits-husband-years-marriage.html. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ "Messenger boy for Melinda". BBC News. 10 April 2000. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/708335.stm. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ Melinda Messenger's old disguise
- ^ "Melinda Messenger joins ITV1". ITV1. 29 May 2008. http://www.itv.com/Entertainment/celebrity/CelebrityNewsHoldingFolder/MelindaMessengerjoinsBingoNightLive/default.html. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ Melinda Messenger quits 'Studio Five' Digital Spy, 29 January 2010
- ^ 'I quit Live From Studio Five because of Ian Wright': Melinda Messenger blames row with co-host for her departure Mail Online, 12 March 2010
- ^ MELINDA MESSENGER TO HOST TELLY HEALTH LOTTO DRAW
- ^ Evans, Catherine (30 April 2008). "Melinda Messenger's husband speaks after split". Western Mail. http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2008/04/30/melinda-messenger-s-husband-speaks-out-on-separation-91466-20843833/. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ BirthsEngland and Wales 1837–2006
- ^ "Melinda is 'mum of the year'". BBC News. 27 March 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2892471.stm. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
- ^ "Melinda Messenger reunites with her estranged husband for a bizarre magazine photo shoot". Daily Mail. UK. 29 April 2008. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-562723/Melinda-Messenger-reunites-estranged-husband-bizarre-magazine-photo-shoot.html. Retrieved 22 June 2008.
External links
- Melinda Messenger at the Internet Movie Database
- Official Melinda Messenger Website Melinda's Official Website
- Video Diary of trip to Malawi for the charity ActionAid
Housemates of Celebrity Big Brother (UK) 2001 2002 2005 2006 2007 Shilpa Shetty · Jermaine Jackson · Dirk Benedict · Ian "H" Watkins · Danielle Lloyd · Jack Tweed · Cleo Rocos · Jo O'Meara · Jade Goody · Carole Malone · Leo Sayer · Jackiey Budden · Ken Russell · Donny Tourette2009 2010 Alex Reid · Dane Bowers · Vinnie Jones · Jonas Altberg · Stephanie Beacham · Nicola Tappenden · Ivana Trump · Sisqó · Stephen Baldwin · Lady Sovereign · Heidi Fleiss · Ekaterina Ivanova2011 Paddy Doherty · Kerry Katona · Jedward · Amy Childs · Lucien Laviscount · Darryn Lyons · Bobby Sabel · Tara Reid · Pamela Bach-Hasselhoff · Sally BercowRay Quinn · Donal MacIntyre · Jessica Taylor · Coleen Nolan · Zöe Salmon · Roxanne Pallett · Melinda Messenger · Ellery Hanley · Michael Underwood · Jeremy Edwards · Gemma Bissix · Graeme Le SauxCategories:- 1971 births
- Living people
- Celebrity Big Brother UK contestants
- Dancing on Ice participants
- English television presenters
- Page Three girls
- People from Swindon
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