Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton (born 3 September 1981) is an English presenter known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show. She now presents BBC Radio 1's weekday mid-morning programme, taking over from long-time host Jo Whiley.
In 2008, Cotton moved over to the USA to host The Guinness Book of Records - Live. Cotton later co-hosted the NBC reality show Last Comic Standing. She resigned her presenting role on The X Factor spin-off The Xtra Factor to concentrate on her US career, and was replaced in that role by her friend Holly Willoughby. Cotton was also seen making a special appearance on the show of recent divorcees Katie Price and Peter Andre, where she was seen in a gift lounge before the Oscars.
Biography
Cotton was born in Northwood, London to Lyn and Mick Cotton; she has a younger brother called Jamie. Her father was a sign writer for events such as Live Aid and her mother worked in alternative therapy. She grew up in the West London suburb of Eastcote and was educated at Haydon School in West London.She is a pescatarian and an animal lover. She runs 5 km at least three times a week and has participated in several half marathons for charity. Former BBC executive Sir Bill Cotton (1928-2008) was her paternal grandfather's cousin. He was the son of the well-known entertainer and band leader Billy Cotton
She began her presenting career in 1998, at the age of 17, with early morning GMTV children's programme The Disney Club, after she was discovered in a nationwide talent search during the show.
Cotton studied art at A level, a skill she made much use of whilst presenting the series Draw Your Own Toons. She also enjoys body art and claimed on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross that she has eleven tattoos over her body, the most notable of which is a fern leaf, covering her right hip up to her rib cage.
Cotton has been linked to several celebrities including Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins, Fame Academy's Peter Brame, and Channel 4 presenter Steve Jones. She is best of friends with fellow TV presenter Holly Willoughby, with whom she has co-presented several shows. Cotton and Sarah Cawood acted as two of the bridesmaids at Willoughby's wedding to Dan Baldwin on 4 August 2007.
Career
In 2003 Cotton moved over to mainstream broadcasting. She and Simon Grant (her co-presenter from The Saturday Show) presented the spin-off show Top of the Pops: Saturday (later renamed Top of the Pops: Reloaded) that year. In 2004, she moved up to work alongside Reggie Yates on the main program, Top Of The Pops (the then flagship chartshow for BBC-TV) becoming one of the last regular presenters for that programme, which ended in July 2006. Due to other commitments, she was unable to present the final show itself, appearing instead in a short film shown at the head of that show, in which she made her personal farewells. Cotton and Yates presented the one-off Christmas and New Year specials in both 2008 and 2009, as well as the Comic Relief special in 2009.
Cotton has hosted many reality TV programs. In 2006 Cotton presented the second series of Love Island with Patrick Kielty on ITV, taking over from Kelly Brook. She also presented the Friday night live eviction programme that year for the Five reality TV series Make Me A Supermodel. In 2007, she took over from Ben Shephard as the host for the X Factor spin-off programme, The Xtra Factor on ITV2. She presented it for one series before resigning to work in America. Starting on 5 September 2007, Cotton hosted a dating programme, alongside Holly Willoughby, called Holly & Fearne Go Dating. In this programme they find dates for lonely singles.
Cotton has also presented many telethons. In July 2005 she presented Live 8 in Hyde Park. During the event, the British pop-star Robbie Williams flirted with her in front of the cameras, causing much speculation in the media at the time, but which was later repudiated by the pair. She has also hosted the BBC's annual telethon, Children in Need, alongside Terry Wogan and Natasha Kaplinsky, since 2005. In 2006, she designed the official BBC Children in Need t-shirt - featuring a henna style design of the charity's mascot, Pudsey Bear. In 2008, she hosted a Strictly Come Dancing special as part of Children in Need 2008.