Fiona Phillips, an English journalist, broadcaster, and television presenter, gained recognition primarily for her work as a presenter on the ITV Breakfast show GMTV Today.
Bio/Wiki
Age-62years
Height- 1.63 m
Weight-60kg
Born- 1 January 1961
Birthplace- Canterbury, United Kingdom
Profession- English Journalist, Broadcaster, and Television Presenter
Spouse- Martin Frizell (m. 1997)
Nationality- British
Family
Phillips was born in Canterbury, Kent at Canterbury Hospital. She was the daughter of Phillip (who passed away in February 2012) and Amy (who passed away in May 2006). Her grandparents were the proprietors of the Duke’s Head pub located on Church Street in St Paul’s.
Husband
Fiona Phillips has been married to Martin Frizell since 1997.Martin Frizell serves as the editor of the television program “This Morning.”
Children
Together they have two children.
Education
After relocating to Southampton, the family settled there, and Phillips finished her education at Millbrook Community School. Following her time in school, she briefly worked at Mr Kipling’s Bakery in Eastleigh, which is close to Southampton. Phillips obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in English from Birmingham Polytechnic, and she also pursued a Postgraduate Certificate in journalism.
Career
Professional Career
Fiona Phillips is a British television presenter and journalist known for her work in broadcasting. After completing her education, she embarked on a successful career in the media industry.
Phillips’ career began in radio, where she worked as a reporter and presenter for various local radio stations. She then transitioned into television and gained recognition as a presenter on the breakfast show “GMTV” (Good Morning Television) in 1997. Her warm and engaging personality resonated with viewers, and she became a familiar face on morning television in the UK.
During her time on “GMTV,” Phillips covered a wide range of news and current affairs topics, conducting interviews with politicians, celebrities, and ordinary people. She was known for her empathetic approach and her ability to connect with the audience. Phillips also presented various lifestyle and human-interest segments on the show, showcasing her versatility as a broadcaster.
In addition to her work on “GMTV,” Phillips took part in other television projects. She appeared as a contestant on the reality show “Strictly Come Dancing” in 2008, demonstrating her dancing skills to a wide audience. She also hosted her own daytime talk show called “Fiona” in 2009, which focused on topical issues and personal stories.
Phillips has been involved in numerous charitable endeavors throughout her career. She actively supported various causes, including raising awareness for breast cancer, mental health issues, and children’s charities.
After leaving “GMTV” in 2008, Phillips continued to contribute to television and radio. She made guest appearances on various shows and worked as a presenter on different channels, including ITV and BBC. Phillips also ventured into documentary-making, exploring subjects such as childbirth and aging.
Overall, Fiona Phillips has had a diverse and successful career in the media industry. Her contributions as a presenter and journalist have made her a respected figure in British broadcasting, known for her professionalism, compassion, and ability to connect with audiences.
Phillips, known for her previous role as the host of the ITV breakfast show GMTV, expressed how dementia had severely affected her family, with her mother, father, and uncle also having been affected by the disease.
Despite the diagnosis, Phillips stated that she was persevering and continuing with her life. As a mother of two and a columnist for the Mirror, she shared her story with editor Alison Phillips in order to offer support to others facing similar challenges.
Politics
Phillips, a member of the Labour Party, expressed her affiliation with the party and shared her experience of being offered a position as the public health minister in November 2007 during Gordon Brown’s administration. Additionally, she was also offered a peerage. However, Phillips declined these offers due to her responsibilities towards her two young children. She actively participated in the 2009 Labour Party Conference held in Brighton, where she introduced a speech by the Home Secretary Alan Johnson. Furthermore, in June 2009, she appeared as a panelist on the BBC One program Question Time.
Phillips also serves as a patron for the anti-racist organization Hope Not Hate, which promotes the idea of “Celebrating Britain’s diverse society.” Moreover, in August 2014, she joined 200 other public figures in signing a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence leading up to the referendum held in September of that year.
Charity
Phillips serves as a judge for the Daily Mirror Pride of Britain Awards and is involved in presenting the GMTV Emergency Services award. Additionally, she has served as a judge for the Children of Courage awards. Starting from October 15, 2007, she spent a week in Geita, North Tanzania, to visit Neema, a 13-year-old girl whom Phillips sponsors, as well as her family, friends, and local schools.On March 13, 2008, while serving as an Age Concern Ambassador, Phillips presented the Age Concern Grandparent of the Year 2008 award, which took place in the Houses of Parliament. She has continued her role as an Ambassador for the successor charity, Age UK.
Achievement /Awards
- Phillips was put forward for the Royal Television Society Interview of the Year Award in 1996, as a nominee. (Citation needed.)
- Southampton Solent University granted Phillips an Honorary Master of Arts degree on 7 November 2007, acknowledging their eminence and achievements. (Citation needed.)
- On 21 July 2011, Cardiff University awarded Phillips an Honorary Fellowship.
Discography
Television
- 1993-2008: GMTV – Various presenting roles
- 2002, 2004-2005, 2009-2010: Loose Women – Panellist and guest anchor
- 2005: Strictly Come Dancing – Contestant
- 2007: The Killer in Me – Contributor
- 2009: The Wright Stuff – Guest presenter
- 2010: GMTV with Lorraine – Guest presenter
- 3@Three – Regular panellist
- 2010-2012, 2015-2016: Lorraine – Guest presenter (59 episodes)
- 2015: Watchdog – Reporter
- The Truth About…Sugar – Presenter (1 episode)
- 2016: The Truth About…Healthy Eating – Presenter (1 episode)
- Panorama: Pension Rip-Offs Exposed – Presenter (1 episode)
- 2017: The Truth About…Stress – Presenter (1 episode)
- 2019: Ryanair: Britain’s Most Hated Airline
Film
- 2004: Shark Tale
Net Worth 2023
Fiona Philips, the English journalist, broadcaster, and television presenter, has amassed an approximate net worth of $8 million as of July 2023 through her successful career.
Diagnosed With Alzheimer’s Disease
At the age of 62, Fiona Phillips revealed that she had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. The journalist and broadcaster made this discovery a year ago, following months of experiencing brain fog and anxiety, as she shared with the Daily Mirror.
Fiona explained that dementia had profoundly affected her family, with her mother, father, and uncle also having been afflicted by the disease. Despite the diagnosis, Fiona expressed her determination to “carry on” with her life as normally as possible. In an effort to assist others, she decided to share her story and raise awareness. Although Fiona had anticipated the possibility of an Alzheimer’s diagnosis, hearing the news from her doctor still came as a shock as her test results indicated the early stages of the disease.