Fearne Cotton

China Product


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 (19282008) 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. demineralized water

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. pool chlorinator

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 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. water softener reviews

Presenting career

UK children's TV

After being discovered by the The Disney Club in 1998, Fearne Cotton continued with the show and with its replacement Diggit. She left in 2000, to concentrate on her other projects with CITV, including Draw Your Own Toons and Mouse, aimed at encouraging children to use computers. Cotton joined CBBC in 2001 to present children's science programme Eureka TV. In 2002 she presented Finger Tips, an arts and crafts programme for children, with co-presenter Stephen Mulhern. She later co-presented on CBBC's Sunday morning show, Smile and on The Saturday Show.She has also made appearances in CBBC show 'Only in America' alongside with one of her best mates Reggie Yates.

UK mainstream TV and radio

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.

She has hosted parts of the Red Nose Day telethon for Comic Relief (2005, 2007, and 2009) presenting several strands alongside Jonathan Ross and Lenny Henry. In 2009, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, alongside Ben Shephard, Gary Barlow, Alesha Dixon, Ronan Keating, Denise Van Outen and Chris Moyles, and Girls Aloud members Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh. Cotton and others collapsed from altitude sickness during the five-day climb. She was in the first group (with Van Outen, Shephard and Cole) to reach the summit and helped raise 3.3m. Cotton filmed a video piece for Comic Relief about Malaria. She visited a children's Hospital in Uganda where she witnessed a young child in pain through Malaria. Cotton had to walk out the room and collapsed as she did so but was able to continue shortly after. The child died later. Cotton also recorded her voice for the BT Speaking Clock to raise funds for Comic Relief.

In September 2005 she joined BBC Radio 1, to present the Friday early morning slot with Reggie Yates, whom she had previously worked with on CBBC, Only in America and Top Of The Pops. Since 14 October 2007, Cotton and Yates have presented BBC Radio 1's Chart Show, taking over from JK & Joel, who had left the station. Cotton then became the first ever permanent female presenter of a BBC radio chart show. (Jo Whiley had preceded her as the first female presenter of The Official UK Top 40, as it was then called, but presented it only once, on November 24, 2002.)

Cotton has presented parts of the BBC's coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest. On 20 May 2006 she read the United Kingdom's votes at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, held in Athens, Greece. On 17 March 2007 she, along with Terry Wogan, hosted Making Your Mind Up 2007, the show to decide which song the UK sent to the Eurovision Song Contest 2007 in Helsinki, Finland. On the night, after the final "sing-off" between the two remaining acts, Wogan and Cotton simultaneously announced different winners. Since Wogan was the more experienced presenter, it was assumed that he was right. In fact, Wogan had accidentally announced the wrong artist, Cyndi, as the winner. Cotton had to persist in repeating the correct name until the confusion was resolved. The group Scooch was quickly proclaimed as the correct winner but came only second from bottom in the main competition, just avoiding Nil Points. Cotton also presented the United Kingdom's votes at the show itself, held in Helsinki, Finland on 12 May 2007.

She has made many other TV appearances in the UK.

She also presented the Isle of Wight Festival 2009 on ITV2 alongside Rufus Hound. On 16 July, it was announced that Cotton would become the new presenter of BBC Radio 1's weekday mid-morning show, taking over from Jo Whiley. Her new programme began on 21 September 2009.

It was reported in the press on July 21, 2009, that whilst presenting the Radio 1 Chart Show two days previously Cotton had been the target of threatening text messages. These messages had been sent via the station's listener SMS service and seem to relate to Cotton taking over Jo Whiley's show. Cotton was driven home after the show by police escort and a 21 year old male was arrested and charged with harassment.

US mainstream TV

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.

TV appearances

Diggit (19982001)

The Saturday Show (20022003)

Smile (20022004)

Serious... (narrator, 2002)

Comic Relief Does Fame Academy (2003)

Top of the Pops: Saturday/Top of the Pops: Reloaded (20032005)

Top of the Pops (2004-)

Red Nose Day (2005-)

Live8 (2005)

Children in Need (20052008)

Never Mind The Buzzcocks (2005 & 2009)

Eurovision Song Contest (2006 & 2007)

Love Island (2006)

Only in America (2006)

Make Me A Supermodel (2006-)

Brit Awards (2007)

Oscars (2007)

Making Your Mind Up (2007)

Concert for Diana (2007)

The Xtra Factor (2007)

Holly & Fearne Go Dating (2007)

Last Comic Standing (2008)

Nelson Mandela: Happy 90th Birthday (2008)

Guilty Pleasures (2008)

Everybody Dance Now! (2008)

Celebrity Juice (2008 & 2009)

Guinness World Records Smashed (2008)

Only in America (2009)

2009 BRIT Awards (2009)

2009 Golden Globes (2009)

Baftas 2009 (2009)

Oscars 2009 (2009)

The Truth about Online Anorexia (2009)

Isle of Wight Festival 2009

iTunes Live Festival 2009

Fearne and.... (2009)

2010 BRIT Awards (2010)

References

^ "Fearne Cotton: I'd have gone for Prince William if I was single". The Mail Online. 2007-08-18. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/moslive/article-474542/Fearne-Herbert-Cotton-Id-gone-Prince-William-I-single.html. Retrieved 2009-03-14. 

^ "The 5-Minute Interview: Fearne Cotton, TV presenter". The Independent. 2007-02-21. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/the-5minute-interview-fearne-cotton-tv-presenter-437159.html. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ Revealed in The Truth about Anorexia shown on ITV1 9 April 2009

^ "Run, walk or jog the adidas Women 5K Challenge". healthandfitnessonline.co.uk. 2008-07-16. http://www.healthandfitnessonline.co.uk/?p=106. Retrieved 2009-04-09. 

^ "Fearne Cotton: Biography". TV.com. http://www.tv.com/fearne-cotton/person/186944/biography.html. Retrieved 2009-03-14. 

^ "TV Fearne Cottoning on to art". Daily Mirror. 2006-01-23. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2006/01/23/tv-fearne-cottoning-on-to-art-115875-16616244/. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ "Fearne Cotton: 'I'm a tattoo addict'". Digital Spy. 2008-07-07. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/a108266/fearne-cotton-im-a-tattoo-addict.html?imdb/. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ a b c "Exclusive: Fearne Cotton on her Rock 'n' Roll loves". Daily Mirror. 2005-07-07. http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2005/07/07/exclusive-fearne-cotton-on-her-rock-n-roll-loves-115875-15707986/. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ "Fearne Cotton and Steve Jones split up". Daily Mirror. 2008-11-11. http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/3am/2008/11/11/fearne-cotton-and-steve-jones-split-up-115875-20885043/. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ "Exclusive: Fearne Cotton and Holly Willoughby on men and marriage". Daily Mirror. 2006-08-14. http://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/latest/2008/08/14/exclusive-fearne-cotton-and-holly-willoughby-on-men-and-marriage-115875-20696256/. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ Sarah Dale (2007-09-24). "'I do' followed by a bit of a do". Evening Gazette. http://www.gazettelive.co.uk/lifestyle/wedding-ideas/2007/09/24/i-do-followed-by-a-bit-of-a-do-84229-19839851/. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ "Gone but not forCotton". The Sun. 2008-02-06. http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/x_factor/article767026.ece. Retrieved 2008-12-22. 

^ "Children in Need: 100 per cent Cotton!". BBC.co.uk. 2009-09-17. http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2006/09_september/17/cotton.shtml. Retrieved 2008-12-23. 

^ "Celebrity climbers reach summit". BBC.co.uk. 2009-03-07. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7929859.stmaccess. Retrieved 2009-03-13. 

^ "New voices on the BT speaking clock celebrities give the time of day to Comic Relief". BT press releases. 2009-03-03. http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/Showarticle.cfm?ArticleID=a3eaee06-b2bc-417d-8cad-082856aba86e. Retrieved 2009-03-13. 

^ "TV presenter Cotton joins Radio 1". BBC News. 2005-08-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4137950.stm. Retrieved 2007-04-09. 

^ "All Change At Radio 1". BBC Radio 1. 2007-09-06. http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/schedule/oct2007.shtml. Retrieved 2007-09-06. 

^ Barry Viniker (2007-02-24). "UK Presenters announced". esctoday.com. http://www.esctoday.com/news/read/7812?PHPSESSID=16d1763abffee8355cd24c965f96528c. Retrieved 2007-04-09. 

^ "Eurovision gaffe 'not technical'". BBC News. 2007-03-19. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6465653.stm. Retrieved 2007-04-09. 

^ "Scooch fail to fly Eurovision Flag l'". Daily Express. 2007-05-12. https://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/6838/Scooch-fail-to-fly-Eurovision-flag. Retrieved 2008-12-23. 

^ Kadri, Anisa (16 July 2009). "Cotton to replace Whiley on Radio 1". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a165452/cotton-to-replace-whiley-on-radio-1.html. Retrieved 20 July 2009. 

^ "Radio 1 bosses replace Jo Whiley, 44, with Fearne Cotton, 27, in prized weekday slot". Mail Online. 16 July 2009. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1200107/Jo-Whiley-dropped-Radio-1-weekday-slot-replaced-Fearne-Cotton.html. Retrieved 16 July 2009. 

^ Plunkett, John (16 July 2009). "Jo Whiley and Edith Bowman lose weekday BBC Radio 1 slots". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/16/bbc-radio-1-jo-whiley-edith-bowman-fearne-cotton-greg-james. Retrieved 16 July 2009. 

^ "Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton escorted home by police after receiving death threat texts". MailOnline. 21 July 2009. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1201070/Man-warned-police-sending-Fearne-Cotton-death-threats.html. Retrieved 3 Octaber 2009. 

^ "Fearne's Leaving Us". Sky News. 2008-01-23. http://showbiz.sky.com/showbiz/article/0,,50001-1301929,00.html. Retrieved 2008-01-23. 

^ "Cotton quits 'X Factor' role for US". Digital Spy. 2008-02-06. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/xfactor/a88719/cotton-quits-x-factor-role-for-us.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10. 

External links

Official website

Fearne and Reggie at bbc.co.uk/radio1

Fearne Cotton at itv.com/xfactor

Fearne Cotton at the Internet Movie Database

Fearne Cotton at MySpace

Post Pals (of which Fearne is the patron)

Preceded by

Ben Shephard

Host of The Xtra Factor

2007

Succeeded by

Holly Willoughby

Media offices

Preceded by

JK & Joel

BBC Radio One

Chart Show Presenter

w/Reggie Yates

2007 -

Succeeded by

Incumbent

Preceded by

Jo Whiley

BBC Radio One

Mid-Morning Show Presenter

2009 -

Succeeded by

Incumbent

v  d  e

BBC Radio 1

DJs

Nihal Arthanayake  Edith Bowman  Daniel P. Carter  Mark Chapman  Fearne Cotton  Sara Cox  Rob da Bank  Mike Davies  Bethan Elfyn  Fabio  Vic Galloway  Dev  Nick Grimshaw  Grooverider  Mary Anne Hobbs  MistaJam  Greg James  Aled Jones  Judge Jules  Vernon Kay  Kissy Sell Out  Kutski  Ras Kwame  Zane Lowe  Annie Mac  Rory McConnell  Scott Mills  Chris Moyles  Trevor Nelson  Annie Nightingale  Gilles Peterson  Huw Stephens  Pete Tong  Dave Vitty  Tim Westwood  Jo Whiley  Reggie Yates

Other contributors

Dominic Byrne  Carrie Davis  Aled Jones  James King

Controllers

Matthew Bannister  Johnny Beerling  Derek Chinnery  Charles McLelland  Douglas Muggeridge  Andy Parfitt  Robin Scott

Shows

Chappers and Dave  Essential Selection  Essential Mix  Newsbeat  The Chris Moyles Show  The Scott Mills Show  The Sunday Surgery  The Fearne Cotton Show

Related articles

BBC Radio  BBC Radio 1 Playlist  Radio 1 Podcasts  Radio 1's Big Weekend  Live Lounge (Radio 1's Live Lounge   Volume 2   Volume 3   Volume 4   List of covers)  Yalding House   BBC Introducing

v  d  e

The X Factor UK

Series

Main: 1  2  3  4  5  6

Celebrity: Battle of the Stars

Presenters

Dermot O'Leary  Holly Willoughby

Former: Kate Thornton  Fearne Cotton  Ben Shephard

Judges

Simon Cowell  Dannii Minogue  Louis Walsh  Cheryl Cole

Former: Sharon Osbourne  Brian Friedman  Paula Abdul

Winners

Main series: Steve Brookstein  Shayne Ward  Leona Lewis  Leon Jackson  Alexandra Burke  Joe McElderry

Celebrity series: Lucy Benjamin

Related singles

Winner's singles: "Against All Odds"  "That's My Goal"  "A Moment Like This"  "When You Believe"  "Hallelujah  "The Climb"

Charity singles: "Hero"  "You Are Not Alone"

Related articles

List of finalists (Series 5  6)  List of music releases  Controversy and criticism  Syco TV  Fremantlemedia  talkbackTHAMES

v  d  e

Strictly Come Dancing

Series

1  2  3   4  5  6  7

Hosts

Bruce Forsyth Tess Daly Claudia Winkleman Natasha Kaplinsky (2004) Justin Lee Collins (2004) Ronnie Corbett (2009) Fearne Cotton (Children in Need Special, 2008)

Participants

List of participants

Judges

Craig Revel Horwood Alesha Dixon (2009resent) Len Goodman Bruno Tonioli Darcey Bussell (guest judge, 2009resent) Arlene Phillips (200408)

Celebrity winners

Natasha Kaplinsky Jill Halfpenny Darren Gough Mark Ramprakash Alesha Dixon Tom Chambers Chris Hollins

Professional winners

Brendan Cole Darren Bennett Lilia Kopylova Karen Hardy Matthew Cutler Camilla Dallerup Ola Jordan

Celebrity runners-up

Christopher Parker Denise Lewis Colin Jackson Matt Dawson Matt Di Angelo Rachel Stevens Ricky Whittle

Professional runners-up

Hanna Karttunen Ian Waite Erin Boag Lilia Kopylova Flavia Cacace Vincent Simone Natalie Lowe

Specials winners

David Seaman (Strictly Ice Dancing) Robbie Earle (Strictly African Dancing) Kara Tointon (Sport Relief, 2008) Tess Daly (Children in Need Special, 2008)

Specials runners-up

Jessica Taylor (Strictly Ice Dancing) Antonia Okonma (Strictly African Dancing) Elaine Paige (Sport Relief, 2008) Terry Wogan (Children in Need Special, 2008)

Related

Portal It Takes Two Dancing with the Stars (US version) Dancing with the Stars (International versions)

v  d  e

Last Comic Standing

Seasons

1  2  3  4  5  6

Hosts

Jay Mohr (2003-2004)  Anthony Clark (2006)  Bill Bellamy (2007-2008)  Fearne Cotton (2008)  Craig Robinson (2010-present)

Winners

Dat Phan  John Heffron  Alonzo Bodden  Josh Blue  Jon Reep  Iliza Shlesinger

Categories: The X Factor | 1981 births | American television personalities | British radio DJs | British radio personalities | British television presenters | The X Factor hosts | Living people | Top of the Pops | English vegetarians | Fame Academy participants | People from NorthwoodHidden categories: Articles with hCards