Philippa Forrester

Philippa is an intelligent and charismatic presenter. She is best known for her experience in live television, most notably Tomorrow’s World – she presented this alongside Peter Snow for seven years and during that time anchored many live specials and outside broadcasts.

Live Events for the BBC include:

Eclipse which she presented with Michael Burke and had the highest ever viewing figures for a daytime TV programme. She presented the Queen’s Jubilee Celebrations for three days with David Dimbleby, covering The Mall on the day of the procession. Crufts which she anchored for four years. The Foot and Mouth Special which was a live discussion programme hosted by the BBC. Zoowatch - a week’s live coverage following daily life at London Zoo which she hosted with Rolf Harris. And the Heaven & Earth Show BBC1, a weekly 1 hour live discussion programme. Philippa co-hosted this show for two and a half years with Ross Kelly. 2005 has seen her debut as a radio presenter for BBC Bristol and she is soon to start a regular live Saturday morning show.

Non-live television credits include:

The phenomenally successful Robot Wars which she presented for BBC2 for seven series and which contributed to FHM naming her the 42nd sexiest woman in the world [an accolade of which she is very proud!] Philippa has also presented many ‘specials’ and documentaries for the BBC’s Natural History Unit. These included Making Animal Babies - Clever Critters - Man Meets Dog.  There were also three series of a pet behavioral programme for BBC Features called Barking Mad TX BBC1.

Off camera, Philippa runs a production company ‘Halcyon Media’ with her husband Charlie Hamilton-James. Their out put to date includes: the award winning, My Halcyon River BBC2 TX Nov 2002, [this was the Radio Times most requested repeat that year]. The Wild Wood BBC2 TX Dec 2004, Tarka BBC2 TX Dec 2005 and The Restless River [In production TX tbc].

Philippa’s authoritative and intellectual approach can be seen in her success as a published author.  Her first book ‘The River’ [published by Orion, 2004] is a humorous and autobiographical account of filming with her partner in the countryside. She is currently working on the sequel alongside some children’s books and regularly contributes article for magazines and newspapers, for example, Sainsbury’s magazine, The Express and travel articles for the Mail on Sunday.

Philippa has two degrees.  She read English at Birmingham University straight after leaving school and then studied Ecology and Conservation part time at Birkbeck College, London while presenting Tomorrow’s World and she walked away with a First. This has been put to good use producing and presenting for the BBC’s Natural History Unit!

Philippa is currently producing and presenting a series for Animal Planet about hand rearing an orphan foster otter cub called Grace and returning her to the wild.  The series also follows the antics of her tame otter Honey, and the wild neighbours that visit.  This series is due for transmission next year.