Zoe Salmon

Zoe Salmon poses at the O2 Priority party at Oxo Tower Wharf on July 14, 2011 in London, England.

Zoe Salmon happy to return to blonde

Blondes have more fun — well, that’s what Zoe Salmon has decided.

The former Blue Peter presenter has returned to her natural colour after a brief attempt at being a brunette.

The Bangor girl unveiled her blonde tresses on Sky One’s show Angela and Friends — just four months after dying her hair dark brown.

“I wasn’t sure about being brunette, a lot of my friends and colleagues were split on it,” she said.

“And I also felt like a piece of me was missing.”

Zoe first showed off her brunette locks at the In! magazine Glamour awards at the Merchant Hotel in Belfast last November.

Water Result! Action Cancer Health Action Plan for Kids

A MAJOR new initiative will result in 13,000 bottles of water being donated to schools across Northern Ireland.

Action Cancer patron Zoe Salmon was on hand recently to help the charity and Centra, the sponsor of their health promotion programme for schools, launch the scheme.

Centra retailers are providing vouchers for free 500ml bottles of mineral water for children taking part in the Health Action programme, which has been supported by Centra since 2003.

It is estimated that 13,000 vouchers will be distributed by the end of the academic year to help young people reach the daily 1.5 to 2 litre intake recommended for a healthy diet.

Every year hundreds of schools receive visits from Action Cancer’s Health Promotion team as part of the Health Action programme.

It educates young people on healthy lifestyles, including information about eating well, exercising regularly, the dangers of alcohol and smoking and being safe in the sun.

Christine Crawford, Events Officer at Action Cancer, said: “We are always looking for new ways to help children live a healthier lifestyle and making it as easy as possible for them.

“Eighty percent of cancers can be prevented with a healthier diet and drinking enough water is an important part of that cancer prevention message.

“Centra’s kind donation of bottled water vouchers will not only provide free, healthy water, but it will hopefully also get young people thinking about the amount of water they drink and about healthier eating habits.

“We know that it is crucial to instill this kind of approach to health in the formative years.”

Action Cancer and independent retail group Centra formed a partnership six years ago in support of the Health Action project, with Centra donating over Pounds 550,000 to the project to date and helping Action Cancer bring Health Action sessions to 250,000 young people.

Centra Brand Manager Nicky Kelly said: “Local Centra retailers are committed to long-term support of the Health Action programme as they can see the future benefits to the health and well-being of young people.

“Donating free water to their local schools is one practical way of helping and we are very pleased to do this in partnership with Action Cancer.”

Centra retailers will visit local schools to distribute water vouchers when they are having a visit from the Action Cancer Health Action team.

Zoe Salmon Calls For More Charity Donations

TV presenter Zoe Salmon bowled over passing shoppers in a charity shop window today in a bid to increase stock donations.

The TV star spent the morning as a live mannequin in Cancer Research UK’s Marylebone shop window, helping to launch a new campaign which urges people to donate goods they no longer want to the charity’s stock-starved shops.

The cricket shirt Zoe modelled is a replica of the shirt  the England Cricket players will be wearing today at The Oval as they attempt to hit the Aussies for six in the final npower Ashes Test.

Zoe was joined in the shop window by England Women’s Cricketer Ebony Jewel Rainford-Brent. Ebony was modelling the England Cricket Team’s One Day Ashes kit and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has generously donated a set to Cancer Research UK.

Zoe said: “Everyone is justifiably going cricket mad at the moment, but if people were as enthusiastic as the ECB about donating stock to Cancer Research UK’s shops, we could help raise significant funds to beat cancer.”

As more and more credit crunched Brits snap up charity shop bargains, store managers are struggling to stock their shelves.

Zoe added: “I’ve got loads of things in my wardrobe that no longer suit me but may suit others.

“Cancer Research UK shops can supply you with donation bags so you can clear out your wardrobe and drop off your gear ready for sorting and re-selling at one of the charity’s 600 shops.

“It’s an easy way to tidy up your closet while helping to fund research into a disease that affects one in three people.”

Half of people with cancer now survive beyond five years, and with each bag of shop donations worth as much as £30 for Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work, many more lives could be saved with every wardrobe that’s cleared out.

Zoe Salmon’s man loves her home town

Bowled over: Dancing on Ice star Zoe Salmon took time out from an Ashes promotion for Cancer Research UK yesterday to talk about her new boyfriend, Capital Radio DJ Greg Burns, and how he has been smitten by her home town of Bangor…

Television presenter Zoe Salmon has revealed that her radio star boyfriend has fallen for the charms of the North Down coast.

The Dancing On Ice star said Capital Radio DJ Greg Burns was captivated by her home town of Bangor when she brought him back recently to meet her family.

“Everything’s going great with Greg,” she said.

“He’s been over to Northern Ireland and loves it, especially around Bangor.

”He’s keen to come over again so I think we might pop home for the bank holiday weekend next week.”

Zoe spent yesterday morning as a live mannequin in Cancer Research UK’s Marylebone shop window.

The aim of the sit-in was to encourage people to donate goods they no longer want to the charity’s stock-starved shops.

She said: “I’m amazed at some of the stock I’ve seen here today. There’s a gorgeous pair of Jimmy Choo shoes, which unfortunately don’t fit, and a Chanel suit.

“We all know the credit crunch is hitting home and there are a lot of people out there who are shopping more and more in charity shops.

“But Cancer Research UK is finding it difficult to keep their stores stocked and are appealing for people to donate their unwanted goods.”

Zoe, who was dressed in cricket whites donated by the England cricket team, said her best charity store purchase was a Laura Ashley leopard print hat. “I paid £20 for it and I’ve worn it to the races and to a few other events,” she said.

Kids’ skills take centre stage with Fruit Shoot

Robinsons Fruit Shoot, the nation’s favourite kids’ soft drink, today launched a major campaign encouraging 8 year olds to ‘get the juice’ – learning and practising fun mental and physical skills to wow their friends- all taught by kids to kids.

The ‘What’s your juice?’ skills campaign aims to inspire kids in the playground, showcasing cool new skills they can have a go at and giving them tips on everything from keepie uppies to beat-boxing, from skipping to the latest craze ping cup or hula hooping to body popping.

www.fruitshoot.com will host the ‘Fruit Shoot Skills Player’ where kids can find out anything and everything about fun things to learn and do.

Key to the website is the player, a juice blob widget kids can download that will play fun new videos of their favourite ‘juice’ or skill.

The Fruit Shoot Skills Player will be regularly updated with ‘how to’ videos of cool new skills to learn that kids can watch on their computer then try out in the garden or playground in the summer sunshine.

Kids (with their parents’ permission) will also be able to upload their own films of their own particular talent to teach others or simply to show how they got the hang of a tricky new skill. The site goes live on 20th July with all the exciting content available by 27th July.

The Fruit Shoot Player also includes fab skill games enabling kids to test which skills areas, such as rhythm or agility, they’ll be best at getting the juice for.

As well as the Fruit Shoot Player, kids will be able to see skills in action as Fruit Shoot launches a brand new exciting TV campaign.

Featuring a crew of skilled youngsters all under the age of 13 with particular skills talents, the ad encourages kids to get out there, have a go and discover what their juice is.

The ad campaign will launch on July 20th to create excitement around the concept of skills and works in conjunction with the Skills player online which gives kids the information they need to become a master at their chosen discipline.

The ad campaign, the Fruit Shoot player and the online content were designed by creative agency BBH.

To further highlight skills for primary school kids this summer Fruit Shoot is also bringing the campaign to life with a new factual entertainment programme for kids, hosted by kids’ TV favourites Zoe Salmon and Nigel Clarke.

‘Skillicious’, developed by independent children’s production company The Foundation, is a new programme partially funded by Fruit Shoot H2O, which will air on CITV throughout the summer holidays.

The 8 x half hour shows will be packed full of all the coolest sports and activities, bringing kids the facts, showing them how it’s done and most importantly encouraging them to try something new.

Fruit Shoot senior brand manager at Britvic, Claire Common said: “We want Fruit Shoot to be the brand that inspires kids to have a go, learn new things and get stuck in and make this their best summer ever.

“The ‘What’s your juice? Skills campaign is entertaining and exciting and genuinely different for kids in Summer 2009.

“We’re keen to inspire kids to really get out there and try something new and different, giving them a sense of real achievement and something to impress their mates.

“We want to empower kids to take up new challenges through learning from their peers, rather than being told what to do by adults.

The campaign will also be supported by an exciting PR and experiential campaign and some great in-store activity. Kids can collect a range of skills cards with purchases of Fruit Shoot, in addition to the exciting digital content, so skills can be picked up anywhere, whether at home or out and about.

would you wear a leotard?

Once the preserve of trapeze artists and school gym lessons, the leotard is making a comeback, clinging to a host of leggy stars on the party circuit – including Daisy Lowe and Pixie Lott.

As fashion follows a cycle, dragging up styles from decades gone by, it was only a matter of time before the skin-tight look, favoured by breakfast TV keep-fit presenters of the 80s, reared its spandex head.

Only this time around the leotard has been given a glamorous overhaul, making it the perfect show-stopping outfit for a night out on the town as the following celebrities prove…

Fresh off the catwalk, Daisy Lowe opted for an all-in-one leopard print design from Agent Provocateur for a fashion party last year. Although revealing in the leg department, the £175 bodysuit plays it safe with a high neckline and the choice of opaque tights prevents the outfit from looking too trashy.

Hot on Daisy’s model heels came former Blue Peter presenter Zoe Salmon. Perhaps in a bid to shake off her children’s TV persona the Dancing On Ice star chose the same outfit for a music bash complete with hair extensions and skyscraper stilettos.

More recently, as the look has taken hold, everyone from Beyonce to Lily Allen appears to have run off to join the style circus.

Just last week pop princess Pixie Lott wowed her Irish audience with a leotard-clad performance in Dublin. Meanwhile at her new book launch, Jordan’s sequin ensemble hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons, an example of how not to wear the skimpy style.

Other pop stars to ensure their outfit, as well as their music, took centre stage are Beyonce, who looked as good as gold in a shimmering metallic number, Lily Allen, and of course, never one to shy away from the limelight, Lady Gaga, who has sported a whole host of leotards since storming into the charts.

Zoe Salmon is happy

Zoe Salmon is a happy bunny after bagging two pairs of Louboutin heels ! The ex-Blue Peter presenter told me at the Stuart Phillips Salon bash: “I took a picture of them and made it my screen saver.”

However, she’s a tad jealous of boyfriend Capital FM DJ GREG BURNS’ golden suntan after their hol last week. “He was using factor 30… it’s very annoying,” she groaned.

Who Is Zoe Salmon?

Zöe Salmon (born 7 January 1980, Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland) is a television presenter who hosted the children’s television show Blue Peter from 23 December 2004 to 25 June 2008. She also appeared on Dancing on Ice in early 2009.

Salmon attended Kilmaine Primary School and Glenlola Collegiate School while growing up in Bangor, a town on the east coast of County Down which she says is her “favourite place…. It’s a really pretty seaside town with a marina which is lovely in the summer”. She then attended Queen’s University, Belfast, where she gained a 2:1 degree in law, before qualifying as a solicitor. She was crowned Miss Northern Ireland in 1999 (beating future Big Brother contestant Orlaith McAllister).

Controversies

Shortly after making her first appearance on Blue Peter, the BBC received complaints after it was alleged that her job was only advertised in Northern Ireland and Scotland, meaning they were potentially discriminating against people without certain regional accents. The BBC, however, denied any discrimination, and insisted the advertisement had been placed in newspapers throughout the UK.

Salmon herself faced criticism when she chose a symbol for a ‘Best of British’ logo, to be used by British Airways to decorate a Boeing 757. She said ‘I’m from Ulster, and I’d like to cover a plane with the Red Hand of Ulster: that is our proud symbol.’ The symbol however is one frequently used by loyalists and paramilitaries: David Miller, a professor of sociology at Strathclyde University, was among the first to complain to the BBC about the use of the symbol.

Miller said: “Like the swastika, the Red Hand is a symbol that has been misappropriated. It is the symbol of the unionists and is certainly not signed up to by the majority.” This can also be compared to the Irish tricolour flag, which has been misappropriated by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) terrorist grouping. However, others, like Michael Copeland, an Ulster Unionist Party assembly member, said that the ‘Red Hand symbol is as precious to all Ulstermen as the lion is to Scotland, and the dragon to Wales’; ‘it appears in the symbolism of both the unionist and nationalist communities.’^[3] The red hand of Ulster is also used by Republicans and nationalists and in fact, the Red Hand of Ulster is emblazoned on the nine-county flag for the province of Ulster, as well as the old Northern Ireland flag, and on the nationalist side by the GAA (including the Tyrone GAA’s crest), amongst others. The symbol is also associated with Ulster Gaelic clans before the 17th century. The Red Hand of Ulster (in Irish Lámh Dhearg Uladh) is a symbol used in heraldry to denote the Irish province of Ulster.

Other media reports at the time “suggested she had been chosen to ‘sex up’ the programme and boost ratings in the competitive children’s marketplace. It is an idea denied by the producers of Blue Peter.” In January 2006, novelist Kate Figes further criticised Salmon in an article in The Guardian, writing that Salmon “rarely seems comfortable around children and talks to them in slow, patronising tones. She comes over as insincere and fatuous and my daughters don’t like her any more than I do.” Figes claimed that Salmon was “encouraged by the programme editors to present herself as a sexual bimbo”, and that the show was being “sexed up or dumbed down”. Richard Marson, Blue Peter’s editor, characterised the article as ‘character assassination’, and denied that the show was “being sexed up or dumbed down”.

O’Callaghan tops Sexiest Legs poll

RTÉ presenter Miriam O’Callaghan has topped a ‘Top 100 Sexiest Legs’ poll.

The poll in the July issue of Social & Personal magazine placed actress Kiera Chaplin second, ‘Dancing on Ice’ star Zoe Salmon third, actress Alison Doody fourth and singer Laura Izibor fifth.

The Top 10 was completed by: singer Róisín Murphy (sixth), ‘The Clinic’ stars Amy Huberman and Leigh Arnold (seventh and ninth respectively), charity campaigner Ali Hewson (eighth) and singer Dolores O’Riordan (tenth).