6 embrace 7 Screen presence BRIAN MARTIN catches up with TV personality Julia Bradbury and her family

HE career-wise rise and She’s certainly hard to track down. Her rise of Julia Bradbury hectic filming schedule takes her from A to equates approximately to B to Z, and despite surgery for the busy TV personality’s endometriosis – an inflammation of the spirited surges up the womb – she shows no sign of flagging. Lakeland fells in her hugely Julia still finds time to support charities. inspiringT BBC series Wainwright’s Walks. She is a staunch supporter of the British Clambering in the footsteps of the late Heart Foundation and I was lucky to catch Alfred W – a notoriously private man who, her en route from visiting a Marie Curie over a long life, rigorously charted some of cancer hospice in Bradford. ‘Home’ for the finest treks in the Lake District for Julia is officially central London but she lesser mortals to enjoy – remains just one makes regular, joyful, visits to the family of the many joys for Julia in an upwardly home at Edith Weston. mobile career. Born in Dublin, the daughter of steel And she owes much of it to Rutland, executive Michael Bradbury and his wife where she was raised, and a family, based Chrissi, a high-class couturier, Julia moved at Edith Weston, which has remained a to Sheffield with her family at an early age. constant source of support. “We are Team First signs of an entertainment career Bradbury,” she asserts. “We’re very close emerged at the famous Crucible Theatre and I don’t know what I’d do without where she appeared as a mermaid in Peter them.” Pan alongside future TV stars Joanne Few TV presenters possess the ability to Whalley and Paula Wilcox. She attended metaphorically prise audiences from their Edith Weston Primary School first when armchairs to join them on great the Bradburys moved from Dublin, then adventures. Yet Julia’s enthusiastic – yet moved to Sheffield. never gushing – personality beams ever “It was a lovely little place and I have stronger from our screens. And there are many happy memories of playing Julia with the family dog Lotte. more pinnacles to climb. Images: KIP CARROLL PHOTOGRAPHY hopscotch!” she recalled. “I always wanted Lithe and tanned – and looking at least a to be a reporter or work in advertising, decade younger than her 35 years – she engine from a car if required. but though I was good at English I was metaphorically takes TV viewers with her And she is equally at home in the studio. rubbish at maths. I remember two wherever she goes. She even took them to She has proved a polished co-presenter on teachers in particular. One was Mrs the top of The Old Man of Stoer, a Watchdog – BBC1’s consumer show Barnes, who did so much to help me. The forbidding 200ft sea stack which she scaled which has millions of viewers and gets other was a man, whose name I forget. He as part of a programme called the Ultimate around 7,000 letters a week – and fronted had a big, black moustache and I was Rock Climb. an emotional debate on the killing of fascinated by his digital watch which had a “I had never rock climbed before,” she young animals for food in BBC3’s Kill It, huge red dial!” says. “I wasn’t expecting to make it Cook It, Eat It. She later joined the family fashion without a fall. But I did.” Add appearances on the National business, moved to London to work with Her CV easily covers two sides of A4. Lottery, Exclusive! and Just The Two Of Us Gina, gained experience in marketing and She was in at the launch of both Channel 5 – a showbiz talent show in which she PR and got her first big break when Janet and Live! TV, became GMTV’s Los Angeles duetted with ace crooner Tony Christie – Street-Porter launched Live! TV. She has reporter, is currently travelling the world and you have the complete picture of a since interviewed such greats as John for the highly popular Rough Guides series, versatile all-rounder who can tackle Travolta, Tom Hanks, Jane Fonda and John flew with the Red Arrows, drove for anything and still come up smiling. Cleese, and one of her highlights was Top Gear and roared through Speedway “She has a great personality and introducing TV fashion coverage last year Grand Prix and Honda Powerboats – as tremendous stamina,” says elder sister from Royal Ascot when she interviewed befits a woman who passed a motor Gina, who handles her PR and ‘manic’ her mother and Gina wearing the latest Team Bradbury from left – Gina Fox, Julia Bradbury and mother Chrissie Bradbury at Ascot last year. Chrissie created Julia’s outfits for this year’s maintenance course and can strip an schedules. Chrissi creations. Ascot and worked with Rutland hatmaker extraordinaire JoJo as well as Philip Tracey on the hats she will wear. July 2008 July 2008 8 embracepeople 9 (from page 6) It made a sedate change from her usual hectic adventures which regularly push her lean 5ft 7in frame to the limits. “I’ve always loved the great outdoors,” she said. “When I was younger I played tennis, ran miles and went for long walks in the Peak District. I’ve also got loads of CDs so I enjoy music and dancing. My TV favourites, amazingly, are David Dimbleby and Miss Piggy. My dream is to host a Star Trek convention with the latter and do a comedy routine with David!” What you see on TV is what you get. Julia prepares religiously for each programme but manages to appear totally spontaneous on screen. She’s well-known for ad libbing, and remains highly popular among production teams who, almost literally, follow her to the ends of the earth. Every filmed programme includes its fair Action woman Julia on a climbing shoot. Photo: Firefly Productions share of re-takes but Julia is so professional she makes the finished product look On Live! TV she ‘corpsed’ while book. And there’s more – much more – seamless. Most of all, she enjoys herself. presenting an item about dreams when a to come. A boxed set of Wainwright Julia, Gina and Chrissi Bradbury at Chrissie’s home in Edith Weston. Images: KIP CARROLL PHOTOGRAPHY One ‘out-takes’ video compiled by Gina viewer phoned in to say he dreamed he had Walks DVDs is currently available. Yes, it’s includes a particularly hilarious moment lost his teeth. The studio expert suggested that man again. “What do I think of when Julia tries to remove her Kagool in a he visit his dentist ASAP and Julia fell about. Wainwright as a person? He’s been fierce wind, gets it wrapped round her In addition to flying to Bali for the latest described as curmudgeonly but I reckon head and ends up spluttering with laughter Rough Guides she has just completed a that, secretly, he really liked people. I’ve as she tries to say her lines to camera. series called Railway Walks and is writing a certainly warmed to him over the years!” The ultimate eye for style

UMMER’S HERE – or so Sheffield, she opened her first boutique we’re told – and that means there and found she much preferred the inexorable approach of working with the public rather than The Season with its the buyers. unbeatable jamboree of Gina then joined the business and, Ascot,S Wimbledon, Henley and high having lived in London for a time, moved society dressfests. back to the capital to open a shop with It also means weddings – and to high her mother in an exclusive area of class couturier Chrissi Bradbury of Edith Knightsbridge called Beauchamp Place, Weston that means a special seasonal just around the corner from Harrods. challenge. The charming designer creates For more than 10 years Chrissi and Gina sublime outfits for all occasions. ran both the Sheffield shop and its Chrissi remains close to her daughters Beauchamp Place counterpart Gina Fox and TV personality Julia simultaneously before selling to Bradbury and is particularly keen that Couturier Chrissi Bradbury concentrate their business interests the bride’s mother should make the in Rutland. most of her great day. “To many, it’s the in Wales blessed with an eye for design. Chrissi has rightly attracted a strong highlight of their lives,” she says. She married steel executive Michael client base locally and nationally with Chrissi, whose boutique is called CiBi, Bradbury and they lived first in Ireland designs featuring spectacular hats was featured with Gina in last year’s before moving to Rutland with the family resplendent in feathers and twirls, and BBC1 Ascot fashion slot, which was when he joined British Steel at Corby. radiant dresses in a delicate riot of pastel presented by Julia. The bubbly trio – Having started her cottage industry at shades. She also attracts loyalty – many known collectively as Team Bradbury– Edith Weston – where it is still based of her staff have been with her for 30 dressed from top to toe in elegant today – Chrissi began selling to Harrods years and their expertise is renowned. Chrissi creations and outshone many a and exclusive boutiques as part of a ■ Chrissi works mainly by appointment. racecourse mannequin. predominantly wholesale business. Call her on 01780 722077 for more Of Greek extraction, Chrissi grew up When Michael moved to British Steel in details.

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