| Vicki Swinden, Fat is the New Black in the press. |
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You'll often see, hear or read about things Vicki is involved with in the national or local press, radio and tv. Vicki continues to work regularly for the BBC in local, regional and national radio shows. You will hear her at least once a week commenting on the great obesity debate, discussing Fattitude and more. A great broadcaster with a lively sense of humour she talks on many subjects besides obesity commenting recently on infidelity. Vicki writes for several publications. She has been asked to take part in many of the current reality TV shows but as yet has not sallied forth - although she's always delighted to be asked! BBC; ITV; Sky; Channel 5; The World Service, Local Radio, Local Newspapers; National Newspapers; All Over The Internet! No stone unturned by journalists trying to find a Fat Woman to comment on the lastest obesity tale Vicki Says: Summer 2008 - I've had a very busy year to date and managed to turn down more work than I have done - Newshounds everywhere chased me all over Glastonbury Festival for comment - not easy to broadcast from beside the Pyramid Stage when I was supposed to be playing a gig for Festival Medical Services - and again whilst on holiday in Turkey I was hunted down and found beside a swimming pool by several hapless reporters..........sorry guys but I can't spend ALL my time working with you when my family want comment on the size of the ice chunks in my cold drink! This is turning out to be one helluva week! In the last couple of days the Bannatyne Battle has commenced - Radio 4, Radio 5, The Daily Mail, The Daily Express, The Observer, GMTV, Radio Sheffield, Radio Wales.....and it continues. To bring you up to speed Duncan Bannatyne has suggested he would not employ fat people - he insists that his words have been taken out of context - but in the interviews in which we have both taken part he has continued to use the words "thin, fit and looking good" in the same sentence, proving, I feel, his innate belief that if we are fat, we don't LOOK good and therefore are not fit and therefore are not as employable - without even being given a chance to prove ourselves in the job for which we have applied. I am not a fool and neither are you............................I don't suggest that we go about applying for jobs we cannot do....................we must make our own judgement on that.............BUT if we feel able to undertake the tasks involved in the job WE MUST NOT BE PREJUDGED ON OUR SIZE - on our "look". There is no scientific evidence to suggest that we are less able, more lazy, or that we spend our days "drinking beer, smoking fags and eating pies" as Bannatyne is alleged to have said. Whether the words were taken out of context or not - I suggest those words must have been used and this is a pre-judgement of all fat people which I find wholly unacceptable. He insists that he employs fat people and his organisation helps them to adopt a healthy lifestyle. He insists that he wishes to "help fat people" - I have told him(on GMTV yesterday) that I am more than happy to work with him and his organisation to bring them up to speed on how to do this - he tells me I am "hired" - but I am still sceptical - is he simply trying to mitigate any potential damage he may have incurred against his organisation in the first place? (we all remember what happened to Gerald Ratners jewellery business in 1991 when he announced that his product was crap). Has Duncan Bannatyne made a "Ratneresque" comment? Will his pre judgement affect his decisions in that Dragons Den? But in spite of all that - I am willing to work with anyone who feels their deep seated prejudice may affect their decisions.........there would be no point in me ranting and raving about the problems and prejudice we face without providing a feasible solution. I will wait to hear from Bannatyne or his representatives...............and indeed from anyone else........
Something of a row is breaking out over comments made recently by the Dragons Den entrepeneur Duncan Bannatyne - apparantly he too subscribes to the notion that fat people won't work as hard as thin people. The story broke in The Observer over this weekend. Of course, we don't agree with him. Of course, my phone is ringing off the hook with journalists wanting to cover this story and pick up our take on it. Personally I am most surprised by the owner of a chain of gymnasiums making these kind of comments - one does then have the impression that he is not going to support fat people working out in his gym's which rather cuts down his market place when you consider that there are apparantly 40% of the adult population trying to find ways of dealing with their obesity. I know that many of the journalists talking to me today are keen to get Duncan and I in a room together to discuss the whole subject..........................watch this space!
My list of appearances is now really too long to include here - suffice to say that Radio 5 Live still keep me up late at night, Radios Leeds and Manchester still phone me very early in the mornings and the Asian Network still keep me on air for 45 minutes at a time. I LOVE IT!!!! Magazines and newspapers all over the country have featured Vicki and Fattitude many times over the last few months. Voice overs for museum pieces and writing articles all keep me jolly busy too!
Here is my admission, moving house, moving offices, organising children, going on holiday...............all my excuses for not keeping my list up to date - so here's a catch up..... Last week: 5 interviews in one day! Radio 2 with Jeremy Vine, Radio Manchester, twice in one day, Radio York, Coventry and West Midlands Radio - a busy day indeed in response to the news that IVF is not going to be available to the obese. Over the last few months: BBC News 24 Radio 5 Live - at least 4 occasions Radio Manchester - at least 4 occasions Radio York - half a dozen times BBC World Service Love It Magazine Odd places I have been when a radio interview has taken place: In the car - parked in a car park obviously! Even I can't concentrate on this arguement whilst driving! In the car - on a campsite whilst on holiday In my mother's bedroom Several different studio's -depending on where they can fit me in on the day
Vicki Swinden, Fat Is The New Black, in the News on all these occasions! March 2006 Meeting with ITV Producers and Planners to discuss Vicki’s own Lifestyle show March 2006 Stephen Nolan Radio 5 Live – 11 stone lost in 20 weeks February 2006 GMTV asking for an appearance to promote Fattitude – currently waiting for us to go back to them February 2006 Richard and Judy asking for an appearance to promote Fattitude – currently waiting for us to go back to them January 2006 BBC TV News – North West Tonight – re launching The Fattitude Workout Programme December 2005 Stephen Nolan Radio 5 Live – Airlines retrenching over weight cabin crew December 2005 Nolan Live, BBC Television Northern Ireland - Recruitment Consultants discriminate against fat potential employees November 2005 Jeremy Vine’s show BBC Radio 2 – East Suffolk Health Authority decision to deny Obese people Hip and Knee operations. November 2005 Nick Ferrari’s show LBC – East Suffolk Health Authority decision to deny Obese people Hip Replacements October 2005 Sky News piece on the story that Recruitment Consultants discriminate against fat potential employees September 2005 The Journal, Newcastle August 2005 The Colchester Gazette August 2005 Manchester Evening News August 2005 Bournemouth News July 2005 Zest magazine July 2005 Jim Hawkins Radio Shropshire – debate with the Director of Shropshire Primary Care Trust July 2005 Paul Ross’s radio show LBC – being fat April 2005 Real Magazine March 2005 All FM Radio with Vicky Richardson February 2005 GMR Radio with Becky Want – body positive January 2005 Trisha Goddard names one of her TV shows Fattitude and invites Vicki to come and join her on the sofa to discuss Fattism and Fattitude November 2004 Henry Kelly’s radio show LBC responding to Karl Lagerfeld’s disappointment in finding his designs were being sized up for H&M. November 2004 Granada TV seek advice from Vicki re the making of their Fat programme shot in Mexico December 2004 The Wellcome Trust use Vicki’s experience to build their Big Picture on Obesity part of the Labnotes series to support education October 2004 Henry Gee’s book – Forever Happy and Successful – references Vicki Swinden’s opinion on size September 2004 Top Sante magazine September 2004 The Liverpool Daily Post August 2004 Anker Radio – mid morning women’s interest show August 2004 The Sun Online – women’s pages August 2004 Radio 5 interview on keeping the family fit with food July 2004 BBC Radio 2 – Jeremy Vine Show – The Wednesday Debate on the subject There Is No Pride in Being Fat – Nina Myskov speaking for the motion, Vicki Swinden speaking against July 2004 GMR Radio interview with Heather Stott – The Morning News Programme July 2004 Radio Talk Sport, interview with Mike Dickin July 2004 Cheshire Life July 2004 Womens Weekly July 2004 The Daily Express June 2004 The Weekly News June 2004 Manchester TV piece about being Fat and Fit, Vicki featured riding bike, talking about fitness, exercise and positive body image June 2004 Interview with Becky Want on GMR Radio about Fat Positivity June 2004 Manchester Evening News May 2004 Private Eye list Vicki Swinden in the Neophiliacs column for coining the phrase Fat Is The New Black May 2004 One hour slot on the Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio 2 as The Expert On Being Fat – answering call in’s and giving opinion based on a lifetime’s experience |
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