Zoe Salmon Biography

Zöe Salmon (born 7 January 1980, Bangor, Northern Ireland) is a television presenter from Northern Ireland, currently hosting the children's television show Blue Peter. On May 20, 2008, it was announced that she would be leaving the programme at the end of the current series.

Biography

Salmon attended Kilmaine Primary School and Glenlola Collegiate School while growing up in Bangor, a town 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 of Belfast, where she gained a degree in law at 2:1 level, before qualifying as a solicitor.

Salmon was crowned Miss Northern Ireland in 1999 (beating future Big Brother contestant Orlaith McAllister).

Blue Peter

Salmon was revealed as the 30th Blue Peter presenter on 25 October 2004. She first appeared on the show on 23 December 2004, in its 2004 Christmas special. She was originally meant to replace Liz Barker when the latter left on maternity leave; however, Barker had already returned by the time Salmon made her debut.

She has presented with Konnie Huq, Simon Thomas, Matt Baker, Liz Barker, Gethin Jones and Andy Akinwolere. In 2008 after the departure of Konnie, the boys were both filming on both live shows so she was left to front the live shows alone.

Salmon will be leaving the show in June 2008 at the start of the summertime break, at the same time as Gethin Jones.

Controversy

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.'[2] The symbol however is one 'regularly used by loyalists and paramilitaries... David Miller, a professor of sociology at Strathclyde University, was among the first, out of about 100, to complain to the BBC about the use of the symbol.

"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," said Miller.' 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] Others pointed out that the red hand of Ulster is also used by Republicans and nationalists. In fact, the Red Hand of Ulster is emblazoned on the nine-county flag for the province of Ulster, as well as old Northern Ireland flag, and on the nationalist side by the GAA amongst others. Another controversy surrounded Salmon's drawing of a picture which showed the Union Flag covering the whole island of Ireland which lead to record complaints from Irish viewers.[citation needed]

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.'[3] In January 2006, 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'.

Television/Film Appearances

In 2005, Salmon presented the results of the Northern Ireland region in Making Your Mind Up, the UK's national pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2005. She welcomed the television audience to Belfast with the line 'How's about you, Terry?'

In 2006, Salmon ran the London Marathon and gave the money to the registered charity ChildLine. In 2007, she starred as a footballer's girlfriend in the television version of the book Hotel Babylon.

Salmon appeared in the 2007 version of Comic Relief does Fame Academy, alongside several celebrity opponents, including BBC Sport presenter and journalist Ray Stubbs, former CBBC presenter Angellica Bell and BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio Five Live presenter Colin Murray. Salmon was the fifth celebrity voted out. She had a cameo role in the the 2007 film St Trinian's.

Salmon has a cameo in the upcoming CBBC sitcom Dani's House, in which she play a celebrity.

After leaving Blue Peter in June 2008, she is due to take up a role presenting a quiz show on CBBC.

Zoe Salmon Pictures ( 3 Pictures)