Alison Bell
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Alison Bell was born in Beverley, East Yorkshire, 21 September 1966. When she was a young child she moved to New Zealand where she lived throughout her childhood and into her teen years.
[edit] Career highs and lows
A trained Journalist, she was one of the launch presenters for the ITN News Channel in August 2000, presenting various programmes during the day. 2003 saw her move to Sky News, where she presented the Sunrise programme every weekday morning between 6am and 9am. A year later, she made a move to CNN International at the height of her career. However, unfortunately, this career was to come to a complete stop, as she wasn't the one presenting the news anymore, she was the news.
In July 2004, she was arrested outside a restaurant with James Hewitt, a former British Army officer who had previously had a relationship with the late Diana, Princess of Wales. Alison was in a relationship with Hewitt at this time after they met when she interviewed him for Sky News. They were arrested on accusation of possessing cocaine. James was given a warning, and Alison let off without punishment.
After bad publicity from various tabloids and the press, Alison was forced to resign from her highly-paid job, however she did appear a short while after the incident, on CNN's interactive service, CNNi.
She then joined London radio station LBC 97.3, presenting shows for brief periods in various timeslots, before presenting a regular show on Friday nights until April 2006, which was subsequently taken over by Caroline Feraday. However, Alison is expected to remain with the station as a fill-in presenter.
She has also appeared as an accomplished poker player on Celebrity Poker Club.
[edit] Passions, Hobbies and Projects
On a brighter note, in her teenage years she performed in many stage productions, as she was a professionally trained singer. This reflects in her hobbies, which include music, travel, tennis, swimming and rollerblading. Her hobbies include music (she's often talked about her extensive cheesy music collection on her radio show!), tennis, swimming and rollerblading. She's also an unrepentant smoker. A frequent traveller, she is a regular visitor to Australia where her parents now live.
In late 2004 she launched Globell Media, a training program for students, the public and professionals trying to get into broadcasting, through extending her boundaries of Journalism. The program gives tips, advice and training sessions for film-making, documentaries, article writing, and of course, radio presenting and newsreading, where Alison's expertise lies.
She is also a patron for the charity Harvest Help, a charity supporting rural African families to grow enough food and earn a living, and has visited Africa and taken an active interest in its work.
