Carol Smillie
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Carol Smillie (born December 23, 1961 in Glasgow) is a Scottish television personality, best known for presenting the BBC series Changing Rooms and is the author of Carol Smillie's Working Mum's Handbook.
[edit] Television career
After a period on local radio in Scotland, her presenting career began in 1992 when she joined the team on BBC2's Holiday show. From there she became co-presenter of Scottish Television's Wheel of Fortune game show. In 1996 she was one of the original presenters of BBC2's new DIY show Changing Rooms.
In 2004 she took part in a reality television/documentary called Gender Swap for UK television station five. Using cleverly-applied silicon prosthetic makeup, she was transformed from female to male and ex-EastEnders actor Shaun Williamson male to female. They were then given the challenge of attending a speed dating event as their new opposite sex selves. Also in 2004, she became one of the celebrities to take part in Strictly Ice Dancing, a one-off ice dance version of Strictly Come Dancing.
She joined ITV1 in 2005 as presenter of the reality show A Brush With Fame, a search for the UK's best amateur portrait artist.
She was also the presenter of the short-lived ITV1 daytime show The People's Court.
In September 2006, she was seen live on The National Lottery: Everyone's A Winner! in Edinburgh with contestant Charley.
In 2006, Carol took part in series four of Strictly Come Dancing in which her dance partner was Matthew Cutler. They came fifth in the competition.
[edit] Trivia
Carol's surname is pronounced smiley.
She lives in Glasgow with her restaurateur husband Alex Knight whom she married in 1990. They have three children: Christie, Robbie and Jodie.
In 1998 she was the female recipient of the Rear of the Year award.
It is often stated that Carol was one of the famous Tennent's Lager girls (a successful marketing promotion in Scotland which saw pictures of semi nude young women on the backs of cans of the lager). Carol Smillie was quoted in The Independent Newspaper on 2nd October 2006 stating that this was a common misconception about her.
She is a former pupil of the independent Hutchesons' Grammar School.
