Magenta Devine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Magenta Devine (born 12 March 1952; real name Kim Taylor) is a TV presenter and journalist. She is perhaps most known for presenting the youth travel programme, Rough Guide on BBC2 in the 1990's.
She began her career working for Queen/Thin Lizzy/Whitesnake publicist Tony Brainsby. While still living with boyfriend Tony James, ex-Generation X, she became the music promoter for James' new band, Sigue Sigue Sputnik. Following their breakup, James' new girlfriend, Janet Street-Porter, tapped Magenta, a statuesque upper-class "punk," to be a presenter on Channel 4 “yoof” programme Network 7, before switching channels to present DEF II on BBC2, of which Rough Guide was a feature, before becoming a separate programme its own right.
In 2005 she appeared on Extreme Celebrity Detox and in 2004 she appeared on Richard & Judy. She has also commented upon the most recent Big Brother in the show's spin-off. In 2005, she was rumoured to be appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, but this was not true. Bob Geldof name-checked her in 'She's So Modern', a track on The Boomtown Rats' album A Tonic for the Troops.
She has a deep voice, which has been used for several voice-overs including a dfs advert. She is also known for her trademark sunglasses which she is seldom seen without.
Magenta today also assists Trading Standards in the travel market and supports various charities, as well as speaking at events. She has struggled with depression, tax, sex addiction and drug problems throughout her adult life.
