Jenni Falconer
{{Short description|Scottish radio and television presenter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Jenni_Falconer.jpg
| image_size =
| name = Jenni Falconer
| caption = Falconer at the 2008 BAFTA Television Awards
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1976|02|12|df=y}}
| birth_place = Glasgow, Scotland
| height = {{convert|5|ft|8|in|m|sigfig=3}}
| occupation = Broadcaster
| employer = ITV, Smooth Radio
| television = Entertainment Today
The National Lottery Draws
This Morning
| spouse = James Midgley (m. 2010)
| children = Ella Rose Midgley (2011)
}}
Jenni Falconer (born 12 February 1976) is a Scottish radio and television presenter. She appears on the ITV daytime show This Morning as a regular travel reporter and was a regular presenter of the National Lottery Draws on BBC One. Falconer was also a radio presenter on Heart FM until December 2019, and since 2020 has been host for Smooth London breakfast and Saturday mid-mornings.
Early life
Falconer spent her early years in Bishopbriggs and Milngavie, two towns on the northern outskirts of Glasgow.{{cite news|url= http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Love+split+putmeon+the+road+to+telly+fame%3B+GMTV+STAR+JENNI+ON+SECRET...-a071755627|title= Love split put me on the road to telly fame; GMTV star Jenni on secret heartache|first= Graham|last= Tibbetts| work=Daily Mirror|date= 16 March 2001|access-date= 18 May 2012}} She has a younger brother.{{Cite web |last=Oddy |first=by Jane |last2=Updated |date=2013-08-31 |title=TV presenter Jenni Falconer on marriage, motherhood and how her love of running helped her stay in shape after childbirth |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity-interviews/tv-presenter-jenni-falconer-marriage-2240373.amp |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Daily Record |language=en}} After her family relocated to Berkshire when she was seven, she was educated at the independent Abbey School in Reading and attended the University of Leeds in 1994 to study Spanish and Italian with minors in Latin, Geography and Management Studies.{{Cite web |title=Interview Jenni Falconer: How Jenni played a Blinder; GMTV's Jenni Falconer may have got her big break on Blind Date but she still hasn't found love. - Free Online Library |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Interview+Jenni+Falconer:+How+Jenni+played+a+Blinder;+GMTV's+Jenni...-a066835870 |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=www.thefreelibrary.com}} Whilst studying at university, she also launched her television career. She was offered a contract by ITV to make a documentary and a consumer show on the proviso that she left her studies.{{Citation needed|date=February 2015}}
Career
=Television=
Falconer made her television debut in 1994 as a contestant on Blind Date, and later presented BBC Scotland's Big Country, ITV's documentary series 3D and consumer show We Can Work It Out alongside Judy Finnigan and Jane Harvey. She hosted travel shows, Holiday and How to Holiday.{{cn|date=October 2023}} She was the main co-host of Entertainment Today from its launch in 2000 until its end in July 2008 on GMTV.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
Falconer's other work includes reporting on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in Australia for GMTV in 2003, 2004 and 2006, hosting The National Lottery Draws in September 2006 and hosting Cirque de Celebrité in October 2007. She also worked on a show about 24 for Sky1 24 in 24{{cn|date=October 2023}}.
In 2006, Falconer won the Sport Relief showjumping competition Only Fools on Horses riding an 8-year old 16 hands mare called J-Lo.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
She hosted three series of Fantasy Homes By the Sea.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
In 2009, Falconer was the host of the daytime quiz show Wordplay on Channel 5 (previously called Brainteaser).{{cn|date=October 2023}}
Between 17 and 21 August 2009, Falconer was a guest presenter on STV's The Hour, with main anchor Stephen Jardine.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
Falconer works as a travel reporter for This Morning. She also guest presented the show during Holly Willoughby's maternity leave from May to July 2011, sharing duties with Ruth Langsford and returned in 2013.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
In January 2013, Falconer participated in the first series of the ITV's diving show Splash!, but was voted off by the judges. In August 2015, Falconer guest presented five episodes of Lorraine, standing in for regular host Lorraine Kelly.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}
=Radio=
On 14 March 2013, Global Radio announced that Falconer would join Heart to host the Sunday morning show from 6{{nbsp}}am to 8{{nbsp}}am, replacing Jason Donovan who took a break from the network to tour in the musical Priscilla: Queen of the Desert.{{cite news |url=http://radiotoday.co.uk/2013/03/jason-donovan-takes-a-break-from-heart/ |title=Jason Donovan takes a break from Heart |publisher=Radio Today |date=14 March 2013 |access-date=15 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130318065820/http://radiotoday.co.uk/2013/03/jason-donovan-takes-a-break-from-heart/ |archive-date=18 March 2013 }}
In June 2019, her early breakfast show was extended 4–6:30am due to Heart Breakfast (usually 6am-10am) becoming national with the new Scheduled of 6.30am-10am. As a result, she decided to step down from her Sunday show.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
In December 2019, It was announced that Falconer had decided to leave Heart and would be replaced on her Early Breakfast slot by James Stewart.{{cn|date=October 2023}} In January 2020, it was announced that Falconer would be the new host for Smooth London breakfast & hosting on Saturday mid-mornings, the latter being broadcast across the UK.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
In February 2025, it was announced that Falconer would be the presenter of the new national Smooth Breakfast show broadcast across England and Wales{{Cite web |date=2025-02-05 |title=National presenters confirmed for Heart, Capital and Smooth in England |url=https://radiotoday.co.uk/2025/02/national-presenters-confirmed-for-heart-capital-and-smooth-in-england/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=RadioToday |language=en-GB}} on FM, AM, digital radio and online.
=Other work=
In June 2009, Falconer was unveiled as the face and body of Adore Moi underwear range by Ultimo.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
Falconer has also posed for photographs in Arena Magazine and FHM.{{cn|date=October 2023}} In 2016, she starred in the Very television advertisements.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
In March 2019 Falconer, a dedicated runner, announced the launch of her new podcast, RunPod, in which she meets celebrities and former sports stars who also love running for pleasure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.heart.co.uk/podcasts/runpod-jenni-falconer-podcast/|title=RunPod: Don't miss Jenni Falconer's new running podcast|website=Heart|language=en|access-date=2020-01-05}}
In July 2020 Falconer became the new running coach in the Start 2 Run app.{{cn|date=October 2023}}
Her book, Runner's High, is scheduled to be published by Orion Spring on 14 March 2024.{{Cite web |first=Melina |last=Spanoudi |url=https://www.thebookseller.com/rights/orion-spring-snaps-up-ultimate-guide-to-running-by-presenter-falconer |title=Orion Spring snaps up 'ultimate guide' to running by presenter Falconer |website=The Bookseller |date=15 January 2024 |accessdate=4 February 2024}}
Personal life
Falconer married actor James Midgley at Babington House in June 2010.{{cite news |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news/jenni-falconer-names-daughter-ella-rose_1246299 |title=Jenni Falconer Names Daughter 'Ella Rose' |publisher=Contactmusic.com |date=21 September 2011 |access-date=15 March 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130605215605/http://www.contactmusic.com/news/jenni-falconer-names-daughter-ella-rose_1246299 |archive-date=5 June 2013 }}{{Cite web |title=Jenni Falconer facts: Smooth presenter's age, husband, children, career and more |url=https://www.smoothradio.com/radio/shows-presenters/jenni-falconer/facts-age-husband-children-video/ |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=Smooth |language=en}} She gave birth to a daughter, Ella, in September 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/news/falconer-smitten-with-baby-girl-28660663.html|title=Falconer 'smitten' with baby girl|newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|date=21 September 2011|access-date=21 December 2020}} She lives in Wimbledon, London.{{Cite web |last=Duck |first=Charlotte |date=2024-03-21 |title=Jenni Falconer on why she lives in 'joyous' Wimbledon |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/homesandproperty/where-to-live/jenni-falconer-wimbledon-where-to-live-b1146580.html |access-date=2025-05-04 |website=The Standard |language=en}}
Since 2002, Falconer has been a celebrity patron of the charity Breast Cancer 2000.{{cite web |url=http://breastcancer2000.org/?page_id=40 |title=Our Patron |publisher=Breast Cancer 2000 |date=2014-06-06 |access-date=2014-07-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728122010/http://breastcancer2000.org/?page_id=40 |archive-date=28 July 2014 }} In 2012, Falconer took part in the London Marathon, raising money for CLIC Sargent. She finished with a time of 3 hours and 53 minutes.{{cite web |url=http://therunningbug.co.uk/people/celeb-runners/b/weblog/archive/2012/04/24/london-marathon-2012-celebrity-running-times.aspx |title=London Marathon 2012 Celebrity Runners Times |publisher=Therunningbug.co.uk |date=2012-04-24 |access-date=2014-07-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175951/http://therunningbug.co.uk/people/celeb-runners/b/weblog/archive/2012/04/24/london-marathon-2012-celebrity-running-times.aspx |archive-date=16 April 2014 }} In the following two years, Falconer took part in the London Marathon, where she raised money for The Children's Trust a charity for children with brain injury and neurodisability. In 2014, she completed the marathon in 3 hours and 57 minutes.{{cite web |url=http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=jenni.falconer&pageUrl=3 |title=Virgin Money Giving | Fundraising | JENNI FALCONER LONDON MARATHON 2013 |publisher=Uk.virginmoneygiving.com |access-date=2014-07-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416205816/http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=jenni.falconer&pageUrl=3 |archive-date=16 April 2014 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.officialjennifalconer.com/post/82591486649/so-i-nailed-the-first-half-but-burnt-out-in-the|title=jenni falconer – So I nailed the first half but burnt out in the|publisher=Officialjennifalconer.com|access-date=2014-07-29|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416180331/http://www.officialjennifalconer.com/post/82591486649/so-i-nailed-the-first-half-but-burnt-out-in-the|archive-date=16 April 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=jenni.falconer |title=Virgin Money Giving | Fundraising | JENNI FALCONER LONDON MARATHON 2014 |publisher=Uk.virginmoneygiving.com |access-date=2014-07-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416175949/http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserProfilePage.action?userUrl=jenni.falconer |archive-date=16 April 2014 }}
Falconer took part in the 2015 London Marathon, raising money for Cancer Research UK.{{cite web |url=http://london-marathon.s3.amazonaws.com/vmlm2014/live/uploads/newsitems/pdfs/VMLM-2015-celeb-list-20-4-15.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2015-04-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304070739/http://london-marathon.s3.amazonaws.com/vmlm2014/live/uploads/newsitems/pdfs/VMLM-2015-celeb-list-20-4-15.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2016 }} In January 2019 Falconer became an Ambassador of The Children's Trust, having been a supporter since 2009.{{Cite web|url=https://joinkbcgame.com/kbc-head-office-number/|title=KBC All India Sim Card Lucky Draw Competition - KBC Head Office 0019152084400|website=joinkbcgame.com|accessdate=4 February 2024}} She has run three marathons for the charity in 2009, 2014 and 2019 and hosted gala fundraising events in London.
Filmography
;Television
| class="wikitable" |
| style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year ! Title ! Role ! Channel ! Notes |
| 1995
| The Big Country | Presenter | |
| 1998–1999
| We Can Work It Out | Co-presenter | | |
| 2000–2008
| Co-presenter | rowspan=2|ITV | Part of GMTV |
| 2004
| Co-presenter | |
| 2006–2015
| Presenter | rowspan=2|BBC One | In-rotation |
| 2006
| Competitor | Comic Relief show |
| rowspan=2|2009
| Wordplay | Presenter | 1 series |
| The Hour
| Guest presenter | STV | 5 episodes |
| 2009–2010
| Guest presenter | BBC Two | |
| 2011–2018
| Various roles | rowspan=2|ITV | |
| 2013
| Splash! | Contestant | Series 1 |
| 2013–?
| Fantasy Homes by the Sea | Presenter | Really | |
| 2015
| Lorraine | Guest presenter | ITV | 5 episodes |
;Guest appearances
{{div col |colwidth=30em}}
- Blind Date (1994)
- Never Mind the Buzzcocks (2001, 2006)
- Celebrities Under Pressure (2004)
- The Paul O'Grady Show (2005, 2007)
- Hider in the House (2007)
- All Star Family Fortunes (2007)
- School's Out (2007)
- Alan Carr's Celebrity Ding Dong (2008)
- Daily Cooks Challenge (2008)
- All Star Mr & Mrs (2010)
- Countdown (2010)
- Ten Mile Menu (2010)
- The Cube Celebrity Special (2010)
- Live with Gabby (2012)
- What's Cooking? (2013)
- The Chase: Celebrity Special (2013)
- Sport Relief's Top Dog (2014){{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03y68gm |title=BBC Two - Sport Relief's Top Dog, Episode 7 |access-date=2017-08-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140430082230/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03y68gm |archive-date=30 April 2014 }}
- Tipping Point: Lucky Stars (2014){{cite web|url=http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep6week33/tipping-point-lucky-stars#.U9ZELONdXY8|title=Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Episode 6 | presscentre|publisher=Itv.com|access-date=2014-07-29|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140728180406/http://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep6week33/tipping-point-lucky-stars#.U9ZELONdXY8|archive-date=28 July 2014}}
- Celebrity Antiques Road Trip (2016)
- Pointless Celebrities (2016){{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07bkbmw |title=BBC One - Pointless Celebrities, Series 9, Radio |access-date=2017-08-24 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421140941/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07bkbmw |archive-date=21 April 2017 }}
- The Saturday Show (2016)
- Celebrity Ninja Warrior (2017/2018)
- James Martin's Saturday Morning (2021){{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep2week2/james-martins-saturday-morning|title=James Martin's Saturday Morning|website=itv.com|access-date=21 December 2020}}
- The Chase Celebrity Christmas Special (2021){{cite web|url=https://www.itv.com/presscentre/ep1week51/chase-celebrity-christmas-special|title=The Chase Celebrity Christmas Special|website=itv.com/presscentre|access-date=24 December 2021}}
- The Weakest Link (2022){{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m00134mf/the-weakest-link-series-1-episode-7|title=The Weakest Link|publisher=BBC|access-date=1 January 2022}}
{{div col end}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.officialjennifalconer.com Official Website]
- [https://www.smoothradio.com/digital/radio/shows-presenters/breakfast/ Smooth Breakfast on Smooth Radio]
- [https://www.smoothradio.com/radio/shows-presenters/jenni-falconer/ Jenni Falconer on Smooth Radio]
- {{IMDb name|0266009}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falconer, Jenni}}
Category:Alumni of the University of Leeds
Category:Scottish television presenters
Category:Scottish women television presenters
Category:Scottish radio presenters
Category:Scottish women radio presenters
Category:Mass media people from Glasgow