Scottish-born crusader Gillian McKeith combines steely determination and tough love with over two decades of expertise, as she travels the world to promote her holistic approach to diet and lifestyle change.
Empowering people everywhere to reveal their inner sexy, the celebrated international nutritionist is also the host of the all-new series Eat Yourself Sexy, along with the hit UK series You Are What You Eat (Channel 4), and Three Fat Brides, One Thin Dress, among others.
Gillian also writes regular columns for Reveal Magazine, The Daily Mirror, and a host of other publications, and is the best-selling author of nine nutrition books, including Gillian McKeith’s Food Bible, Slim for Life, and her latest title, Gillian McKeith’s Boot Camp Diet Book.
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With her father's handyman skills and her mother's talent for sewing, lifestyle expert and television host, Monica Pedersen, is a self-taught designer who cultivated her passion for textiles while traveling the world as a successful fashion model.
Host of HGTV's Kitchen and Bath 2008, HGTV's Dream Home 2008, Dream Home 2009 and an upcoming holiday special, Monica is a frequent guest on shows like Live With Regis and Kelly and NBC's ‘Today’ show, among others, and her work has been featured in a range of publications, including Domino, Chicago Home & Garden, HGTV Ideas, North Shore Magazine, and the Home section of the Chicago Tribune.
Incorporating what she calls her ‘fabric obsession’ into most of her designs, Monica works with private clients, is the Chicago-based designer of HGTV’s Designed to Sell, and is currently overseeing the renovation of The Deer Path Inn, a Historic Hotel of America, in Lake Forest, Illinois.
Mike Wolfe
Based in the historic Mississippi River town of LeClaire, Iowa, Mike Wolfe is one of America’s top ‘pickers’. As the owner of Antique Archaeology, a specialist shop that sells folk art, unusual antiques and vintage collectibles, he supplies discerning designers, art directors, photographers, and everyday collectors with extraordinary objects that would otherwise be overlooked. Picking since he was four-years-old, Mike gets as much of a buzz from the hunt as he does from the back-story behind the incredible items he uncovers.
Frank Fritz
Friends since the eighth grade, Frank Fritz and Mike work their way across the country, seeking out, restoring, and reselling rare collectibles and curios. Frank is the steady hand to Mike’s fire, and like all great double acts, they’re opposites in many ways. Passionate about anything with an engine, Frank is always ready to sell their discoveries to the highest bidder.
Beyond managing one of Canada's largest and most successful RE/MAX franchises, Jodi Gilmour is the celebrated host of HGTV’s new hit property series For Rent, now in its second season, and is a featured contributor on the juicy reality series Marriage Under Construction (also on HGTV).
Widely recognized for her professionalism, resources, and winning charm, Jodi’s experience and warmth set her apart from the competition. And, whether she’s representing her Toronto-area clients, mentoring sales agents, or connecting with viewers, Jodi’s goal is the same — “I am committed to improving their quality of life,” she says.
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British property guru turned television celebrity, Sofie Allsopp has co-hosted Channel 4’s primetime special The Ten Best and Worst Places to Live in the UK for the past two years. Sassy and smart, Sofie has also hosted UKTV’s property series, Gentrification, and will appear in a new series for IWC Productions called More4 Property Guide. A property expert with plenty of verve, Sofie is ready to help desperate Canadian homeowners transform their real estate lemons in The Unsellables.
John Rennie (UK version)
Previously a staff writer for People, the Mirror, and the Daily Star,
real estate and financial expert John Rennie has been a freelance
writer since 2001. His popular articles and features appear in the Sunday Mirror, Good Housekeeping, and Woman+Home, among others. He also teaches post-graduate journalism at City University.
John
also runs two real estate investment companies — John W. Rennie Ltd.
buys, refurbishes, and rents out residential property in South and East
London; and, Gazo Ltd. offers Italian hotel bookings, property and
holiday rentals on-line.
Anthony Sayers (Canadian version)
An experienced builder and residential contractor with charm to spare, Anthony Sayers co-stars on the popular TV series Me, My House & I (W Network), and is back for the second hit season of The Unsellables (HGTV). With a knack for transforming outdated and undesirable properties into beautiful real estate gems, the Jamaica native and George Brown College graduate has worked with some of the top building companies in Toronto, and after nearly two decades on the job, has garnered a dedicated client base, and a widespread reputation for quality craftsmanship.
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A celebrated carpenter and avid sportsman who loves gourmet cooking, architecture, and the great outdoors, John Bell has worked as a weatherman and sports anchor (Global TV), as a design assistant and carpenter on the home makeover series, Colour Confidential (W Network), and even on the big screen in the sci-fi thriller Earth Storm.
John has an undergraduate degree from the University of Western Ontario, a broadcast diploma from Fanshawe College. And, when he’s not on location for World’s Greenest Homes, is busy with a wide variety of carpentry projects, as well as project managing renovations and new construction builds.
Emmanuel Belliveau (season I)
Emmanuel Belliveau tried a number of trades before submitting to his
lifelong passion for architecture and design. He honed his creative
instincts during a stint with FNDA Architecture in Vancouver where he
collaborated on commercial and residential projects at home and as far
afield as Dubai. In addition to learning everything about the trade,
Emmanuel was introduced to sustainable design while working on a
project for his highness, the Aga Khan.
With his knack for
transforming dated objects into modern classics, Emmanuel landed his
first television gig as the funny and dynamic co-host of My Parents’ House (HGTV). When he’s not hacking through walls or re-tooling old
furniture for the series, Emmanuel is busy renovating homes, playing
Ultimate Frisbee, and managing his own design business.
Show host for Frisky Business:
John Barrowman
Frisky Business host, John Barrowman is an accomplished actor, musical performer, dancer, singer, and television presenter, John has performed extensively on Broadway, in London’s West End, and on television. His TV credits include the role of Captain Jack Harkness in Doctor Who, and its spin-off Torchwood, as well as regular guest appearances on entertainment shows including Any Dream Will Do, and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?
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South African-born Austin Stevens first earned the nickname ‘Snakeman’ while serving as the army’s official ‘reptile remover.’ After surviving an otherwise deadly snakebite, he eventually trained as a herpetologist, and worked as curator for the two largest reptile and animal parks in Southern Africa, as well as Germany’s Nordharzer Slagenfarm, which he helped design and inaugurate.
After a slew of successful TV appearances with his venomous counterparts, Austin appeared in a number of documentaries including Dragons of the Namib and Africa’s Deadliest Dozen. Currently in its second season, the TV-series Austin Stevens Adventures is broadcast on Channel Five in the UK and on Animal Planet in the US. Stevens has published a number of articles and books, and also holds the Guinness World Record for living in a cage with 36 venomous snakes for a period of 107 days and nights.
With plenty of verve and a brand of magic all their own, Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are transforming the world — one interior at a time.
As Britain’s most outrageous decorating duo, the celebrated twosome have starred in a number of top-rated series, including Million Pound Property Experiment, The Estate, Wedding Belles and Don't Drop the Baby.
In Home Heist, Colin and Justin are on a mission to overhaul the country’s tackiest interiors… And teach Canadians a thing or two about good design. Watch in amazement as they literally take homeowners hostage, put them to work, and perform exquisite transformations… In only five short days!
]]>Inspired by watching her fastidious grandmother at work, Kim Woodburn left school at fifteen to start her own professional cleaning career. After her first live-in job in Liverpool, Kim enjoyed stints in retail and modelling, but her focus remained squarely on scrubbing and scouring. Kim made her first television appearance in 1983 modelling handmade knitwear for her own company. And twenty years later, was hand picked to co-host the runaway hit series, How Clean Is Your House? Along with her co-host Aggie, Kim also filmed Too Posh to Wash for Channel 4, and the 2006 documentary How Clean Is Your Hospital?
The duo’s publishing exploits include The Cleaning Bible, Too Posh to Wash, and the best-selling How Clean Is Your House? In 2006, Kim chronicled her difficult childhood in the powerful autobiography, Unbeaten. Kim is currently in Canada filming her new series Kim’s Rude Awakening for W Network.
Mike Chalut
Before his assignment as second in command on Kim’s Rude Awakenings, Michael was busy assisting wedding planner extraordinaire, Jane Dayus-Hinch, in the hilarious second season of Wedding SOS (Slice Network). Together, the high-energy duo saved helpless and hapless couples from their own wedding disasters! Michael is also the VIP host of INK Entertainment where he has dazzled A-list celebrities including Hilary Duff, Paris Hilton and The Rolling Stones.
Voted one of Toronto’s Top Talkers by the National Post, Michael Chalut’s boundless energy, raw talent and good looks have also caught the attention of The Toronto Star and The Globe and Mail.
For over 20 years, Jane Dayus-Hinch has been saving the day for wayward soon-to-be-weds.
The internationally recognized wedding guru and erstwhile model has orchestrated over 1,000 successful occasions… And in the process, has become immune to all the drama, tears, and cat-fights! In Wedding SOS, Jane proves that no matter what happens, she always keeps her cool.
Known for her winning blend of wild child humour, British self-discipline, and encyclopedic knowledge of etiquette, Jane is also a senior Toastmaster and motorbike enthusiast.
Myleene Klass was already an accomplished model stage performer, and classically trained pianist when she first appeared on the smash-hit reality series, Popstars (ITV1), in 2001. Within weeks, she won huge support from viewers across the UK, and ultimately landed herself a spot in the successful pop band, Hear'Say.
In 2005, Myleene hosted the Saturday-morning music program, cd:uk (ITV1). In 2006, she starred in I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here (ITV1), and spent three weeks roughing it in an Australian jungle. Myleene’s natural charm was a hit… And so were her bikini-clad jungle showers that made front-page news. Myleene most recently hosted the Saturday-night entertainment show, The People's Quiz, the primetime daily magazine, The One Show (BBC-1), and the live-broadcast section of the X Factor finale (ITV1).
The Panelists:
Heather Cocks & Jessica Morgan
A self-proclaimed fashion fanatic with attitude, Heather Cocks was born in Texas, was raised in England, and attended high school in Canada… And, tragically, never developed a really cool hybrid accent. After graduating from Indiana’s University of Notre Dame, Heather worked as a journalist and as a producer for reality-TV before starting Go Fug Yourself, the scathing and successful fashion blog in 2004, with partner Jessica Morgan. Heather currently lives in Los Angeles, where she admits to being addicted to soap operas, Diet Coke, American football, and watching retro-classic Dynasty catfights on YouTube.
A L.A. native, Jessica Morgan admits she spent many formative years trying to run into Luke Perry at the grocery store… And although the love connection never happened, she managed to graduate from UCLA, find work as a copywriter, and then as a reality-TV producer for shows like 30 Days and Growing Up Gotti, before joining forces with Heather in 2004 to become a professional ‘fugger.’
Michael Schaeble
Michael Schaeble was an aspiring actor when he instead landed himself a career as a stylist and reporter for Flare, Canada’s national fashion magazine. With his signature humor and verve, Michael covered lifestyle trends, runway collections, and one-on-one interviews for the magazine before moving to London in 2000 to work as a freelance stylist and writer.
Michael scored his first big TV break in 2003 as the host of Straight Dates by Gay Mates. And since then, has been a contributor for Bride & Grooming (Five), Celebrity Swaps II (Five), Men’s Health TV (Bravo), Bra’s Unpadded (Sky One), and Britain’s Biggest Celebrity Mingers (Sky One). Beyond writing for the style bible, Wallpaper*, Michael has also produced TV profiles for Fashion Television, and has orchestrated photo shoots and interviews with the likes of Sting, Bryan Adams, Claudia Schiffer, and Coldplay.
Paula Reed
Fascinated by fashion and dedicated to design, Paula Reed left her native Ireland for London in the 1980s where she cut her teeth doing PR for superstar designers including Katharine Hamnett and Jasper Conran. She later became a fashion editor, and enjoyed a six-year run with The Sunday Times, and stints with Harper’s Bazaar UK, Condé Nast Traveller, and In Style.
Today, Paula is style director for Grazia, the weekly UK fashion magazine that’s become one of the industry’s hottest new references. As a freelance writer, she has contributed to British Vogue, Elle Decoration, InStyle, and The Financial Times. Paula’s TV credits include Project Catwalk (Sky One), and 10 Years Younger (Channel 4). And her first book, How to Dress (Harper Collins), will be released in September 2008.
Known for her wit, charm, and engaging personality, Liza Fromer is a widely respected broadcast journalist who spent five years as the über-popular co-host of CityTV’s Breakfast Television before joining SLICE™ as dreamweaver for The List. She was also a columnist for TV Guide Canada.
After earning a degree in Radio and Television from Ryerson University, Liza’s first experience in broadcasting was as the driver of the Q107 Community Cruiser. She later launched her television career at YTV as co-host of both Clips, and Video & Arcade Top Ten. From 1995 to 1997, Liza hosted The Weather Network’s Good Morning Toronto show. And later became the weekend anchor and reporter at A-Channel in Calgary where she anchored the station's first-ever newscast. Liza has also worked with The Discovery Channel and CBS’s Newspath.
]]>Funnyman Sandy Jobin-Bevan started his professional comedy career as a member of Second City’s national touring company.
Since then, the talented writer-performer has garnered seven Canadian Comedy Awards, performed on stages across Europe and North America, and has appeared on TV screens worldwide. His most recent film and television credits include Late Night With Conan O’Brien, Queer As Folk, Regenesis, and Dawn Of The Dead.
In Great Home Giveaway, Sandy adds a comedic touch to the serious job of giving away…
Comedian, writer and broadcaster, Mark Dolan is nothing short of hilarious. With his quirky charm and razor sharp wit, he is best known as the host of the raucous hit comedy series, Balls of Steel. Mark’s other hosting credits include The Weekly Show, The Last Word, and Show Me The Funny.
Along with presenting Urban Legends, Mark also stars in his own innovative, one-man show. In I’m Here To Help!, audience members submit their problems in order to have them “solved” by Mark, the rest of the audience, and by his mother on the phone!