While you dwell away from residence, there’s an on the spot connection the minute you converse to somebody who’s from the identical a part of the nation as you. Geography instantly bonds you, which is precisely what occurs the minute Josie Gibson logs on to our scheduled Zoom name and hears I’m from Bristol too.
We’re quickly attempting to work out if we’ve received mutual mates and she or he’s telling me about her hopes to maneuver to the realm I grew up in, in addition to her little boy’s love of the native nature park I used to be additionally an everyday at as a child.
“It’s bizarre as a result of once I was [living] in London, I honed into anybody from the south west – it’s like a bit of bizarre connection that we’ve all received. You don’t comprehend it until you’re from spherical right here, are you aware what I imply?” she says, talking to me in between operating some errands from her automotive, which she laughs is pulled up exterior a Bristol garbage dump.
It’s this sort of all the way down to earth high quality that has seen Josie cement herself as probably the most liked members of the on-air This Morning workforce lately. And as considered one of only some on-screen stars with a notable south-west accent, she is glad to be representing her fellow Bristolians.
“I didn’t realise I had this a lot of a powerful accent till I went to London!” she says. “It was solely when everybody began taking the mick out of me. Then you definately hear your self on TV and I believe, ‘God, I’m actually Bristolian!’
“However I’m so proud to characterize not solely Bristol, however the south west. A great deal of folks say, ‘Oh nicely accomplished for elevating the Bristol flag!’ Persons are so supportive, aren’t they? You already know what it’s like spherical our manner – your door’s all the time open for a cup of tea, isn’t it?” she provides.
It’s now 12 years since Josie charmed the nation and was topped champion of Channel 4′s remaining collection of Massive Brother, earlier than instantly re-entering the BB home to participate in an Final model that includes a bunch of all-star housemates. She left of her personal accord a number of days later as she missed former housemate John-James Parton, with whom she’d developed a romantic connection.
The connection didn’t final, however Josie remained within the public consciousness, showing on different actuality exhibits, writing journal columns and releasing a health DVD. However she was struggling to make her dream of turning into a TV presenter a actuality.
Yui Mok – PA Photographs through Getty Photographs
“I believe due to the Massive Brother factor, it held me again a bit and no one needed to know – and I imply no one,” she says. “Over two years, I attempted and I actually put myself on the market. No one is aware of this, however I received into [TV presenting] as a result of I didn’t cease attempting. Greater than 72 folks I attempted – I had an inventory of people that I’d requested for a job.”
It was an look on This Morning that utterly modified issues for her, after impressing one of many present’s stars when she sat down on the well-known couch for an interview.
“I went on This Morning someday and Eamonn [Holmes] was on there. He mentioned: ‘I such as you, you’re completely different. Go and ship some concepts to the bosses at This Morning.’ After which they gave me an opportunity, and though I wasn’t nice to start with, my This Morning lot caught with me. They’ve helped me develop.
“They’d solely give me a minute of TV to begin with, then they’ve give me a pair extra, after which 4 minutes, 5, and now I’ve been presenting the present!”
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Since becoming a member of the on-air workforce in 2018, Josie’s been despatched right here, there and in every single place on a variety of missions – whether or not it’s driving curler coasters, taking up assault programs or interviewing a few of the world’s largest stars.
Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon stay her favourites: “They had been so up for fun. I all the time thought they’d be women’ women, however I didn’t realise how a lot women’ women they’d be – they actually had been simply pretty,” she says.
Descending into giggles, Josie – who’s presently collaborating in Babybel’s Energetic Dwelling Problem marketing campaign after realising that travelling as a part of her job implies that she spent a lot of her day-to-day life sat down – recollects the second the place she fell into Caversham Lakes dwell on air when she was despatched to host a section at an inflatable water park.
“I took my little boy to work with me that day, so I used to be there presenting and all I heard was him on the facet of the lake going, ‘Muuummmyyy!’ So it put me off, and that’s why I fell in,” she laughs. “That’s what folks don’t realise! The lifeguard thought he was David Hasselhoff and he tried to fish me out that lake and it was simply my large bottom over all of the displays at ITV!”
In addition to taking up her common roving reporter duties, current months have seen Josie fill in as a important presenter on This Morning extra often, after proving successful with viewers when she was drafted in on the final minute to cowl for a sick Holly Willoughby final November.
Since then, she’s fronted the present with an array of co-presenters, together with Holly, Phillip Schofield, Alison Hammond, Dermot O’Leary, Vernon Kay and Craig Doyle.
“I wouldn’t have been the place I’m with out them,” she says of her ITV household. “It’s like stepping into to an adopted household and them serving to you with life expertise.”
Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock
Revealing the tip long-standing host Phillip taught her about co-hosting, Josie explains: “You don’t wish to speak over your accomplice, in any other case it could be a large number. So, if you wish to hold going with a query since you assume you’re on a roll, otherwise you wish to say one thing, you’ve received to hear and you’re taking little breaths. They’re listening on a regular basis. They make it look so streamlined, however you received’t discover it.”
There’s one explicit member of her TV household she has an additional particular bond with, although, and Josie instantly lights up the second she begins to talk about her.
“Me and Alison had been good mates earlier than This Morning – we’ve been on vacation collectively – however she’s received a really particular infectious power,” she beams. “She’s like a magnet, you simply wish to be round her power.”
She credit her co-star – who, like Josie, additionally went from Massive Brother housemate to beloved daytime TV star– for lifting her up in moments of self doubt.
She says: “Alison all the time provides me recommendation. I don’t assume I’ve been that nice with my confidence prior to now and Alison is the one which’s actually helped me. I’m going, ‘Oh Al, I can’t do it,’ and she or he pushes me and goes, ‘Look, you should be there in addition to anyone else. Josie, so long as you’re having a very good time, they’re having a very good time, and that’s all that issues.’
“You may telephone up Al and you’ll be on the ground, however you’ll get off that telephone name and really feel 1,000,000 pound – you’ll really feel invincible. She’s received this particular manner about her and it’s so pretty.”
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Final 12 months, the pair even spent Christmas Day collectively at Alison’s residence in Birmingham, which Josie insists she’s by no means skilled something like earlier than.
“She laid out each single kind of meals and it was pretty, her unfold was superb,” she says, shortly including: “I’m hoping I’ll get one other invite!”
For now although, Josie is busy ticking issues off her bucket listing, citing a current interview with considered one of her large heroes Jonathan Ross in addition to revealing her dream to take a seat down with Daybreak French, whose comedy she was purchased up on.
As her rise and rise continues, the world is most definitely Josie’s oyster, however Bristol will undoubtedly stay her residence. “It’s the right place to dwell,” she says. “I just like the lifestyle. Nobody is showy down right here, nobody cares what automotive you drive, so I believe it’s a bit extra me… I can go to the store in my pyjamas and nobody would even blink a watch!”
This interview has been edited for size and readability.
Josie Gibson has teamed up with Babybel to get the nation transferring as a part of the Babybel Energetic Dwelling Problem. For extra info, click on right here.
