Donna Air
Encyclopedia
Donna Air is an English
television presenter, singer and actress.
, Donna attended the Drama School at First Act in Gosforth
, Newcastle upon Tyne
, where she was a pupil alongside Jill Halfpenny
, Ant & Dec
and Dale Meeks
.
series Byker Grove
and later became a presenter of several shows, including for a time, The Big Breakfast
. She has also acted in an episode of BBC TV
comedy Operation Good Guys
. Her only major TV acting role was as Maggie Rostan in the final two episodes of Catherine Cookson
s six parter A Dinner of Herbs. She has a reputation of being a vacuous blonde, not helped by her memorably asking Irish
family group The Corrs
how they met. She poked fun at this image by founding Airhead Productions. Air appeared in the movies Still Crazy
(1998), The Mummy Returns
and has presented on MTV. Air is currently filming a British independent movie called Bad Day. Air was also a main presenter on the 2001 newly relaunched 'The Big Breakfast' sharing presenting roles with Paul Tonkinson and Amanda Byram. Air was quickly removed from the role and 'sent upstairs to bed' to present short sections of the show from the bedroom, interviewing minor celebrities, Air was not present at the final axing of the programme in 2002.
On Friday 13 August 2010, Air presented an episode of Five's early evening, magazine programme Live from Studio Five
, alongside regular presenter of the programme; Kate Walsh
. Air temporarily took the place of one of the show's regular presenters; Jayne Middlemiss
, as she was on holiday. Air's appearance came just a day after regular presenter of the show, Ian Wright
was sacked. At the beginning of the programme Air stated that she thought she was the only presenter brave enough to present the show on Friday 13. The show's studio guest, of this addition, was Ortis Deley
, presenter of Five's The Gadget Show
. During an interview with the presenter, Air displayed her personal interest in gadgets.
, London in 2003. Air and Aspinall are no longer a couple.
Prior to their breakup the couple caused a stir by announcing their intention to place their baby daughter in the care of a gorilla in a ritual Aspinall's older children had already taken part in.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
television presenter, singer and actress.
Early life
As a former student of Gosforth High SchoolGosforth High School
Gosforth Academy is an English secondary school in Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne. As well as having a sixth form department it is a specialist Language College...
, Donna attended the Drama School at First Act in Gosforth
Gosforth
Gosforth is an area of Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England, United Kingdom, to the north of the city centre. Gosforth constituted an urban district from 1895 to 1974, when it became part of the City of Newcastle upon Tyne. It has a population of 23,620...
, Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
, where she was a pupil alongside Jill Halfpenny
Jill Halfpenny
Jill Halfpenny is an English actress.Halfpenny is best known for her roles as Rebecca Hopkins in the British soap opera Coronation Street from 1999–2000, and as Kate Mitchell in rival soap EastEnders, from 2002-2005...
, Ant & Dec
Ant & Dec
Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly , known collectively as Ant & Dec, are an English comedy and TV presenting duo from Newcastle upon Tyne, England...
and Dale Meeks
Dale Meeks
-Acting career:Meeks is best known for his role as Simon Meredith in the British TV drama Emmerdale. He also starred in Byker Grove as the leader of a gang from rival youth club Denton Burn between 1990 and 1992, and the 1960s set drama Heartbeat....
.
Television
She became famous as an actress on the CBBCCBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
series Byker Grove
Byker Grove
Byker Grove was a British television series which aired between 1989 and 2006 and was created by Adele Rose. The show was broadcast at 5.10pm after Newsround on CBBC on BBC One...
and later became a presenter of several shows, including for a time, The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast
The Big Breakfast was a British light entertainment television show shown on Channel 4 and S4C each weekday morning from 28 September 1992 until 29 March 2002 during which period 2,482 shows were produced. The Big Breakfast was produced by Planet 24, the production company co-owned by former...
. She has also acted in an episode of BBC TV
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
comedy Operation Good Guys
Operation Good Guys
Operation Good Guys is a British mockumentary, a fly-on-the-wall documentary series about an elite police unit's bid to snare one of Britain's most powerful crime lords. It was first screened on BBC Two from 1997 - 2000. Blurring the line between fact and fiction, it witnesses, on camera, the total...
. Her only major TV acting role was as Maggie Rostan in the final two episodes of Catherine Cookson
Catherine Cookson
Dame Catherine Cookson DBE was a British author. She became the United Kingdom's most widely read novelist, with sales topping 100 million, while retaining a relatively low profile in the world of celebrity writers...
s six parter A Dinner of Herbs. She has a reputation of being a vacuous blonde, not helped by her memorably asking Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
family group The Corrs
The Corrs
The Corrs are an Irish band which combine pop rock with traditional Celtic folk music. The brother and sisters are from Dundalk, Ireland. The group consists of the Corr siblings: Andrea ; Sharon ; Caroline ; and Jim .The Corrs came to international prominence with their performance at the...
how they met. She poked fun at this image by founding Airhead Productions. Air appeared in the movies Still Crazy
Still Crazy
Still Crazy is a 1998 comedy film about a fictional 1970s rock band named "Strange Fruit", who, after being split up for several decades, are persuaded to get back together to perform at a reunion of the same concert venue where they played their last gig...
(1998), The Mummy Returns
The Mummy Returns
The Mummy Returns is a 2001 American adventure film written and directed by Stephen Sommers, starring Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo, Oded Fehr, Patricia Velásquez and Freddie Boath. The film is a sequel to the 1999 film The Mummy...
and has presented on MTV. Air is currently filming a British independent movie called Bad Day. Air was also a main presenter on the 2001 newly relaunched 'The Big Breakfast' sharing presenting roles with Paul Tonkinson and Amanda Byram. Air was quickly removed from the role and 'sent upstairs to bed' to present short sections of the show from the bedroom, interviewing minor celebrities, Air was not present at the final axing of the programme in 2002.
On Friday 13 August 2010, Air presented an episode of Five's early evening, magazine programme Live from Studio Five
Live from Studio Five
Live From Studio Five was an early evening, British magazine programme which was produced by Sky News for Channel 5. The show was presented by Kate Walsh and a line-up of other co-presenters during its run. It consisted of interviews and discussing topical issues, with an emphasis on showbusiness...
, alongside regular presenter of the programme; Kate Walsh
Kate Walsh
Kate Walsh may refer to:*Kate Walsh , American actress*Kate Walsh , English field hockey captain*Kate Walsh , Irish politician*Kate Walsh , contestant in The Apprentice series 5 and TV presenter...
. Air temporarily took the place of one of the show's regular presenters; Jayne Middlemiss
Jayne Middlemiss
Jayne Middlemiss is a London-based British television and radio presenter, originally from Northumberland. She began presenting music television shows such as The O-Zone and Top of the Pops in the mid '90s, before presenting a variety of other television and radio shows, including on BBC 6 Music...
, as she was on holiday. Air's appearance came just a day after regular presenter of the show, Ian Wright
Ian Wright
Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a retired English footballer turned television and radio personality.Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, spending six years with the former and seven years with the latter. With Arsenal he has lifted the Premier League title and both major...
was sacked. At the beginning of the programme Air stated that she thought she was the only presenter brave enough to present the show on Friday 13. The show's studio guest, of this addition, was Ortis Deley
Ortis Deley
Ortis Deley is a British television presenter, radio DJ and actor of Ghanaian/Nigerian descent. He went to Ernest Bevin College in Tooting Bec, London. He is currently one of the presenters of The Gadget Show and presenter of Choice FM on Sunday mornings....
, presenter of Five's The Gadget Show
The Gadget Show
The Gadget Show is a British television series focusing on technology and is broadcast on Channel 5. Originally a thirty minute show, it was extended to forty-five minutes, then later to fifty five minutes. Repeats have also aired on the digital channels 5*, Dave and Channel 5's Internet on-demand...
. During an interview with the presenter, Air displayed her personal interest in gadgets.
Personal life
She was engaged to Damian Aspinall, owner of Aspers, an entertainment company, until July 2007. Their daughter Freya Air Aspinall was born in WestminsterCity of Westminster
The City of Westminster is a London borough occupying much of the central area of London, England, including most of the West End. It is located to the west of and adjoining the ancient City of London, directly to the east of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and its southern boundary...
, London in 2003. Air and Aspinall are no longer a couple.
Prior to their breakup the couple caused a stir by announcing their intention to place their baby daughter in the care of a gorilla in a ritual Aspinall's older children had already taken part in.