My back story…

In Greater Manchester circles, I am the second most famous person to use those illustrious initials…

At only 7 years old, I was at the Grand Theatre, interviewing Keith Harris and Orville for the Evening Gazette (Cuddles already bound to an exclusive deal with the Telegraph...). The stage was indeed set for a life in the media industry.

Leaving the literal bright lights of Blackpool behind and heading for the even brighter metaphorical lights of Mancunia, my foray into Manchester life began as a fledging journalist for Cavendish Press. 

Teeth sharpened on some major showbiz scoops, I soon leapt over the other side of the fence, landing straight onto those infamous cobbles and through the ITV press office doors as a publicist for Coronation Street - Britain’s longest running soap opera.

Some classic storylines ripe for the promoting coincided with my time on the Street, including Tracy Barlow’s murderous revenge (RIP Charlie), the life of a soap opera publicist is one of a constant round of setting up press interviews, pitching, photoshoots, behind the scenes access, profile building, press releases, red carpet events, charity projects and producing press packs. 

However, some of my finest work lay in the stories I deftly kept out of the tabloids and thanks to my crisis management skills - you will never read about…

I also managed press trips to Malta and South Africa for ITV and launched the soap’s special ‘Out of Africa’ DVD.

A launch party followed back on hallowed Mancunian soil, with a VIP after-party for 400 people featuring Brand New Heavies and Manchester music legends Peter Hook and DJ Graeme Park.

And then, five years later, I called last orders on the Rovers and struck out on my own. 

With a solid showbiz network, and reputation for balancing a strong eye for a story with a duty of care for the client , I founded Vital Management and Media Relations, representing some of the biggest acting names on television, including: Michelle Keegan, Helen Flanagan, Brook Vincent, Kate Ford, Faye Brookes, Jamie Lomas, Bruno Langley, Natalie Anderson, Catherine Tyldesley and Katie McGlynn.

I managed many magazine deals, including: Michelle Keegan’s wedding to Mark Wright, Catherine Tyldesley’s wedding to Tom Pitfield, and leaving bashes for Michelle Keegan, Shayne Ward and Catherine Tyldesley.

I loved producing photoshoots for clients and making them look and feel their absolute best, so a major aspect of my work was managing a client’s image their profiles in the press, all promotional photography and styling.

A stand out project for me was Michelle’s calendar. I produced and directed the shoot in Mallorca and her calendar became a best seller and was used as inspiration for countless future celebrity calendars and shoots.

I also produced profile building campaigns and VIP events for businesses and brands and create ‘wow’ moments for clients in the local and national press for new products, businesses, venues and ventures.

Business clients and brand projects included: Malmaison Manchester, Abode Hotel, Ultimate Performance Gyms, Selfridges, Lowry Hotel, Viva Magazine, Terence Paul Hairdressing, Missguided, Lipsy, Hello and OK! Magazine, One Aesthetic Studio, Reuben Wood Hairdressing, Windle & Moodie, Viva Magazine, Nadine Merabi, ITV and Tokyo Industries.

After over a decade running Vital, I wanted a big , bold new challenge , so I swapped celebrities for the civil service - by joining the Greater Manchester Combined Authority as a Senior Media & Communications officer working across The Mayor of Greater Manchester’s communications, culture and economy portfolios .

I led a number of high profile media campaigns and launches for GMCA including: The inaugural Town of Culture Award, and Culture Fund announcements. When the pandemic hit, I worked on mayoral and local government communications and co-founded a cultural fundraising streaming project: United We Stream to raise money for local good causes, night time economy businesses and creatives whose livelihoods had been severely impacted by the lockdowns.

In a post pandemic world, I consult on and produce high profile social value, cultural and lifestyle publicity campaigns.