Katie Piper captured the public consciousness back in 2008 when Channel 4 screened the harrowing, Bafta award-winning documentary, Katie: My Beautiful Face. The programme gave an insight to her recovery from a brutal acid attack she suffered, aged just 24.
More than most celebrities, she has the challenge of balancing her presenting career with tremendous voluntary commitments, as trustee of The Katie Piper Foundation supporting burns victims nationwide.
Unsurprisingly, Katie was the last person to whinge about simply being asked to stay at home with her family as the country, and indeed the world, began the surreal onset of social distancing in March.
Unbeknown to her while filming, it was the first official lockdown Mother’s Day weekend when her appearance on BBC1’s Songs of Praise was screened and Katie’s revelations of finding faith put the experience firmly into perspective.
Filmed in her hometown church in Andover, Hampshire, Katie, now 36, spoke about a spiritual experience shortly after coming out of an induced coma following a vicious assault by her ex-boyfriend and a subsequent shocking sulphuric acid attack organised by him.
‘Religion had been a big part of my life and my recovery,’ reveals Katie. ‘I didn’t have aspirations to go on the show, but they approached me and I thought, actually that’s really lovely and totally different for me. Why not? It was also a chance to talk about my charity.’
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Esta historia es de la edición June 2020 de Essex Life.
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The rise of maskne
With the term ‘maskne’ becoming an increasingly common search online and on social media, Krystal Prince explains what it is and how you can control mask-induced acne
The forgotten lady
Charlotte Christie shares the life story of Anne Knight, an Essex pioneer for the abolition of slavery and women’s suffrage who’s achievements have almost been air-brushed from history
Stride out in the Sampfords
This charming, circular winter walk takes you on a tour from the village of Great Sampford to its neighbour, Little Sampford, and back again
MUCH TO TALK ABOUT
As a presenter on Sky Music and the host of two TV talk shows of her own on Gidea Park-based Sky channel Spotlight TV, Hayley Palmer is never short of words. Nicky Adams asks her how she came to be in front of the camera
LIFE and SOUL
Radio 1 broadcaster and producer Charlie Hedges began her career as Britain’s youngest breakfast show host and is now one of the world’s most successful female DJs. Denise Marshall caught up with the Essex-based queen of the air waves
Lest we forget
Remembrance Sunday will have a special poignance this month as 2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II. Stephen Roberts profiles how much the county of Essex contributed to the war effort and how much it cost
Lakeside Magic
The Lake House, nestled in Mill End on the outskirts of the village of Bradwell on Sea, has been owned by the same family for 60 years and was once a thriving four-buoy water-ski lake.
Keep on running
BBC presenter and director David Whiteley shares his insightful view on stories from across the county of Essex
Cheers!
Starting to get that festive vibe? Why not plan ahead by selecting not only the drinks you want to serve this Christmas, but also ticking off a few presents too?
A doggy day out on… Saffron Walden
Join Ernie, the county’s most famous Westie, as he steps back in time on a trip to this medieval market town
