In the 1990s, Phillippa Forrester was a well-known face on British television, starring in programs like Robot Wars and The Broom Cupboard, but she has since experienced heartache and significant acting change.
The studio lights have been replaced by Philippa Forrester, a well-known face on British television and known for her work on the BBC’s Broom Cupboard in the 1990s.
The former children’s BBC presenter, now 57, was also known for her roles in shows like Tomorrow’s World, Barking Mad, and The Heaven and Earth Show. Her stint as the captivating pit reporter on Robot Wars also captured viewers’ hearts.
Philippa was at the center of the action throughout the first three seasons, the third and sixth seasons, interviewing contestants, showcasing the engineering marvels of the battle robots, and giving viewers a sneak peek into the mechanical mayhem. Philippa resigned from her presenting duties after the show switched to Channel 5.
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She and Charlie Hamilton James, a wildlife documentarian, married in 2004 and together founded Halcyon Media, a production company specializing in wildlife documentaries. Halcyon River Diaries, which aired on BBC One in May 2010, was one of their productions.
The couple moved to Wyoming, USA, to support Charlie’s work with National Geographic after giving birth to three children. What was intended to be a temporary stay turned into a six-year stay where former TV star Philippa embraced life in the American wilderness.
Fred, the family’s eldest son, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2016, a difficult time for the family. Philippa told The Telegraph, “His entire body became rigid. His head was slammed against the wall, and his eyes went into the back of his head.
My husband ran to get help after I tried to hold him, but I was unable to hold him. We were taken to a medical emergency room in a rush.
Thankfully, Fred recovered completely from surgery and ongoing monitoring. However, Philippa and James separated in the summer of 2020, causing her to re-enter the country with their three children.
She wished a bear would eat her because she was so devastated by the breakup of her marriage. She remarked, “My return to the UK was utterly depressing, in the middle of lockdowns.” A grizzly bear incident would have been wonderful, but south Gloucestershire’s wilds have provided no such luck.
Philippa described this time as particularly difficult because she had to balance raising her children and rebuilding her career. She promoted women who work for environmental causes with her book Wild Woman: Empowering Stories from Women Who Work in Nature, which honors conservation stories and personal journeys.
Her debuting podcast Conscious also features individuals who are working to make significant changes to the planet. She stated on the program’s website, “I wanted to make this podcast so that we could chat to the unsung heroes, regular people with one thing in common: making change happen and inspiring us in the process,” in response to a tidal wave of environmental bad news.
She has also collaborated with Crowdfunder UK to produce the Podcast on Purpose series, which highlights impactful crowdfunding campaigns and how they have impacted communities. Her commitment to green causes is evident in her social media posts, which frequently feature articles about green initiatives, electric cars, and personal viewpoints.
