Jodie Prenger
Jodie Prenger emerged victorious in BBC ONE's I'd Do Anything, the musical talent search which saw 12 contestants battling it out week by week for a starring role as Nancy, in Cameron Mackintosh's West End revival ofOliver!
Jodie quickly became a firm favourite amongst both the viewers and the esteemed judging panel, led by legendary composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, and was declared winner by public vote on Saturday 31st May. Her stint inOliver! sees Jodie star alongside acclaimed actor Rowan Atkinson in the iconic role of Fagin, and Burn Gorman as Nancy's vicious love interest Bill Sikes.
Since I'd Do Anything, Jodie has starred opposite John Barrowman, Daniel Boys and Shan Cothi at Bryn Terfl's annual Faenol festival in North Wales, the RAF memorial concert at the London Palladium, and Friday Night is Music Night for BBC Radio 2. Readers of the TV Times have voted Jodie their Favorite Reality Star of 2008. Jodie has performed for Children In Need and is supporting the current Crusaid campaign.
A born entertainer, 29 year old Jodie has performed extensively on the cabaret circuit in North England. She attended the National Youth Theatre in the same class as Kate Winslet's sister Beth, and made her first solo appearance at the Opera House in the Summer Spectacular. Lead roles quickly followed in Hot Mikado for Blackpool and the Flyde College at the Grand Theatre, andCabaret at the Winter Gardens.
Jodie has also offered comedy support for Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson, Joe Pasquale, Bernard Manning and Frank Carson. In addition, she spent eight months aboard the Disney World Cruise Ship, in one of six principal roles in a team of 19 entertainers.
Jodie's television triumph in I'd Do Anything wasn't her first taste for victory. In 2006, she came first in LIVING's weight loss series, The Biggest Loser, taking home a prize of £25,000 after shedding a staggering eight stone. Starting the show at a size 26 and weighing 18st 2lbs, she slimmed down to a size 10. Her other TV work includes appearances on Granada's A Taste for Travel alongside her mother in 1999, and then in 2000 she took part in The Other Half alongside boxer Chris Eubank.
Performances aside, Jodie has a vested interest in helping people, and enjoyed a successful stint as an agony aunt prior to attending the I'd Do Anything. Alongside her own advise and guidance website, Jodie used her prize money from The Biggest Loser to run a series of successful weight loss weekends with trainer Angie Dowds.