Edwina Currie
Author, Broadcaster, Politician and Celebrity
Speaker
Edwina Currie was born in Liverpool, UK in 1946
and went to the same school as Beatles George
Harrison and Sir Paul McCartney. Much of her
education was spent in the Cavern Club listening to
their music. She won a scholarship to Oxford
University to read Chemistry; surrounded by Nobel
prize winners, she switched to Philosophy, Politics
and Economics. Also present (1968) was William
Jefferson Clinton, hiding behind a beard. She took
her Master's degree in economic history at the
London School of Economics, an experience which
turned her into a life-long Conservative. Edwina
has had three successful careers - so far! After a
decade of public office in the city of Birmingham,
she stood for Parliament in 1983 and represented a
Midlands seat for 14 years. She became one of the
nation's best known MPs and served in Margaret
Thatcher's government 1986-88, in the Department of
Health. She became famous for her campaigns on
heart disease, women's cancer screening and the
promotion of healthy lifestyles. She was also
involved in the first AIDS campaign in the UK that
saved many lives. She was voted "Speaker of the
Year 1990" and awarded "Campaigner of the Year
1994" in the Spectator Parliamentarian Awards. She
resigned over food safety (salmonella) in December
1988, and turned down John Major's request to
return to government in 1992. By then she was
involved with career number two - writing. This has
turned out to be a lot easier than politics, and in
some ways loads more fun. In all she has published
ten books. She started with non-fiction, then
turned to novels which were instant best-sellers in
the UK. Her "Diaries 1987-1992" were published in
2002 (paperback October 2003) to excellent reviews.
Career number three started after the General
Election in 1997 which trashed the Tories and
brought Mr Blair to power. Edwina lost her seat,
and was promptly offered a job by the BBC. For five
years she had her own very successful radio
programme, "Late Night Currie," with live phone-ins
and reportage on topical issues. She is also a
well-known TV presenter and performer. In 2004
Edwina appeared in "Hell's Kitchen" and was also
winner of BBC TV's "Celebrity Mastermind 2004." In
ITV's The Big Call July 2005 she helped one
contestant win £20,000 and another almost
£50,000 on Britain's National Lottery. In 2006
Edwina recorded Celebrity Stars in their Eyes (as
Edith Piaf), and appeared in Celebrity Wife Swap
with Channel 4 racing commentator John McCririck.
In September 2007 on the This Morning programme she
lived for a week on the roof of the ITV building on
London's South Bank with only a laptop for company.
In late 2008 she presented a BBC special on the
40th anniversary of Dr Beeching's railway cuts. In
2009 the whole family appeared on All Star Family
Fortunes winning a substantial sum for their chosen
charities, while other programmes include Cash in
the Attic, Bargain Hunt, Come Dine with Me, and Ant
and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway. In
September 2009 Edwina appeared with James May for
James May’s Toy Stories, building a Meccano
bridge in Liverpool. And 2010 is just as busy with
a star performance as chef in a new Celebrity Come
Dine with Me, broadcast on Election Night May 6.
The same night she will be presenter’s friend
for ITN as the first results come in. Edwina has
been called "the best communicator the Tories
have," and "a brash and energetic life force." Her
life to date has been summed up by fellow writer
and MP Sir Julian Critchley: "Edwina Currie has a
brass neck, a silver tongue and a golden pen."
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Edwina has been called
"the best communicator the Tories have,"
and "a brash and energetic life force,"
Her life to date has been summed up by fellow
writer and MP Sir Julian Critchley: "Edwina
Currie has a brass neck, a silver tongue and a
golden pen."
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