Ulrika Jonsson - Career

Career

After working as a secretary, Jonsson began her TV career on TV-am in 1989 where she worked as a weather presenter. From 12 September 1989, she was also the weather presenter for Swedish TV3, broadcasting from London. In 1991, she co-presented the short-lived daytime quiz show Who's Bluffing Who?, and starred in the critically acclaimed French film, The Annunciation of Marie. In 1992 she moved into mainstream presenting and played host to numerous shows including Gladiators', The National Lottery – plus two major international broadcasts in 1998 and 1999, the Eurovision Song Contest and Miss World respectively. She also modelled for Playtex Lingerie during this period and was a team captain on the BBC TV quiz show Shooting Stars.

In 1997, she interviewed the then British Prime Minister John Major for the BBC2 programme, The Enormous Election. In 1998, she interviewed the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, for her BBC2 programme Ulrika in Euroland.

She presented Dog Eat Dog (reality game show) from 2001–2003, on BBC1, and The Joy of Text in 2001.

In 2002, Jonsson presented TV makeover show Home On Their Own, a show where children made alterations to their house (how they wanted the house to be) during the course of a weekend, while their parents went on holiday. Some of the home improvements included an Austin Powers room, doorbells for the children and a cinema living room.

In 2002 she was also the subject of a Channel 4 documentary, Ulrika Jonsson: the Truth About Men. The programme featured a candid interview with Jonsson, received heavy press attention and attracted 2.8 million viewers.

After intense media attention relating to events in her personal life, she decided to return to Sweden. The Swedish television network TV3 offered her the role as hostess of the Miss Sweden beauty pageant. She accepted the invitation.

In March 2003, Jonsson was a contestant on the BBC's Comic Relief does Fame Academy.

In 2005, she appeared with four other celebrities on Channel 4's daytime show Come Dine With Me.

On 20 January 2007 she joined 10 other celebrities to take part in the ITV reality TV show Dancing On Ice, where she was partnered with Pavel Aubrecht. With previous skating experience in her native Sweden, Jonsson was expected to go far in the event but finished 9th after being beaten in the skate-off by Kay Burley during week 3.

On 20 March 2007 she appeared in the confessional TV show, Ulrika: Am I A Sex Addict?, broadcast on Channel 4. The show charted Jonsson's personal journey to uncover the truth about sex addiction. She has appeared on BBC1's Would I Lie To You? (2007).

In March 2009, she appeared in the new ITV series Piers Morgan's Life Stories, each episode included a celebrity figure and a one-to-one interview with Morgan about their lives.

In April 2009 it was confirmed that Jonsson would return to Shooting Stars as team captain for a full series airing that autumn.

She presented the new series of BingoLotto, on Virgin 1 every Sunday night at 7 pm which started on 13 September 2009.

Her debut novel, The Importance of Being Myrtle, which focuses on relationships was published by the Penguin Group on 1 September 2011.

Read more about this topic:  Ulrika Jonsson

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