Born:
January 09, 1972
in
Reading
Best Known For:
Presenting property programmes.
Early-life:
Sarah Lucinda Beeny was born on January 9, 1972, and grew up on a farm on the Hampshire/Berkshire border. Her mother died after a battle with breast cancer when she was 10, but she remains very close to her architect father, whom she credits with sparking her interest in DIY, and her stepmother. After leaving school at 16, she dabbled with the idea of becoming an actress, then went travelling and worked at a variety of jobs. When she was 24, together with her future husband Graham Swift and older brother Diccon, she set up a property development company.
Career:
Beeny was recommended for the job of Property Ladder presenter by a friend of a friend she met at a hen party. The first series aired in 2001, and her down-to-earth advice helped many would-be developers. She's also presented Streets Ahead, Shedfest, From House to Home, Britain's Best Homes, One Year To Pay Off Your Mortgage, Help! My House is Falling Down and Double Your House for Half the Money. Away from TV, Beeny continues to work for her property company, has written a handful of successful books, set up internet dating site mysinglefriend.com, runs the web-based estate agency Tepilo and renovated Grade II listed historic house Rise Hall in the East Riding of Yorkshire; its development was charted in Beeny's Restoration Nightmare.
Quote:
On her sex symbol status: 'Men are attracted to me because I'm bossy and opinionated. They'd be disappointed if they met me though.'
Trivia:
Beeny divides her time between homes in London and Yorkshire.