Student Kirstie picked for TV stardom
2:40am Saturday 17th May 2008
A Bradford College design student's career has taken off - after she was signed up to a lead role in one of TV's most popular makeover shows.
Thirty-year-old Kirstie Wright will feature throughout the next series of 60-Minute Makeover alongside presenter and former Hollyoaks star Terri Dwyer and Big Brother winner and handyman Craig Phillips.
The ITV show sees people liaise with a team of designers and DIY experts to surprise loved ones by transforming their homes.
Producers selected Miss Wright, who hopes to graduate this summer with a degree in art and design, after contacting the college as part of a national talent search.
After an initial meeting she was invited to work as a design assistant on two shows before TV executives recognised her talent and rapidly promoted her to oversee the development of a room on each programme.
She said: "One of my main jobs is to liaise with the designers and make sure that everything is done the way they want it. I have to use my creativity but the interior designers actually design the rooms.
"It's hard work but great fun. I have a really good relationship with everyone. You get to meet so many different people and the people who receive the makeovers very often would not get the chance to have their homes transformed without the show."
So far, she has travelled to Manchester, Liverpool and Wales to record footage and is set to travel to Scotland later in the year to film further episodes. Filming will continue up until October - before a new series hits the TV schedules in November.
However, despite her success, Miss Wright admits juggling TV appearances and college studies has not been easy. "It has been really, really hard. At the moment I am just finishing my degree and I also work four evenings a week at Grattan."
Six years ago Miss Wright worked in the packing department at Bradford-based Federal Mogul. However, she decided to return to full-time education and enrolled on a Bradford College Access course which allows mature students to qualify for degree-level study. She has not looked back since.
"I have come a long way," she adds. "It was certainly worth returning to college. Before I returned to college I would not have thought I would be doing this!"
TV chiefs have been so impressed by Miss Wright's skills and ideas that they offered her a full-time position on the show - an offer she has had to turn down as she is still studying. However, producers are prepared to be flexible and allow her to work on a per-episode basis while she finishes her college work.
Jill Good, Bradford College art and design tutor, said: "The BA Art and Design degree at Bradford College asks for self motivation, commitment and initiative from its students.
"Kirstie has shown that she has these qualities to a high level and while she works hard she also has a sense of fun that makes her popular with staff and students."
e-mail: dan.webber @telegraphandargus.co.uk