Born in Stockport in 1968, Yvette Fielding is a TV presenter and actor. Her career began on children’s comedy drama Seaview, before she was headhunted for Blue Peter, becoming the show’s youngest ever presenter at 18. With husband Karl Beattie, she founded Antix Productions, and created Most Haunted, a paranormal investigations show sold to more than 90 territories globally.
An author of YA books and novels, her memoir, Scream Queen , is out now. This was taken by the wardrobe lady on Seaview. My character, Sandy Shelton, was involved in a demonstration to save the seals on Blackpool beach, which explains the badges and sash.
It was a very sunny day and I was having a little breather, looking at the donkeys in the distance. I would have been 13 at the time. With a perm.
My younger self was outrageous and fun. I loved dancing. Madonna was my everything.
I used to practise Lucky Star in my bedroom with a hairbrush. Back then, I actually thought: “After Seaview, I’m going to be a pop singer.” I was confident, but deep inside I was a bit shy and always wanting to please people.
This was especially prominent at work. I would make myself incredibly nervous, because I wanted to get the approval of Seaview director Marilyn Fox so badly. Even if she said, “That was really good!” I wouldn’t believe it was good enough.
While I never became Madonna, I did join a band called Idle Hands. I was the lead singer and the only girl; the rest of the group were strongly influenced.
