Thursday 23nd February : Issue 14 : EVERY THURSDAY : some pages updated daily

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Green Borders sent its reporter to interview Jacqui Joseph, TV presenter, producer and interior designer, and once even appearing in Eastenders. We met in a London coffee shop for a chat.

Jacqui says that she prefers being a presenter to a guest. In that way she gets to ask the questions and to be “nosy”, and asks the questions that we all want to know the answers to!

At the moment Jacqui is working with a TV channel called “Create and Craft” based in Peterborough which involves paper crafts and knitting and sewing and which she is presenting. With this she is able to combine all three parts of her job description and credentials, and she can relate more to the subject.

Jacqui does have some time, although not as much as she would like, to devote to community and charitable work. She used to work for the Community Channel, working with Jane Roche. She really loved it, doing one of their flagship series entitled “Action”. She also has been involved in the Nelson Mandela Foundation, doing the first concert in South Africa. The charity was to raise funds and awareness of HIV in Africa. It was called “46664” because this was Mandela’s prison number. Both international and domestic artists in Africa performed at the first concert in 2003 in Cape Town, which was carried out with the agreement of Nelson Mandela. In 2007 there was another concert in Johannesburg. She met with Nelson Mandela briefly, an awe inspiring and humbling experience. She feels that such leaders are lacking in the world today.

“Bloody difficult” was Jacqui’s reply to my question as to how she manages to juggle home and work life! Fortunately she has a very understanding and supportive husband. She manages to watch TV by way of relaxation, although she admits to finding it hard to wind down and relax.

Her biggest career achievement so far and the thing she has been most proud of has been working with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, something she feels very honoured to have been a part of twice. “The Room To Be You” - a 15 part series on Discovery Channel which she helped devise also is dear to her. This was aimed at women who were going through some trauma in their life.

Her current projects include the current launch of her home-wear range and getting the rights to nine of the artworks of Llewellyan Xavier OBE in order that they can be put on her home wear range I.e cushions and tea towels, ceramics etc.

Green and environmental issues are an aspect in connection with her production. For example, some items are made in Manchester obviating the need to fly them in from elsewhere . Her recycling shows aimed at making use of someone else’s junk and reusing it where possible. She loves to “upcycle” whereby something like a pair of curtains someone doesn’t want can be transformed into a pair of cushions!

We discussed about racism in football and Jacqui mentioned that she has been the subject of indirect racism. She says that breaking down barriers and doors is very hard in television. She was once told, “if you were blonde, you would be on that sofa, presenting that TV programme”. But Jacqui remains positive and refuses to let racism hold her back.

Asked if she has any advice for any budding TV producers, she suggests watching the programmes that you like, taking note of the credits (names of producers, the production company, and editors); doing your own research and making lists; emailing them; making a short and snappy show reel or film and putting it on You Tube. Good luck!

Her aims in 2012 are to make a success of Jacqui Joseph Designs. Her range includes hand made cushions, aprons, bags; home décor. She makes them all herself. They are all limited editions and exclusive. She does vintage fabrics, from all over the world. She sells in local shops and craft fairs. Her new range is called “The Artists Collection”, featuring Llewellyn Xavier, and she will start putting the artwork on cushions and bed linen.

With such a charismatic voice, it is no surprise that Jacqui has worked in radio, presenting “London Times” on LBC. She has also worked on BBC Radio London.

Jacqui says that hard work and persistence has got her where she is. Sometimes family commitments have meant that she has not been able to take up an offer of work, but at the end of the day family is more important to her.

She also acknowledges being a role model for young people, and hopes to inspire every body, of whatever colour, to achieve their aims and do what they want to do.

Green Borders online magazine thanks Jacqui for the coffee and the chat.

Find out more about Jacqui Joseph by visiting www.jacquijoseph.com