Been doing a search on the www, and can't seem to find any up to date info as to what Jan Leeming is currently doing. Anyone have any ideas? Just curious, before someone starts slanging.
I still have a lovely letter from Jan (in reply to mine) following her horrendous attack at TV Centre in the 80's. For those who don't know, some men got in to the BBC (to rob the place?) and sprayed poor Jan in the eyes with ammonia.
Nasty b*stards.
I'm afraid I don't know what she is up to. I assumed she since retired.
Jan provided the glamour element on the Beeb newsdesk throughout the 1970s and 80s. A few off-peak shows were a breeding ground for her big break in the late 70s, fronting PEBBLE MILL AT ONE during the curious period when it was simply called PEBBLE MILL. But it was reading the news where she became most recognisable, and after some duty shifts, found her most regular gig was reading the news at the weekend and on bank holidays - always clad in a succession of enormous spangly frocks, which often managed to distract from the stories. During one bulletin in 1982, a BBC lightbulb (as Jan carefully denoted) exploded over her head and got her in out-take shows for years to come. A few years later, however, while walking through the NEWSROUND studio (God alone knows why), she chanced upon an intruder and had ammonia sprayed in her face. Interviewed a few days later, she expressed concern about what the country was coming to these days, and this editorialising meant that her days at the Beeb were numbered. She left in 1987, and since then has tended to fade from view - occasionally resurfacing in the tabloids after remarrying yet again, and also the odd bits of duty newsreading on THE BIG BREAKFAST (which she was rubbish at). Presumably her wardrobe allowance is too high.
Last time i saw Jan was on the Graham Norton show about five years ago on Channel 4.She was on with Jason Orange. Graham was a bit harsh with her he was realy cheeky about a book she had written and while he was blabbing on about a picture of her on the front of the book where she was wearing a striped dress he then went on to say that "stripes were not her friend" he also was rude about her failed relationships over the years and at one stage he was blabbing on and on and we got a quick shot of Jan looking at Jason Oranage and making a face she was not happy .