Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
I want Songs of Praise to be cool
KATIE Piper is on a mission in her new role – to make BBC One’s Songs of Praise cool.
The popular star hopes her army of Instagram followers will follow her fortunes as a presenter on the world’s longestrunning religious TV programme. That could mean a whole new – and younger – audience for the revered Sunday show.
Katie, 36, today tells how faith helped her deal with the nightmare ac acid attack that changed her life 12 years ago.
And she says sa of her TV slot: “Without sou sounding too clichéd, I do f feel it’s God’s plan and that’s so something I’ve always believ believed in.
“It’s always nice when you get to do a job jo that you’re not just seeing it as a job, you’re passionate ab about it.
“Songs of P Praise has always been an instit institution. I will bring people that follow me on Instagram, people that th might already have a faith or be interested in in it that might not hav have actually tuned in.
“I would do Songs of Praise f for free because it’s something
I care about. I am not out there to change every follower I have into a Christian but I’d like to share the positive impact it’s had on my life and make it cool. There’s nothing uncool about having faith, it’s nothing embarrassing. I am not embarrassed.”
Katie had her life turned upside down when an ex hired a thug to douse her in acid. She says it was as she stirred from a coma that a voice in her head told her not to give up. And her trauma – including 300 operations – no longer dominates her thoughts.
Katie, who lives in London with husband Richard Sutton and their two daughters, adds: “That was so long ago, 12 years ago – I am a mum of two kids now. It’s very much not in my thoughts on a daily basis.”
She has sold the rights of her book to be made into a film and would love Reese Witherspoon to play her in a biopic.
Katie also revealed a dream interviewee for her podcast Extraordinary People, adding with a chuckle: “The Pope on Zoom! Never say never.”
Songs of Praise, BBC1, 1.15pm today.
I would like to share the positive impact faith has had on my life... KATIE PIPER ON HER NEW ROLE AS TV PRESENTER