Penelope Claire Lancaster, Lady Stewart (born 15 March 1971) is an English model and television personality. She is married to rock singer Rod Stewart. In 2014, she joined the ITV lunchtime show Loose Women. She appeared as a panellist from 2014-2019 returned in 2021 and returned permanently from 2024 onwards.
Penny Lancaster | |
|---|---|
 Lancaster in 2008 | |
| Born | Penelope Claire Lancaster 15 March 1971[citation needed] |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Modelling information | |
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] |
| Hair colour | Blonde |
| Police career | |
| Branch | Special Constabulary |
| Service years | City of London Police, 2020–present |
| Rank | Special Constable |
Early life
editLancaster was born in Chelmsford, Essex, England, on 15 March 1971, to Graham and Sally and has a brother named Oliver.[2][3] At the age of six, Lancaster took up dance, including tap, ballet and modern. At 16, she gave up because of her height and decided that aerobics would better suit her frame, and six years later she became a certified fitness trainer. It was during this time that she was spotted by a model scout, who suggested she should consider a career in modelling. Lancaster suffers from a chronic sweat problem called hyperhidrosis.[4]
Career
editEarly career
editThroughout the 1990s, Lancaster was in a long-term relationship with city trader Mickey Sloan. They lived in Bermuda from 1996 to 1998 but separated in 1999.
Around this time, Lancaster decided to learn about the other side of modelling and began taking photography classes.[2]
Ultimo
editIn 2002, Lancaster signed up to be the face of designer lingerie brand Ultimo for £200,000. Although she was a success at promoting the brand—raising its profile, especially in the United Kingdom—two years later, Lancaster's contract was not renewed.[5][6] She was replaced in the role by Rod Stewart's ex-wife Rachel Hunter. The decision, dubbed Bra Wars by the British press, was seen as a publicity stunt,[7] which infuriated Stewart, who described Ultimo's founder Michelle Mone as "manipulative".[8] However, two of Stewart's daughters—Kimberly and Ruby—have since modelled for Ultimo.
Strictly Come Dancing
editLancaster was one of fourteen celebrities taking part in the fifth series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2007. In week 4, she was revealed as one of the bottom two participants. She and her dancing partner, (Ian Waite), were in the week six dance-off with Matt Di Angelo and were voted off.
Performances
| Week # | Dance | Judges' score | Result | |||
| Horwood | Phillips | Goodman | Tonioli | |||
| 1 | Swing | Group Performance - Not Judged | ||||
| 2 | Quickstep | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | Safe |
| 3 | Jive | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | Safe |
| 4 | Samba | 8 | 7 | 9 | 8 | Bottom Two |
| 5 | Foxtrot | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | Safe |
| 6 | Salsa | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | Eliminated |
Loose Women
editOn 15 September 2014, Lancaster was billed as an occasional panellist on the lunchtime TV chat show Loose Women. She made four subsequent appearances during her first series. Through series 20 and 21 Lancaster started appearing on the show more regularly, usually twice per month. However, from series 22, Lancaster returned to appearing much more infrequently, making a total of six appearances. This was followed by a further ten appearances in series 23 and four in series 24. In series 25, she appeared more frequently and was a regular panellist. In the current series, she has not yet appeared as a panellist but has appeared as a guest. [9] She has not officially left the show.
Other television work
editIn January 2018, Lancaster participated in And They're Off! in aid of Sport Relief.
In January 2019, she appeared in an episode of Celebrity Catchphrase. In February 2019, she appeared in Famous and Fighting Crime alongside fellow celebrities Jamie Laing, Katie Piper, Sandi Bogle and Marcus Brigstocke on Channel 4.
In 2021, Lancaster was a competitor on BBC's Celebrity MasterChef.[10] She made it as far as her quarter final, losing out to Melanie Sykes and Megan McKenna.[11]
In June 2024 she appeared on Michael Mcintyre's The Wheel
Police work
editIn 2020, after appearing on Channel 4's Famous and Fighting Crime, Lancaster joined the City of London Police as a volunteer special constable.[12] In April 2021, she completed her training to become a special police constable and is now fully qualified.[13] She was on policing duties during the Queen’s funeral and the coronation of King Charles III.[14][15]
Personal life
editIn 1999, Lancaster met singer Rod Stewart when he agreed to let her take photos of him on tour.[16] A romance soon developed and they began a seven-year courtship. Lancaster gave birth to their first child in 27 November 2005.[17] Lancaster and Stewart married on 16 June 2007 at La Cervara near Portofino, Italy.[18] On 17 February, 2011, it was announced that Lancaster had given birth to their second child (Stewart's eighth).[19]
Lancaster is an ambassador for Penny for London, a charity helping young people escape poverty, supported by Northern & Shell, the former parent company of the Daily Express, Goldman Sachs, Barclaycard and VISA.[20] She is also a vice-president of the Royal National Institute of Blind People.[21] She is also Patron of the UK Care Of Police Survivors charity.
At the age of 46, Lancaster was diagnosed with dyslexia.[22]
References
edit- ^ "Eight ways short people disguise their height". BBC News Online. 8 September 2009.
- ^ a b "'Penny Lancaster'". AskMen.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007.
- ^ "Penny Lancaster parents: Graham Lancaster, Sally Lancaster". 3 December 2022. Retrieved 29 February 2024.
- ^ "Penny Lancaster admits SWEATING excessively due to secret battle with Hyperhidrosis". 22 February 2017.
- ^ "'Storm in a D-cup'". Scotsman.com. 18 January 2004. Retrieved 18 January 2004.
- ^ "Rod's Missing Bhoys for Me; The face and body of Ultimo, Penny Lancaster, reveals how her rocker lover will be watching her instead of his beloved Celtic this weekend". Daily Record. The Free Library. 28 August 2003. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ Simpson, Richard; Baracaia, Alexa (18 May 2004). "Penny's £1m revenge". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "Rod's revenge; Star Slams Bra Queen". Sunday Mail. The Free Library. 28 March 2004. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
- ^ "Penny Lancaster opens up about frightening condition in heartfelt interview".
- ^ "Celebrity MasterChef 2021 line-up: Meet the 20 contestants confirmed for series 16". Radio Times. Retrieved 13 August 2021.
- ^ "Celebrity MasterChef - Series 16: Episode 6".
- ^ Young, Sarah (5 June 2020). "Penny Lancaster becomes London police officer". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
- ^ McLoughlin, Lisa (27 October 2022). "Rod Stewart's wife Penny Lancaster proudly poses at her passing out parade with City of London Police". Evening Standard. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Frodsham, Isobel (19 September 2022). "Penny Lancaster: It is the biggest honour to serve at the Queen's funeral". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ Macdonald, Siobhan (12 May 2023). "Rod Stewart's wife Penny Lancaster honoured to work King Charles' Coronation". Daily Record. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "'Rod's girl Penny all set for 'perfect' wedding'". Hello!. 6 June 2007. Retrieved 6 June 2007.
- ^ "'Rod Stewart's Fiancée Gives Birth'". People. 28 November 2005. Retrieved 28 November 2005.
- ^ "'Rod Stewart Marries Penny Lancaster in Italy'". People. 17 June 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
- ^ "Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster celebrate birth of boy". BBC News. 17 February 2011.
- ^ John Reynolds. "Penny Lancaster backs charity to help young people in poverty". Daily Express.
- ^ Emily McCormick. "Me and my glasses: Photographer Penny Lancaster speaks about her vision and why she is supporting the State of the Nation Report: Eye health 2016". Optometry Today. Archived from the original on 9 November 2016.
- ^ Gemma Strong (22 January 2018). "Penny Lancaster diagnosed with learning difficulty". Hello!.