Tricia Penrose

Singing Profile

Although primarily focused on her acting career, Penrose has also had an interest in the music industry, releasing two singles – "Where Did Our Love Go?" (1996, UK No. 71) and "Don't Wanna Be Alone" (2000, UK No. 44). In 2002, she reached the final of A Song for Europe (the competition to select the UK's Eurovision Song Contest entry) but did not win. In 2004, however, she won a Christmas edition of the ITV show Stars in Their Eyes, performing as Brenda Lee and singing "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree". She has also sung a number of times on Heartbeat. In 2006 she signed a contract with the show, said to be worth £100,000. The final series of Heartbeat aired in 2009–10. In 2001, Penrose appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank.

Acting Roles

Penrose first TV role was as WPC Emma Reid in Brookside.

In 1987, Penrose appeared in the ‘A Ride on the Wild Side’ episode of Boon as Lindy Yates (1 episode, 1987), before a cast role in 1988’s “Vroom.” Penrose appeared in a 1990 episode of "Medics" as the character Jean and in the same year had a part in “Dancin' Thru the Dark”

Penrose appeared in Emmerdale Farm (now “Emmerdale”) in 1991 as Louise and then in 2 episodes of Coronation Street in 1991/92.

Penrose appearance as Carol the Barmaid in 1993’s “Terraces” was followed by her longest running role as Gina Ward in Heartbeat where she appeared in over 300 episodes between 1993 and the series and the final episode in 2010.

Penrose also appeared (as Gina Ward) in 2 episodes of the “Heartbeat” spin-off The Royal in 2003.

In 2011 Penrose appeared as Hayley Gosling in the critically acclaimed British legal drama, Justice.

Celebrity Appearances

In 2007, Penrose came second in the third series of Comic Relief Does Fame Academy on BBC1, beaten by Tara Palmer-Tomkinson. In 2008 she released an aerobics DVD. In July 2010, she was a contestant on the BBC programme Celebrity MasterChef, but she was eliminated at the first hurdle after serving up uncooked liver.

Penrose appeared in the ITV programme Sing If You Can in May 2011 in order to help raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust charity.

In January 2013, she appeared as a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother 11. As part of Big Brother's task, she was initially chosen to enter the main luxury house instead of the basement. Penrose was evicted in a semi-final double eviction, alongside Frankie Dettori on Day 21.

In September 2014 she appeared on ITV programme Who's Doing the Dishes?, preparing a prawn cocktail starter, roast beef dinner and berry meringue, even with the Heartbeat clues the guests didn't guess their celebrity chef.

In 2015 she appeared in Big Star's Little Star with her son Freddy.

Roy Castle Ambassador

Penrose mother, Sue, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2010 and through her treatment Penrose became involved with Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation quickly becoming an Ambassador and raising funds for the charity, including recording "You Had A Dream In Your Heart" [1] written by Professor Ray Donnelly (who founded the organisation) to mark the organisation’s 25th anniversary in 2015

Business Interests

Penrose is a Director of "Simply Luxury Travel" [2], which specialises in luxury holidays, and also "Adlington Memorial Park" [3] which is England’s largest private natural burial ground in Adlington, Cheshire, (in the grounds of the historic Adlington Hall estate)

Personal

Penrose is married to TV presenter Mark Simpkin, with two sons, Jake (born 2003), and Freddy Jay (born 2008). She has an older brother called Paul.