Philippa Forrester was one of the most recognisable faces on children’s TV in the ’90s, fronting shows such as Tomorrow’s World and Robot Wars
Philippa Forrester was a familiar face on British TV in the ’90s. But now she’s swapped the studio lights for sustainability activism.
The 56-year-old was known for her roles on children’s BBC shows like Tomorrow’s World, Barking Mad, and The Heaven and Earth Show. But it was her stint as a pit reporter on Robot Wars that truly won over viewers.
From series one to three, and again in series five and six, Philippa offered behind-the-scenes insights into the mechanical chaos, interviewed competitors, and showcased the engineering marvels of the battling robots. After the show moved to Channel 5, she stepped down from her presenting role.
In 2004, she tied the knot with wildlife cameraman and producer Charlie Hamilton James. Together, they founded Halcyon Media, a production company specialising in wildlife documentaries, including Halcyon River Diaries which aired on BBC One in May 2010.
The couple had three children and relocated to Wyoming in the USA to support Charlie’s work with National Geographic. What was initially intended as a temporary move turned into a six-year stay, during which former UK TV star Philippa embraced life in the American wilderness.
In 2016 the family faced a difficult time, when their eldest son Fred was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour. Sharing her harrowing ordeal with The Telegraph, Philippa said: “His whole body went rigid. His eyes went into the back of his head, he was groaning, he smashed his head against the wall.
“I tried to hold him but I just couldn’t, so my husband ran to get help. We were rushed to an emergency room.”
Thankfully, after undergoing surgery and regular monitoring, Fred recovered. However, in late 2020, Philippa and James’ marriage broke down, leading her to return to the UK with her three boys.
Philippa has spoken about the tough journey of rebooting her career alongside juggling the demands of raising three kids on her own. In 2024, her efforts culminated in the release of her book Wild Woman: Empowering Stories from Women Who Work in Nature, which intertwines conservation tales with her own experiences and celebrates women working for environmental causes.
Additionally, she presents the podcast ‘Conscious’, which showcases individuals committed to making substantial environmental impacts. “I wanted to make this podcast so that we could, in the face of a tidal wave of environmental bad news, chat to the unsung heroes, normal, everyday people with one thing in common – making change happen and inspiring us in the process”, she writes on the podcast’s description page.
Furthermore, in partnership with Crowdfunder UK, she launched Podcast on Purpose, which unpacks successful crowdfunding projects and the positive changes they’ve brought about. Committed to her cause, she regularly updates her followers with posts about electric cars, sustainable living, and personal reflections across her online platforms, where she receives an outpouring of support.
Fans are quick to show their admiration, with comments under a recent Instagram post reading: “A fabulous lady, who is doing great things”. Another follower expressed their nostalgia, posting: “Loved you on Robot Wars!”.
