Not how I would choose to open a column personally, but how the late, great Daily Mirror Columnist, Sue Carroll, chose to open her debut column for the tabloid paper back in 1998.
Born and raised in Gosforth, Carroll found a passion for journalism and joined the weekly teenage girls magazine Jackie, where she assisted on the problem page and became fashion and beauty editor before the age of 20.
She then moved to London, to work as Features Editor for Woman Magazine. Before writing for both the News of the World and The Sun, where she was known for her brash yet warm ability to get some of the biggest UK A-Listers to spill all (something only a Geordie Lass could do let’s be honest.)
However, it was in 1998 when she joined the Daily Mirror, where her Journalism (and Telly) career were cemented. It was this role that turned Carroll into a house hold name, appearing on numerous magazine shows and becoming a regular face on day time telly.
Appearing often on This Morning, GMTV, The Sharon Osbourne Show, The Wright Stuff and The Alan Titchmarsh Show, Sue Carroll became a queen of day time TV and a well-established rent-a-gob. People loved her straight to the point attitude, Banterish ways and natural on-screen warmth.
Carroll never forgot her roots. She never travelled on public transport, drank champagne by the bucket load and smoked cocktail cigarettes like they grew on trees and yet she was the voice of the people, for the people.
Sue Carroll is one of my journalistic inspirations and I’m gutted to say many people of my generation aren’t aware of who she is.
‘Warm, Witty and Straight to the point’ is what the Daily Mirror promised and that’s what she delivered in print and on screen. She would stand her ground and fight for the underdog and that is why this article is being written. Sue Carroll is one of my journalistic inspirations and I’m gutted to say many people of my generation aren’t aware of who she is, when they really should as she paved the way for so many marginalised voices in the media.
Carroll, sadly lost her battle to Pancreatic Cancer, aged just 58 in 2011. A journalistic talent and force for change in the Media that must be remembered for what she brought to TV Journalism with her Witt and daring nature.
