TENNENTS ‘LAGER LOVELY’ TOOK UP JOB TO PLEASE HER DAD

Businesswoman and former model Fiona Best takes time out to catch up with Cathy MacDonald, providing a rare glimpse behind the scenes of the fashion world in Scotland whilst revealing that her most famous job as a Tennents ‘lager lovely’ only occurred in an attempt to please her dad!

In the latest programme of the Cuide ri Cathy on BBC ALBA, Cathy MacDonald spends time with Fiona Best as she works on her latest catwalk show as well as taking the chance to hit the shops with Fiona and her two daughters.

Fiona’s career started as a successful model, landing a string of high-profile glamour roles before going onto launch several successful businesses, including her current fashion show event management company.

Despite touring the world as a model and working in the fashion capitals of the globe, it was her role from 1980 to 1984 as a Tennents ‘lager lovely’ that has been her most famous. Fiona enjoyed the role, touring the country and meeting a host of celebrities, but admits that the job came about in unusual circumstance.

Fiona says: “My father and grandfather were in the licensing trade and I remember thinking that I’d really like to get that job to please my Dad. I heard about the audition and I remember going home that day - we had a small bar in the house and for the first time, I really looked at that can and thought, I’d quite like to do that for Dad!”

Cathy spends the rest of the day watching Fiona prepare for her next wedding show to be held at the SECC before accompanying Fiona and her two daughters on a trip to try on a snazzy collection of hats at Silverburn shopping centre. Despite being a top model in her heyday, Fiona admits she now relies on her kids advice regarding fashion. She says: ““I was getting ready to go to an event the other week and I asked the kids how I looked. My youngest daughter said you look good but what’s going on with the shoes. Change the shoes!”

Fiona and Cathy’s time together ends a few days later as the presenter gets to go behind the scenes at The Scottish Wedding Show to see Fiona hard at work. Cathy spends time backstage, seeing drama of the catwalk show, where 20 models get in and out of wedding outfits every few minutes. The show ends on a high note despite a few dramas along the way – most notably a model having to be cut out of a wedding dress after the zip bursts!

CUIDE RI CATHY will be broadcast on BBC ALBA on Monday 9 November at 22.00 and is available on Sky channel 168, Freesat channel 110 and live on BBC iplayer.