Introduction
Donna Air (born 2 August 1979) is an English media personality.
Early life, education and career
Air was born in Wallsend, Newcastle upon Tyne. Following St Oswald's Catholic Primary School in Gosforth, she attended Sacred Heart Convent School on Fenham Hall Drive, in Newcastle upon Tyne. Air then graduated from Gosforth Academy, also in Newcastle upon Tyne, where, as a former pupil, she attended the drama school at First Act Theatre. Her fellow students at First Act included Jill Halfpenny and Anthony McPartlin.
Donna started her career age 10 on the CBBC series Byker Grove. She then became part of pop duo Crush touring the United States, Japan and South East Asia, returned to the United Kingdom after signing to MTV UK hosting daily live show – MTV Select, and later became a presenter of several shows, including, The Big Breakfast for Channel 4, TFI Friday with Huey Morgan (from Fun Lovin' Criminals), Popstars: The Rivals Extra for ITV (the show that created Girls Aloud), to name a few. She has also appeared in many television dramas, most recently Hollyoaks and Hotel Babylon, BBC TV comedy Operation Good Guys, Catherine Cookson's six-parter A Dinner of Herbs, and Lynda La Plante's Supply and Demand. Air appeared in the films Still Crazy (1998), The Mummy Returns, and Bad Day amongst others.
Air presented on Five's early evening, magazine programme Live from Studio Five, alongside regular presenter of the programme, Kate Walsh.
Donna has worked with the Soil Association, promoting organic milk, launching the Nursery Food report at Downing Street, and edited the Grown in Britain cookbook.
In January 2013, Air came fourth in the ITV programme, Splash! She replaced Jennifer Metcalfe at short notice.
Personal life
Air was in a long term relationship with Damian Aspinall, who is the step-grandson of Sir George Osborne. Damian's father John Aspinall was the owner of Aspers, an entertainment company. Aspinall and Air's daughter, Freya Air Aspinall, was born in Westminster, London in September 2003. Air and Aspinall are no longer a couple. Prior to their breakup the couple announced their intention to place their baby daughter in the care of a gorilla in a ritual Aspinall's older children had already taken part in.
Since February 2013, Air has been in a relationship with James Middleton, brother of the Duchess of Cambridge.
Air supports the Macmillan Cancer Support, Race for Life, Sport Relief and Jeans for Genes charities.
In March 2012, Air was acquitted of a charge of obtaining a parking permit by false representation; the case was heard at Isleworth Crown Court.