Make-up Artist
It was Sky News presenter Kay Burley who found the email and passed it on. ‘Dear Sky News,’ it read. ‘I just have to congratulate Sky News for the excellent, professional make-up done on all the Sky News and sports presenters. Sky’s make-up artist is brilliant, absolutely world-class … Who is the make-up artist? Is it a man or a woman? What’s their name? It makes Sky News more interesting to watch, so viewers like me stay tuned to Sky News over other news programmes.’
Fellow newscaster Natasha Kaplinsky rang the emailer to set the record straight: Sky’s make-up department does not consist of one individual who’s a whizz with the blusher, but a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week department of 16 make-up artists and numerous freelancers.
At the centre of Sky
Make-up can be found down the corridor from Sky News. The make-up room has five mirrors, all framed by the light bulbs. It’s well lit and abuzz with chat and the sound of hairdryers. Presenters and guests have their make-up and hair done here. They also get the chance for a chat and a cup of tea before going on air – to warm up or, perhaps, calm down.
‘Some people say this is the centre of Sky,’ says Jane Fox, who’s sitting with fellow head of make-up Mary Willis in their office across the hall. ‘I’ve also heard from guests that this is the best part of coming into Sky. We’re all such a friendly, chatty bunch and we’re all so different.’
Both Mary and Jane have been at Sky for around 12 years (Jane worked for 5 years as a freelancer) and Mary thinks the email is the first letter Sky’s make-up department has ever had.
A must for TV
Jane says make-up is a must for TV. ‘It gives a uniform look to the face, so there are no shadows, and it stops shine. You can always tell when someone on TV hasn't got make-up on. They just don't look finished.'
Occasionally, people don't want to wear it. They usually come round, says Mary. The joke we always hear is, "Have you got the Polyfilla out for me?" There is a definite look for the faces of Sky, but it must suit the individual and what they're wearing. Mary points out, ‘One person might be able to take strong make-up, but put that same make-up on a dull little sparrow and they could look ridiculous'. Sky Sports and RI:SE have a more glamorous look than, say, Sky News, but the pair insist make-up is never over the top or too trendy.
Non-stop op
Make-up artists work a roster of 2 days on, 2 days off, then 3 days on and 3 days off. Shifts are 12 hours long and the pace is relentless. Three people work in the morning, starting at 4.30am to get the Sky News Sunrise presenters ready. Next, it’s the turn of those presenting weather and sport to sit in front of the brightly-lit mirrors. ‘Hot on the heels of that comes Sky Sports News,’ says Mary. ‘Occasionally there’s an extra sports programme to do,’ adds Jane. After that it’s a matter of ‘checks on the hour’ (touch-ups for presenters and powder for guests) before going through the whole cycle again for a new wave of presenters at 10am, 1pm and so on.
Senior make-up artists Fiona Taylor and Judi Dalton work on RI:SE. According to they do the presenters’ make-up when they can. ‘We usually make them up while they’re eating their toast and getting the latest news.’ Presenters are in Make-up for 35 minutes. ‘To get it right within that time you have to know what you are doing.’ But, Mary confides, ‘It has been known, when a presenter is occasionally late, to be done in five minutes. One person does the hair, the other the make-up.’
So what other secrets will they share? TV presenters are such a cool, calm and collected lot on air, but surely someone’s forgotten their trousers and had to wear shorts behind the newsdesk? Mary has a couple of stories, though she’s not naming names. ‘We hear all and say nothing,’ she teases.
Jane says their role often involves being a confidante, and it’s important that they never reveal anything. ‘Before doing make-up here, I worked in films, and I could write a book. But I would never write about this work because it’s important people feel they can trust us.’