HAVING spent the best part of the last 30 years as a TV presenter, Wendy Turner-Webster is no stranger to posing for pictures, but being asked to take part in her first topless photoshoot was something of a first.
However, stripping off for BUSTOUT 100, a special photographic tribute to breast cancer awareness featuring the striking images of 100 bare chests, was important enough to persuade her to strip off.
"I've never been asked to do anything like this before, but I thought if other people have been brave and got their breasts out, then so will I," she says.
"When I was younger, I did a lot of theatre and panto. You get used to sharing a dressing room with someone and stripping off in the wings. It didn't faze me then and it doesn't faze me now."
The resulting image is currently on display in a London art gallery. While the pictures are anonymous and don't show any faces, they do give people's age and occupation.
"So, mine says: 'TV presenter, 57', which narrows it down!" she laughs.
Yet behind the laughter there is a serious side to Wendy's decision to take part. She is doing it in memory of her best friend Shirley Galligan, who died two years ago, aged 55, four years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
"It was such a major thing in my life that I wanted to show my support. Breast cancer stole my best friend and not a day goes by that I don't think of her," she says.
Wendy and Shirley met 30 years ago. Wendy, who appeared on TV in the 90s presenting Absolutely Animals and Pet Rescue, is a passionate campaigner for animal rights and Shirley worked for the Born Free Foundation.
"We met on a train and clicked straight away and became the best of friends," Wendy recalls.
"We were always meeting up and going a bit wild, as neither of us had any responsibilities. So, wed go shopping, go to parties and drink cocktails and we once even went off to Paris on a whim.
"We shared a passion for animals, but we had the same sense of humour and would laugh until our bodies ached."
When Wendy married actor Gary Webster, Shirley was a bridesmaid and when the couple had sons Jack, 25 and Freddie, 22, Shirley was their godmother.
But six years ago, Shirley found a lump in her breast....
However, stripping off for BUSTOUT 100, a special photographic tribute to breast cancer awareness featuring the striking images of 100 bare chests, was important enough to persuade her to strip off.
"I've never been asked to do anything like this before, but I thought if other people have been brave and got their breasts out, then so will I," she says.
"When I was younger, I did a lot of theatre and panto. You get used to sharing a dressing room with someone and stripping off in the wings. It didn't faze me then and it doesn't faze me now."
The resulting image is currently on display in a London art gallery. While the pictures are anonymous and don't show any faces, they do give people's age and occupation.
"So, mine says: 'TV presenter, 57', which narrows it down!" she laughs.
Yet behind the laughter there is a serious side to Wendy's decision to take part. She is doing it in memory of her best friend Shirley Galligan, who died two years ago, aged 55, four years after being diagnosed with breast cancer.
"It was such a major thing in my life that I wanted to show my support. Breast cancer stole my best friend and not a day goes by that I don't think of her," she says.
Wendy and Shirley met 30 years ago. Wendy, who appeared on TV in the 90s presenting Absolutely Animals and Pet Rescue, is a passionate campaigner for animal rights and Shirley worked for the Born Free Foundation.
"We met on a train and clicked straight away and became the best of friends," Wendy recalls.
"We were always meeting up and going a bit wild, as neither of us had any responsibilities. So, wed go shopping, go to parties and drink cocktails and we once even went off to Paris on a whim.
"We shared a passion for animals, but we had the same sense of humour and would laugh until our bodies ached."
When Wendy married actor Gary Webster, Shirley was a bridesmaid and when the couple had sons Jack, 25 and Freddie, 22, Shirley was their godmother.
But six years ago, Shirley found a lump in her breast....
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Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 27, 2025