Nicki Chapman is an accomplished TV presenter and radio host with an impressive showbiz catalogue, that’s earned her a place as a household name across the UK.
The 57-year-old is best known for fronting BBC shows such as Escape To The Country and Wanted Down Under Revisited, as well as her stint as a judge on Pop Idol and Popstars in the early noughties.
However, her life away from the cameras has been turbulent at times, as she suffered from a ‘golf ball-sized’ life-threatening brain tumour in 2019, which she has since thankfully recovered from.
The presenter resides in her spacious Victorian home in West London with her husband Shacky, record company executive and band manager Dave ‘Shack’ Shackleton – she describes the glorious home as her ‘oasis’.
Here, MailOnline delves into everything you need to know about the TV presenter’s glittering career and glamorous life off-screen, ahead of her covering the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this month.
Nicki Chapman is an accomplished TV presenter and radio host with an impressive showbiz catalogue, that’s earned her a place as a household name across the UK (Pictured in 2023)
What is Nicki Chapman’s career history?
Nicki Chapman began her showbusiness career as a Promotions Assistant at MCA Records, aged just 20 years old.
She quickly progressed and three years later she moved to RCA Records as Head of TV Promotions, where she formed a long-time association with Simon Cowell.
From the mid-nineties to the end of 2000, she was a joint partner in the Brilliant! PR Company, which represented a host of stars including Take That, The Spice Girls, and David Bowie.
During this time, Nicki was approached by ITV with the opportunity to appear on a brand new show called Popstars.
She rose to fame as a judge on the show, as the reality music competition series was a huge success, with winning group Hear’say going on to sell over a million copies of their first single.
Nicki went on to become a household name after becoming a judge on Pop Idol during the noughties, alongside Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, and Dr Fox.
She currently hosts Wanted Down Under Revisited and the nation’s favourite Escape To The Country, plus its spin-off, I Escape To The Country for BBC One.
Nicki went on to become a household name after becoming a judge on Pop Idol during the noughties, alongside Simon Cowell, Pete Waterman, and Dr Fox (pictured at the BRIT Awards 2024)
She currently hosts Wanted Down Under Revisited and the nation’s favourite Escape To The Country, plus its spin-off, I Escape To The Country (pictured above) for BBC One
Since then, the star has presented numerous factual, entertainment and travel programmes and has been a mainstay of the BBC presenting team at The RHS Chelsea Flower Show since 2006.
Nicki is also well-versed in the world of radio, and is a regular presenter for Radio 2, often sitting in for Vanessa Feltz on Early Breakfast and Zoe Ball on the Breakfast show.
When was Nicki Chapman diagnosed with a brain tumour and when did she get the all-clear?
Nicki’s life turned upside down when she was diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumour – which had grown to the size of a small golf ball – in 2019.
Discussing her first signs of the brain tumour on This Morning back in 2019, Nicki explained to Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield: ‘I had a knee op at the beginning of the year and I was off.
‘I was trying to read an email and I couldn’t see it. I put it down to my age and went on holiday.’
‘I came back and did a photoshoot and couldn’t see, I did a voice-over and I couldn’t speak, nothing would come out. It lasted about 5 to 10 minutes.’
Concerned that something was wrong, Nicki explained that she told her husband Dave Shackleton that she couldn’t see and thought she had a stroke.
Immediately they went to Charing Cross Hospital, where she underwent a few scans and was faced with the news.
Nicki’s life turned upside down when she was diagnosed with a non-malignant brain tumour – which had grown to the size of a small golf ball – in 2019
Nicki discussed her first signs of the brain tumour on This Morning back in 2019
Nicki was warned that the life-saving surgery she needed posed the risk of permanent loss of speech, sight or movement.
Thankfully, the ‘golf ball sized’ tumour was successfully removed a fortnight later, but a tiny sliver was too tricky to excise, leaving the star worried that although she was then in good health the tumour, which she named Bert, may return.
However, to her shock, Nicki later revealed that her brain tumour had mysteriously gone – and said she broke down on receiving the news while filming in a field full of pigs.
In March 2022, she announced that the growth had surprisingly vanished just over four months prior.
Recalling the moment on the White Wine Question Time podcast, she said: ‘The amazing consultant rang me and said ‘the tumour, Nicki, has gone. For the moment it’s disappeared’.
‘I was sobbing. And he was like “Nicki, Nicki”. I’m like “No, no, no”. I said “do we know why?” He said “no, these things happen”.’
Explaining why part of the tumour had to remain as a dark cloud hanging over her, she said: ‘They had to leave a slither of him in because of where it was. It was too dangerous to take out for whatever reason.
‘At the moment it’s gone. There’s no trace – just the scar tissue – and so the NHS will keep monitoring me and I will happily to every appointment that they ask me to go to. But yeah, life-changing absolutely.’
Nicki still does an array of BBC presenting and radio work, while living in her gorgeous west London home with her husband
Although she largely tends to keep her marriage out of the limelight, she occasionally shares a snap of her loved-up with husband Dave Shackleton
The couple met while both working at RCA Records and have been married since 1999, marking their anniversary each year with an Instagram snap
What is Nicki Chapman doing now?
Nicki still does an array of BBC presenting and radio work, while living in her gorgeous west London home with her husband.
Although she largely tends to keep her marriage out of the limelight, she occasionally shares a snap of her loved-up with her music mogul partner Dave Shackleton.
The couple met while both working at RCA Records and have been married since 1999, marking their anniversary each year with an Instagram snap.
Their extravagent Chiswick abode featured in House Beautiful Magazine last year, where she revealed that her home and garden have become her ‘sanctuary’.
Boasting a beautiful refurbished back garden, stunning skylights, outdoor sofas Wi-Fi outside, and even a ‘panic room,’ Nicki describes their dwelling as her ‘oasis’.
She said: ‘This small but beautiful garden has helped keep me happy over the past 13 years, more than ever in 2020.
‘My proudest moment was when we were able to film in it for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. I gave myself a gold medal. It’s my escape, my sanctuary, my special place.’
It comes as Nicki is set to cover the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for 2024, which is open from May 21- 25.
In an Instagram post on Tuesday, she penned: ‘It’s finally here! The RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2024.
It comes as Nicki is set to cover the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for 2024, which is open from May 21-25
‘The most magical week of the year with coverage starting on Sunday. I call this the jewel in my presenting crown. Such a treat to share the gorgeousness of Chelsea with you throughout the week.
‘Angellica and I will be with you every afternoon on BBC One, plus more exclusive coverage of the greatest horticultural show on earth from @themontydon, @joe_swifty, @sophieraworth plus the rest of the brilliant team.
‘Just a flavour of the show over the last few years to get us in the mood … Just what we need at the moment.
‘Floral fabulousness, gardens to lust over, containers, balcony gardens, new varieties of our favourite plants & trees, plenty of take home advice, plus magnificent houseplants all delivered by the most talented & experienced team of experts – designers, growers, nursery folk, floral designers, landscapers… the list is endless.’
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show kicks off on BBC One on May 19 with a ‘RHS: Countdown to Chelsea’ episode featuring a first look.
Then, from May 20 onwards, there will be twice daily coverage across BBC One and BBC Two with the highlights.
