How has Natasha Kaplinsky – whose autocutie image masks an Oxbridge brain – become our highest paid newsreader?
Maybe it’s the industrial strength blow-dry and aura of painted-on perfection. Perhaps it’s a fallout from her turn as a sequinned temptress in Strictly Come Dancing and talk of that affair with her co-star Brendan Cole. Some people just don’t like her ‘limp’ voice. Whatever the reason, some BBC viewers started celebrating last week when they learned that Natasha Kaplinsky was leaving the Corporation. The Beeb’s message board experienced heavy traffic as it emerged that Ms Kaplinsky was to move to Channel Five on a three-year contract worth £3 million. Dozens wrote celebratory messages with attached smiley faces. “I am so glad Spangles is going,” wrote one. “Good riddance!” chirped another. But for every detractor there was a fan. “It’s like the crows attacking the parrots,” wrote one, who feared Kaplinsky was disliked simply because of her on-screen radiance. “All those with an irrational hatred of the woman can take their nastiness to Channel Five,” said another. There are no grey ar
