Bedford Park Festival talk about the ups and downs of her life over the past five years

Five years ago, in June 2010, Beverley Turner was in the Bedford Park Festival audience when her husband, double Olympic rowing champion James Cracknell, spoke frankly to Torin Douglas about the competing pressures of international sport and family life. He admitted he’d often never consulted her before deciding to take on his post-Olympic endurance challenges, such as rowing across the Atlantic.

James Cracknell and Beverley Turner

The following month, Cracknell was hit by a petrol tanker in Arizona whilst cycling, during an attempt to cycle, row, run and swim from Los Angeles to New York within 18 days. Despite wearing a helmet, his skull was broken in two places and he lay seriously ill for weeks. His brain was damaged and it was not certain he would recover.

Then Beverley discovered she was pregnant.

This time, her husband will be in the audience as Beverley talks to Torin Douglas about the impact the accident had on all their lives, a story they told together earlier this week on ITV in James Cracknell: Sports Life Stories and in their book Touching Distance

Earlier this year, Beverley joined LBC Radio as presenter of her own Sunday morning show.

On Thursday ( June 18th) this week, at 8pm in St Michael & All Angels Parish Hall, she’ll be talking about her own high-pressure life in Chiswick, juggling her family, her radio show, journalism for the Telegraph, and the Blooming Bunch ante-natal classes - “the smartest way to enjoy your pregnancy”.

The title of the Festival session - “Blooming Tired” - takes its name from her Twitter self-portrait: “Sunday: 10am-12pm on @lbc. Founder of @thebloominbunch. Writer for @telegraph. Mum of 3. Wife of 1. Blooming knackered”.

Beverley's career also includes spells as a model, TV presenter (From Food to Formula 1, cycling and basketball), author (The Pits: The Real World of Formula 1) and BBC Radio 5 Live presenter. She and James live in Grove Park with their children.

Torin Douglas, who will be conducting the interview comments: "James spoke so frankly and honestly five years ago, with Beverley in the audience, that all of us felt we'd got to know him really well" says Torin Douglas. "When the accident happened so soon afterwards, it was a huge shock - and it's been remarkable to see how they have both recovered from that devastating experience."

BEVERLEY TURNER: BLOOMING TIRED!
Thursday 18 June 2015
St Michael and All Angels Parish Hall
8pm
Tickets £10
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June 17, 2015