From in-house model to technology guest presenter, Claudia was already a familiar face at QVC when she became a presenter in 2001...

Read Claudia Sylvester's full biography

Butler & Wilson 40th Anniversary party preparations

Hi everyone.

Well, Julia Roberts and I are off to the Butler & Wilson 40th anniversary party this evening and it promises to be a wild affair.

Simon Wilson has gone totally OTT on every single detail - everything from the invitations to the models on the catwalk are totally blinged to the nines. The theme is Studio 54 which, if you remember, was the very outrageous nightclub back in the day where the theme was 'anything goes'! It should be quite a night (not a quiet night)!

Julia will be doing interviews with the celebrities on the red carpet and I will be catching all the backstage gossip for you, probably after everyone (apart from Julia and I) have had a few glasses of champagne. Together we will find enough flamboyant coverage to share it all with you during the Butler and Wilson weekend extravaganza on Friday 27th November.

I'm back after a happy but unhealthy holiday

Well if you’ve wondered where I’ve been for the last three weeks I’m back!  We had a little business to attend to in the States and managed to combine it with a family vacation to Disneyworld in Orlando, Florida. 

Zak, Bella and Blake were amazed by the wondrous world of Walt Disney. Zak who is 11 loved the roller coasters; Isabella who is nine loved everything Princess-inspired like Cinderella’s Castle and Blake who is three was head over heels in love with Mickey and Buzz Lightyear. Steven and I were taken back to being small again and we revelled in it all as much as the children. 

So much to see, so much to take in...

The theme parks were colossal and I’m sure we didn’t cover half of them - it seemed that with each one we visited it just got bigger than the last. Thank heavens for my trusty Birkenstock sandals as my feet never ached for a second.

Don't miss Sunday's exciting Honora TSV

Hi everyone.

I just had to pop by to tell you about this coming Saturday night!  Yes there’s X Factor and dinner to be eaten and kids to be put to bed etc, etc. BUT at Midnight there is only one thing to do - midnight Saturday night will see the launch of the most exciting Honora TSV EVER!

I am so in love with Honora and there’s Ralph too so plenty of reason to be staying up to join me. Not only will this TSV promise to be truly amazing but Ralph will be fresh from being auctioned off this Thursday night in aid of Breast Cancer Care.

Do you remember me asking him on air if he’d do it? He went really flushed didn’t he, but said yes? How lovely that man is. So I’ll be asking him all about the bidding and the eventual winner. The lucky lady will be escorted by Ralph to the Ivy in London along with our very own Charlie Brook for a wonderful lunch. That lady could be you… watch out on Thursday night at 7pm to make your bid on Ralph.
 

My Christmas blooper

Putting the star on top of the Christmas tree is a great family tradition for us and each year the children take turns. Steven puts up the tree, I do the lights and then they are lifted (normally by Steven) to put on the star. 

But last year when it was time to put the tree up we were waiting for Steven to arrive back from work and the children were just so keen on getting the star up. I suggested we wait for Daddy but they just kept begging and begging. 

So here is the hard evidence of what happens when you give into small young and very excited children! Actually listening back to Zak's commentary on Bella and I trying to reach the top of the tree and finally crashing is just hilarious. Check out little Blake who harmlessly gets wedged between the two sofas.

Click here to see Bella and myself in action.

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No harm came to any of the participants in this short film but the presents underneath didn’t come off too well!

Enjoy

Lots of love as always
Claudia
x

Fun at the weekend playing dressing up games

This weekend we had a fun time. Not only did we catch up with lots of old friends that we haven’t seen in ages, but we also raided our dressing up box.

Since I was little I’ve loved dressing up and have managed to keep many of the funny outfits which my children now love to play with. Along the way we’ve also collected many new ones as various characters become popular and bring out an outfit to be purchased. 

Recent additions have been Spiderman, Batman, Star Wars and Cinderella. It got to the point last year that I lent the whole lot to a local school that a friend's son goes to and they managed to kit most of the children out for their Christmas Play. 

Start the weekend in style with a Pink Friday

I met up with a group of girlfriends at the weekend that I haven’t seen for ages. It can sometimes be so difficult to find a time where we can all meet up.

While discussing our next get together I suggested we try and hold a fundraising event during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October and raise some money. Sadly, in our group, we all know someone who has been affected by breast cancer so this is a cause very close to our hearts. We all agreed it was a great plan.
 
Last night I registered online to hold a Pink Fridays event for Breast Cancer Care. With the dark autumnal nights drawing in this is my chance to brighten up a Friday with my friends. It seems you can hold any kind of event, as long as it’s pink!

QVC and Breast Cancer Care's 10 year partnership

The relationship between QVC and Breast Cancer Care started 10 years ago and has grown from strength to strength.

Maybe like me, it was through QVC that you first became aware of the charity all those years ago and you’d love to know more or get involved. I know when I first got involved in the charity I knew immediately that I wanted to get involved on a more personal level and give what time I could to raising awareness and funds.

Throughout this time I have met some really inspirational people who do wonderful things. Also during the last five years I’ve had several people very close to me that have been touched by this disease. In fact, it appears to have been ever since I started volunteering (but sadly that’s not a coincidence its more the stark statistics).  
 

It’s the little things that mean so much…

Last weekend I visited a lady called Margaret who lives not far from me. She’s a lovely elderly lady that I met by chance whilst waiting for a prescription at the hospital pharmacy (not the nicest of places to sit and wait).

We sat and chatted and I learnt that she had a great love for Terrier dogs, particularly Highland Terriers. She told me that during the war she was evacuated to a farm with her son where they had several Scottie Dogs. She had always wanted to own her own but never had the opportunity as her late husband hated dogs and that now she is in an elderly home she couldn’t have one as they didn’t’ allow pets. I told her about my poorly daughter and that she has a massive love of dogs but we won’t let her have one just yet and she’s so desperate for one.    

We waited an age for our prescriptions but used this time to chat away about pets and her memories or staying on the farm - eventually she was served and went on her way with her carer. 

You're in for a treat with our new Platinum Jewellery show

I wanted to let you all know about a special premiere show that I’ve got coming up on Saturday 12th September at 6pm. It's called The Platinum Jewellery Premiere. I’ve seen the collection already and it’s out of this world - sheer indulgent elegance.
 
Platinum is the King of metals, more precious and rare than gold (and I do love my gold). Platinum is surely a girl's best friend along with diamonds as it never changes colour, tarnishes or oxidizes, and due to its hypoallergenic properties will not irritate the skin even for the most sensitive of people. Most of all it’s the metal used by many a noble King and Queen over the centuries.

Exciting developments for the Breast Cancer Care show

I am thrilled to say that singer/songwriter Beverley Craven has confirmed she will be performing live at The Show. Beverley has herself experienced a diagnosis of breast cancer and we are delighted that she has chosen to support The Show and the models this year.

I also can confirm that ‘Loose Women’ and GMTV presenter Andrea McLean will be hosting the afternoon tea!

As I mentioned before, I will be there on the night along with other QVC presenters and some of our special guests as we will be filming the fashion show ready for our Be Aware Show You Care programme the week after. It’s such a lovely, inspiring event with entertainment and prizes galore.