Live & Kicking legend Emma Forbes almost unrecognisable in glasses and a tracksuit after moving to LA

BACK in the 90s, Emma Forbes was the queen of Saturday mornings, presenting Live & Kicking with Andi Peters.

But these days she’s living out in America where she treats her thousands of Instagram fans to her “rant and rave” videos.



Emma Forbes with Live & Kicking co-stars John Barrowman and Andi Peters


She regularly hosts ‘rave and rant’ videos on her Instagram account

She looks quite different to her Children’s BBC days, typically being seen in back-rimmed glasses and a tracksuit.

However, she’s lost none of her good looks – or broadcasting skills, updating followers on current events on her internet show.

She often hosts with her sister Sarah Standing, tackling everything from the latest on her beloved dog to the Will Smith Oscars drama.

Emma, 56, whose mum is screen legend Nanette Newman, broke into Saturday morning TV with stints in the cookery section on Going Live.

When that show gave way to Live & Kicking she became a main presenter with Andi and John Barrowman, though he later took a back seat.

The series, which included comedy duo Trev and Simon and Peter Simons’ Run The Risk, became legendary in the world of kids’ TV.

Emma decided to leave during the show’s summer break after learning she was pregnant and Andi took a role at rival broadcaster LWT.

However, the pair were reunited in 2020 when she popped up and surprised him as he fronted Lorraine for the first time.

Appearing via video link from Long Island in America she told him: “It’s so great Andi because quite frankly you are television gold. I can honestly tell you [Live & Kicking] were the best days of my life.

“Andi has been my rock, my friend through everything, we did so many fun things together.

“Do you remember New Kids On The Block, who can forget the band who never spoke?

“I remember we had to open a ride in Thorpe Park and he’s much more adventurous than me. I couldn’t open my eyes and he held my hand the whole time.”

Andi joined in on her trip down memory lane, telling viewers: “We had Cher on for a whole morning, no entourage, just us.

“And Sir Richard Branson. This was a kids show, we had huge high moments and low moments.”

Andi struggled to speak, adding: “Sorry I’ve just got over the shock of seeing Emma, it’s just so nice to see you.”

Later, their fellow Live & Kicking co-star John was patched through from his home in Los Angeles.

He told Andi: “You’re looking not a day over 25 and the rest of us are getting older. But I guarantee all the things you’re doing on Lorraine, it’s going to turn you grey because you are going to have to work my friend!”

But Andi wanted to know: “Hold on, you’re in Long Island, JB’s in LA, and I’m in Shepherd’s Bush. How is it that I am still in Shepherd’s Bush?”



Emma surprised old friend Andi live on Lorraine back in 2020


The star with her son Sam when he was four back in 2003