I grew up in London, and graduated from Oxford University with a 2.1 in Modern History. I then trained as an actress for three years, at the Central School of Speech and Drama.

I took my first job in journalism (as a current affairs correspondent with a news agency) to fund my acting 'habit'. However, my interest in journalism soon took over.

My main areas of experience and interest are animal welfare/wildlife, and personal finance/consumer rights. Having worked on a freelance basis for three years, I'm currently employed as a senior research journalist at Which?.

A bit more about me... I like antiques, good design, Ireland, whodunnits, the outdoors, Japanese food, mountain sports, gardening, talking and pie. I dislike lateness, store cards, mint flavouring, cold callers, book snobs, plughole hair, raisins and bad manners.

I'm a volunteer at my fantastic local wildlife hospital - Riverside Animal Centre - and I also support The Blue Cross.

And finally... 'Cowdy' is an old Northern Irish name, and apparently means 'a runty cow with no horns - or very small ones'. Glamorous or what?