Bristol man to read Channel Five news

A charity boss from Bristol is believed to have made history by becoming the first person with a facial disfigurement to read the news on television.

James Partridge, who suffered severe burns in a car accident as a teenager, made his first broadcast on the Channel Five lunchtime news yesterday.

Mr Partridge, who has strong ties to the Bristol area, will be reading the lunchtime bulletin every day this week in a bid to break down prejudice.

The 57-year-old was born in Chipping Sodbury, son of Bedminster-born John Partridge, a former member of the Society of Merchant Venturers.

He spent much of his 20s in Bristol, and in 1992 Mr Partridge Jnr founded Changing Faces, a charity which aims to change society's view of people with facial disfigurements.

He was later awarded the OBE, and honorary doctorates from Bristol University and the University of the West of England.

Mr Partridge said: "Presenting a five-minute news bulletin was more difficult than you think; they gave me some fairly intensive training. We've had some very positive feedback.

"We know TV plays a big part in how people think about disfigurement.

"One reason to do this is to change the prevailing stereotypes, that a life with disfigurement is a sad one, that scarring is related to villainy.

"Parents and young people can then see role models."