"Show stopper", The Sunday Times, July 12 2009
Posted: Wednesday 5 August 2009
As soon as you step in the front door of Fiona Kennedy's home, you can tell that it belongs to an entertainer. It has the feel of a place that regularly plays host to celebrities and everywhere there are photographs of them. Alongside pictures of the signer, actress and producer are ones of her father signging with her sone and two daughters, as well as photos of some of the stars with whom she has worked, including the late Roy Castle, her co-presenter on the television programme Record Breakers. There are pictures of Kennedy's performances in The Wicker Man, of her in panto with Allan stewart and a record of her siging at the Queen's 80th birthday celebrations at Balmoral Castle in 2006.
...Highland Heartbeat has already won over Scottish sponsors and has the support of Brian Cox, who is a narrator on its forthcoming trailer on the American Public Broadcasting Service network. Sean Connery, too, is a fan...
"I thought there was a real market for something specifically Scottish that combined the songs of the old days with some lighter, fresher more contemporary music", Fiona says.
...When Kennedy is not away treading the boards, another favourite retreat is nearby Cruden Bay, where the family have a holiday cottage.
"Walking along the beach at Cruden Bay is one of my favourite places in the world," she says. "I think scotland just has so much to offer, especially this area. It's the promised land up here."