Modelling Messenger decided to become a model, and was advised by the Jason Paul Modelling Agency to
enhance her breasts, which she enlarged from a 34C to a 34DD cup. She then took a job modelling for a
Gloucester-based
double glazing company, Glevum, dressed only in lingerie. As part of an advertising campaign called "Class Behind Glass", the posters quickly began disappearing from bus stops, having been taken by locals. After a complaint at the lack of clothes on Messenger, the
Advertising Standards Authority banned the campaign, claiming they were not sufficiently "classy". Messenger concentrated on developing her career as a television presenter. Messenger released her
Back into Shape Workout DVD, which was a six-week fitness programme designed to help new mothers recover their fitness. She appeared on
Noel Edmonds – Gotcha! in which she was one of the subjects to receive the treatment from Noel and his team. Messenger had her own issue of
At Home With... magazine called "At Home With Melinda Messenger", which was aimed at parents. She joined with chef
Antony Worrall Thompson in May 2008 and contributed some recipes for the cookbook
The Sweet Life.
Television Messenger's TV career began in 1997 on
Channel 4's
Eurotrash, where she featured as a "roving reporter" in erotic scenarios, including modelling fetish wear and acting as a nude magician's assistant. In 1998–99 she hosted her own show on
Channel 5 called ''Melinda's Big Night In''. From 1998 to 2001, Messenger presented the
Channel 5 game show
Fort Boyard, which ran for four series. She joined ex-
EastEnders star
Leslie Grantham and
Catweazle star
Geoffrey Bayldon in the game show which tested contestants' physical agility and brainpower on the
sea fortress in France. In 2002, she appeared on
Celebrity Big Brother. She has since presented many TV programmes, including
Loose Lips (with
Richard Arnold),
Baby Baby,
Can We Still Be Friends, and
Beat the Dealer. In 2004, she appeared on the "Age Swap" episode of
Celebrity Swap as 83-year-old Margaret Doyle, supposedly Melinda's old ballet teacher, disguised with prosthetic make-up, a black lycra suit, a red-white wig and fake teeth. In 2008, Messenger presented as host on programmes including the
BBC's
To Buy or Not to Buy,
ITV's
Bingo Night Live, and
A Garden For Eden for
ITV Westcountry. She did a voiceover for a viewer competition for
ITV's
Golden Balls series 3-6 between 2008 and 2009. Messenger's show
Cowboy Builders started on
Five on 8 January 2009, co-presented with
Dominic Littlewood. Alongside this, Melinda was a contestant in
the fourth series of
Dancing on Ice, which began on 11 January 2009. She was eliminated in the seventh week after losing a surprise skate-off against
Jessica Taylor. She had survived three previous skate-offs. In 2009, Messenger, along with ex-
footballer Ian Wright and
The Apprentice runner-up
Kate Walsh, began presenting a new show on
Five called
Live from Studio Five. It was announced on 29 January 2010 that Messenger was leaving her role on
Live from Studio Five, to focus on other projects. Her last show was on 26 February and she was replaced by a series of guest hosts. The show was cancelled in February 2011. She hosted
The Health Lottery Draws on
ITV and
Channel 5 between 2011 and 2012. In September 2023,
Channel 4 announced Messenger as one of the contestants on
Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Psychotherapist After leaving regular television work, Messenger undertook training in psychotherapy and has practised since 2015. ==Personal life==