She is a presenter, journalist, children’s book author and ambassador – is there anything Vick Hope hasn’t done yet? ‘Write a piece of adult fiction’, she tells Spell, as we talk to her ahead of the premiere of CBBC’s Britain’s Best Young Artist, a show that sees Vick following the journeys of 27 budding artists alongside Kaiser Chiefs frontman Ricky Wilson. However, unlike her literary aspiration, the 32-year-old’s struggle with burnout and self love, alongside a fierce fight to give a voice to the voiceless in her campaigns for Amnesty International, have been far from fiction. Here, she elaborates on her career goals and personal wins – and tells us about the one Nigerian dish she can’t live without.
You’ve got many strings to your career bow. Is there anything you haven’t tried yet that you’re dying to do?
I’ve written plenty of articles in my time and two children’s books, but one day I’d like to write a piece of adult fiction. I’ve had conversations with publishers and I’ve said I want a bit more time, rather than working to a deadline to produce something that isn’t the best it could be. I have a lot of stories to tell and I’m inspired by the world around me. I love writing and I find it extremely cathartic, and I’m very frightened of writing a full novel, but the things you’re frightened of are the things you should try doing. I’m constantly writing notes, and one day this will all come together.
On the TV side of things, I’ve worked in all sorts of genres from sport to children’s shows, science and art, as well as the entertainment news on Good Morning Britain. But one day I’d love to have a show like Lorraine where I’d get to interview so many interesting people from different walks of life, where I can hand the microphone over to them to tell their stories. I think as a journalist, presenter or broadcaster, your job is to create a space for other people’s stories to be told to the world. I am most at home when I’m doing something like a podcast like Songs to Live By where there’s a lot of time and space to really get to know someone and tell their story. So I’d love a talk show, but a warm, daytime show where you get to tell lots of stories, every day learning something new and meeting new people. That would be a dream.
Your red carpet looks are always jaw-dropping. How much control do you put in the hands of your stylists?
It’s a collaboration. I used to care about what other people thought at red carpet events, and so I played it very safe to avoid being put on the worst dressed list. Now, I just don’t care. For a start, I don’t read tabloids, so I wouldn’t know what is being said about me anyway. But I’ve also realised that fashion is fun – it’s a way of expressing yourself. Designers are artists, and I trust in their art and creativity. We collaborate and I put forward ideas from things that have inspired me, like designs I’ve seen on social media or other red carpets. It’s a space to play and experiment. Sometimes it looks great, sometimes it’s not my best look, sometimes the wind picks up and things are flapping in all the wrong places – the O2 red carpet is the worst for this – but you learn. I don’t take it too seriously anymore.
The things you’re frightened of are the things you should try doing
Are there any designers you wear again and again?
I’ve worn a lot of Tommy Hilfiger over the years. From red carpets right through to my day-to-day, I’ve always been a fan of those clean-cut lines and coolness of the clothing. It’s always sustainable and he champions diversity. I feel very comfortable in his pieces.
In terms of gowns for the red carpet, I wore Tran Hung at the BAFTAs. It was a beautiful red gown and probably the most elaborate piece I’ve worn. Since then, I’ve worn several other Tran Hung pieces. They’re always billowy and there’s a sumptuousness to them. I feel like a million dollars in those pieces. I also got to wear a custom Ted Baker piece recently, having worked with the team to design it. We created a distinct silhouette in chartreuse, and made a high slit in the skirt – it made me want to do more design and customisation. I’ve worn Galia Lahav two or three times and felt very sexy; I don’t think I’m a particularly sexy person, but I do feel that way with their silhouettes and fabrics, and the way they’re so meticulously hand sewn with beautiful embellishments.
Best piece of fashion advice you’ve received?
The best piece of fashion advice I’ve been given is to be confident, because that’s when you look your best. It’s not about wearing expensive clothes, it’s about having a good time in what you’re wearing.
Your curly locks are an iconic part of your look – tell us about your natural hair journey!
When I was growing up in the 90s, I didn’t see anyone else with hair like mine, not even at my school. Everyone had straight hair, and I was really jealous. I would beg my mum to straighten my hair, but she told me I was too young. It wasn’t until I was around 27, which wasn’t that long ago, that I met Michelle Sultan at a photo shoot and she encouraged me to give my natural curls a go. She taught me how to care for and celebrate them. She showed me how to create an LA weave of tracks to give my hair more body and give it time to grow, and I love how my curls look now. I’m very proud of them. Again, it took confidence. My hair has always looked like this, but my confidence and pride took time to grow. It’s been a journey, and it means a lot when I see other girls wearing their afro hair with pride. I hope that little girls and boys watching TV or magazines are seeing natural hair more and feeling validated and beautiful themselves thanks to this space that is being carved out in mainstream media.
Looking back, are you thankful that your mum didn’t let you straighten your hair?
Mum is always right. I didn’t realise that at the time, but she was. She used to say ‘don’t shave your legs yet because it will grow back thicker and more stubborn’, and I remember being livid because at school I was so embarrassed to wear my netball skirt and show my hairy legs. But she was right, it does grow back thicker and more stubborn! However, I think you need to make some mistakes in order to learn. Life is light and shade, but it’s a journey.
What hair and beauty products can you not live without?
I grew up in Newcastle, and me and my friends loved make-up from quite a young age. We’d all be in the bathroom at school, caking ourselves in Benefit. I’ve been through that time of wearing a lot of make-up, but I’m now in a place where, day to day, I don’t wear any make-up unless I have to do so for work, such as on TV or on the red carpet. I like to give my skin a break, but also I can’t be bothered to wear make-up every day. For me, it’s all about skincare. I’m a huge fan of REN, Murad and SkinCeuticals. I love the ritual of a skincare routine; it feels like self care. It feels good and my skin is thankful for it too. If I’m investing in any beauty products, it’s skincare.
In terms of hair, I’ve gone through a few phases. Lately I’ve been using Boucleme, which I find is great for curls. I also use Imbue products which are sulfate-free and work well at rejuvenating curls. Both brands keep things bouncy!
Would we ever see a drastic hairstyle change from you?
While I’ve gone through a journey to enjoy big and bouncy curls, I’ve occasionally worn my hair straight, but not as a way of hiding my natural hair. For the ITV Palooza, I wore a beautiful Preen dress and my hair was pared back to keep the attention on the dress. It was a collaboration between hair, make-up and styling, because they shouldn’t be working against each other.
I’ve also been wearing a lot of protective styles, like boho locs and twists, which I haven’t worn since I was a kid when I would have my hair plaited every Sunday night before school. These looks give you a different sort of swagger in your day-to-day; when I wore locs, I felt like I could inhabit a different character. I’m interested in trying more plaited looks, maybe try box braids.
With the rise of streaming services and podcasts, some people worried that radio was a dying medium. What do you think keeps it alive?
You can put on a playlist of your favourite tunes, but nothing beats the companionship and community of radio, and it has never gone away even after all these years. They say that video killed the radio star, but it didn’t. When you’re driving, cooking, chilling out and painting your nails, it’s so nice to hear a familiar voice who you really feel like you know. In radio, we always say ‘you’ve got to imagine you’re talking to millions of people, but also imagine you’re talking to just one’. I’ve always loved radio, but I’ve only been at BBC Radio 1 during a pandemic, and in that time I realised just how much I love radio – just how important it is. We feel like we’ve been there with our listeners through everything and we’ve got to know our audience. Life Hacks has been a forum that has dealt with all issues facing young people today, from their mental health to their career prospects and education, to the environment through to grief and suicide. So many things that young people are going through have come into sharp focus over the last couple of years, and I’m so proud that we’ve been there for them. But also, with drive time, it’s been about having a laugh and making chaos, but it’s a community of chaos that all our listeners are invested in, and we’re invested in them. No matter what you’ve got on your playlist, you’re not going to get that chaos!
Having co-hosted the BBC’s How To Save The Planet series on Life Hacks, and championing environmental initiatives in schools, your green credentials are strong. What was it that ignited your passion for the environment?
It’s a human rights issue. I work with Amnesty International, and human rights is the cause that I am most passionate about. Our world is not equal; not everyone is born with the same privileges, and we have the responsibility to level the playing field wherever we can. I see climate change as a human rights issue because, as our planet changes, it’s going to affect different people to different degrees, and those with less will be more affected than those with more. I don’t think we realise just how devastating the effects are going to be. In fact, we’re already seeing it, like the footage of droughts and tidal surges in Barbados. People are losing their lives, their livelihoods and their homes, and it’s going to happen in our country too. It needs to be given the gravity that it deserves.
What’s your opinion on brands using ‘greenwashing’ in their marketing?
It’s hugely problematic. I will always champion shopping secondhand, clothes swapping, and borrowing, not buying. Even when big brands say their products are sustainable, if it’s new, it’s probably not!
Britain’s Best Young Artist will hit our screens this year – why should we tune in?
I think it will inspire them to reach for their sketch pads and pencils. In spite of these last few years where we’ve experienced limited stimulus, there is a world that you can escape to when you’re just having a bit of fun on the page. If it inspires just one person to do that, especially if it’s a child, then that’s a good thing. Art is everywhere, and you can create art out of anything. One of my favourite episodes is the collage episode, where we go litter picking on the beach in Wales, and use the litter to create art. Anyone can do this. That kind of art is so accessible.
How do you change your presenting style when working with kids?
I always think that kids don’t need to be underestimated. I think they are so capable and so inspirational. Every kid I meet knows exactly what they want and what they’re doing! I’m always blown away by their talent and their intelligence. I’m always speaking to them on a level; I don’t think they need to be talked down to or have anything dumbed down. Ricky and I pretty much presented as we would. Obviously it’s a colourful and warm show where we’re doing lots of out-there activities like abseiling, so we’re performing with a certain style due to the nature of the activities. There’s one episode where we meet a pack of wolves and the kids have to create animal art, and I was hyper-aware of being surrounded by kids and wolves! But generally speaking, the kids were so mature and talented that I was more in awe of them than anything else. They were leading the show!
Do you have any hidden artistic talents yourself?
Ricky was an art teacher and he’s amazing at art. Every episode, we did a challenge set by Ricky and a guest artist and judge, so I was having to do quite a lot of art. Ricky says that I’m perhaps not a talented artist, but a very confident one. He said that a lot of artists are actually nervous about making that first mark on the page, and apparently I’m quite confident going in with an indelible marker. And that’s a good thing, because a lot of art is mark-making. It’s about how you interpret your stimulus and get creative with what’s around you. I love art, but even if I’m not the best at making a photo-real version of a plant I see in front of me, I do love painting flowers. Me and my friends have always had painting and Prosecco evenings, where we get paints and canvases out and just have fun. Being creative and expressing myself like that is one of my favourite things. I’m a big fan of creating art, no matter how it turns out – it’s the process that I enjoy.
February is meant to be a very romantic month – but we want to focus on self-love too. What’s the one present you’d love to give yourself this Valentine’s Day?
Kindness. I don’t make New Year’s resolutions, but my New Year plan is to be kinder, to others and myself. I always think, ‘am I talking to myself in the same way that I would talk to a good friend?’ The answer is always no. I’m hard on myself, I criticise myself and sometimes I think I’m not good enough. But I would never say that to a friend. I’m going to be kinder to myself for Valentine’s Day and beyond, and also be as kind as possible out there in the world. I admit, that hashtag #BeKind does my head in sometimes because it gets used hypocritically, but let’s try to really be kind.
What’s the most empowering thing you’ve ever done for yourself?
I’ve become quite good at being on my own, and so I really enjoy solo travel. I experienced burnout at the beginning of 2018, where I had overworked and put too much pressure on myself. I hadn’t slept enough, I had gone through a break-up. I realised that I hadn’t spent any time with myself, learning to love my own company and be present. I took myself away, because I remembered how much I loved travelling solo in my early twenties. It sounds cliché, but I went on a yoga retreat in Malaysia, and I found out how important it is to just bask in silence and to know that, in your space, you are enough. Jobs and relationships will come and go, but at the end of everything, you have to come back to yourself. You are the only person who’s going to be there for you. There’s something very peaceful and powerful in knowing that you are okay on your own. I now go away on my own as much as I can.
What’s the one Nigerian dish that you always ask your mum to make you?
Whenever I get home, my mum says, ‘I know you’re going to want okra soup, egusi soup, ogbono soup, or rice and stew’. But, the truth is, if I had to choose, it would be okra soup. The consistency is always perfect when my mum makes it. It’s full of vegetables and a nice selection of meats, plus a stock fish base. The aroma is amazing and the flavour is so full, and I like that the flavours get even richer the longer it sits. She taught me and my family to make it during lockdown over a Zoom masterclass. I’m lucky as I live right near a great food market, so I bought all of the ingredients and we made the dish together over the video call. I’m actually salivating thinking about it now!
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Sneak peek at Vick’s valuables
From curl matching clip-ins to luxe skincare, here are some of Vick’s essentials for on and off camera.
PHOTO SHOOT CREDITS: Photography by Femelle Studios; Hair by Carl Campbell; Make-up by Natasha Wright; Styling by Mariamu Fundi, Assisted by Debora Tonet and Saba Ibrahim.
