Broadcaster Anne Diamond named Viking Venus godmother

Journalist and broadcaster Anne Diamond will be the godmother to Viking’s seventh ocean-going ship, Viking Venus, which is scheduled to arrive this spring.

The 930-guest Viking Venus was ‘floated out’ in June 2020 and is now under final construction at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Italy.

Anne, 66, is best known for hosting TVs Good Morning Britain breakfast show in the 1980s, but she has also been an inspirational campaigner, having pioneered the 1991 UK cot death campaign following the death of her own son Sebastian, which saved over 20,000 babies’ lives.

She is the only non-medic ever to hold the Medal of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Additionally, Anne has been a key figure on Viking’s own channel, Viking.TV, which began broadcasting in March 2020 as a way to build community, stay connected and share positive experiences while people were staying home, rather than travelling.

Every Thursday since the launch of Viking.TV, Anne has interviewed figures with relationships to Viking, including world-renowned cellist and humanitarian Yo-Yo Ma; Xander Parish, OBE, principal ballet dancer at the Mariinsky Theatre;; the Duke of Devonshire; Downton Abbey’s "Mrs Patmore," actress Lesley Nicol; polar explorers Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft; NASA astronauts Dr Anna Fisher and Dr Richard Michael Linnehan; and bestselling authors Jeffrey Archer, Claire Cook, Robert Harris and Paul Schneider.

Anne’s Thursday livestreams will continue in 2021, with upcoming guests in January to include former NASA astronaut Kathy Sullivan, who has made history in space and at sea as the first American woman to walk in space and the first woman to reach the deepest part of the ocean, and Sir Michael Palin, the legendary actor, broadcaster and writer.

"On behalf of the entire Viking family, we are delighted and honoured to have Anne serve as the godmother of Viking Venus," said Karine Hagen, Executive Vice President of Viking. "Since the day we paused operations, Anne immediately volunteered to help our guests and crew manage through this period of uncertainty. As Britain’s favourite face at breakfast and in the morning on British TV, Anne became the face of Viking.TV on her weekly Thursday livestreams, where she has interviewed many interesting friends of Viking, while brightening the days of nearly two million viewers. There is no one more deserving to become the godmother of Viking Venus than Anne."

Anne said: "I am thrilled and honoured to be entrusted as godmother to the Viking Venus and cannot wait until we can celebrate her inaugural cruise in a safer and happier 2021. Back in March 2020, at the start of the global lockdown, when I rang my good friend Karine to ask if there was anything I could do, never did I think it might lead to such a fascinating journey. But exhilarating journeys are what Viking is all about! I am so proud to be part of the growth of the award-winning Viking.TV – with special thanks to all my inspirational interviewees – and now onwards, to the Viking Venus and a brighter outlook for travel."