'Juicy Ladies' ready to hit the TV screens

SHOW TIME . . . Adaeze Chiwoko (left) with Lavinia Goddard, the founders of Vinejuice

AN Oldham-based firm will take to the international stage as it hosts its own show on the world's largest faith-based television network.

Founders of Vinejuice - a Christian media company focusing on urban culture - will present a 12-week show which will be broadcast to millions.

The "Juicy Ladies" - Lavinia Goddard and business partner Adaeze Chiwoko - will begin filming at Trinity Broadcasting Network's (TBN) London office next month.

Former boxing champion Nigel Benn and X Factor finalist Jahmene Douglas are lined up to speak on the magazine programme.

Music, news and live performances by contemporary Christian artists will also feature on the magazine show, which airs in the United Kingdom, Europe and Africa in the spring.

Lavinia (36), a student at the University of Salford, said: "I'm so excited for the filming to start. It is the largest thing that I and Adaeze have ever done.

"The show will be a celebration of urban Christian culture. It will be a real mix of people who are doing cool stuff. There will be music and interviews with actors who are at the top of their game and big sports personalities."

Vinejuice was set up in 2015 after marketing student Lavinia won an annual university competition called Creative Entrepreneur Tech Angels.

Friendship

The prize led to Tech Angels backing her business start-up idea by providing mentoring from their offices in Elizabeth House, Gravel Walks.

Lavinia first met Adaeze at secondary school but it was only when they coincidently bought a house two doors down from each other in Gorton that they rekindled their friendship and became business partners.

Mum-of-three Adaeze (36) said: "We had a successful radio show where we were known as the Juicy Ladies, and from that we began to produce Facebook live videos.

"We emailed channels like TBN, explaining that we were really interested in presenting and we asked what opportunities might be available.

"We then had an email from the director of TBN, inviting us in to chat more about Vinejuice."

She added: "On the day we were running very late and we thought we had blown our chances. In fact the opposite happened and it turned out the director had already made up his mind and offered us the show there and then. I remember pinching myself under the table to check if it was really happening."

Lavinia has put her studies on hold until September in order to focus on filming the TV show.

She said said: "To even get an interview with TBN was mind blowing, so of course we jumped at the opportunity. My lecturers and the university's enterprise team have been great supporters of this venture, and they have encouraged me from the beginning."

Digital business lecturer Alex Fenton said: "Lavinia is a shining example of what can be achieved as a Salford student. She put into practise her business school degree skills and blew away the competition."