A STAR IS BORN; Smillie to show first live TV birth.

Byline: By Robert McAulay

A BABY is about to become a TV star - the moment it is born.

Presenter Carol Smillie is hoping to capture the UK's first live TV coverage of a natural birth today.

Carol, star of house makeover show Changing Rooms, will be changing nappies instead when her Baby Hospital Live hits TV screens.

The series will come from the Royal Victoria Infirmary Hospital in Newcastle.

And Carol, a mother-of-two, is hoping that she will be in on a TV first.

She said: 'As far as we know there has never been a live natural birth broadcast on television in the UK before.

'Of course, nothing is guaranteed as far as mums going into labour is concerned.

'We'll be in the labour ward all week and I'm hoping we won't be in a situation where we have to tell someone to push a bit harder in order to capture it on TV.

'We're also hoping there will be no fruity language - but the hospital have assured us that seldom happens. And God help any dad who is sitting snoozing at the side of the bed when I'm in there.'

Baby Hospital Live will be broadcast for three hours every day this week on satellite channel LIVINGtv.

Bosses of the channel are hoping the series will pull in record numbers of viewers.

A spokesman said: 'Every birth has a unique story and the show will catch all the drama, tears, laughter and sweat of the expectant mothers and fathers.'

But last night Patricia Purton, director of the Royal College of Midwives in Scotland, said: 'I would be worried that a birth shown live on TV would give a false impression to other women who are expecting a baby.

'One mum's experience of childbirth is totally different from another's.'

CAPTION(S):

SMILLIE'S PEOPLE: Carol will be changing nappies instead of rooms