Television broadcaster Melissa Porter is best known for BBC lifestyle and property shows such as ''Get a New Life'', ''Escape to the Country'', ''Countryfile The Summer Diaries'' and ''Put Your Money Where Your House Is''.

2007 saw Melissa filming two new series ''Escape to the Country'' and ''Countryfile The Summer Diaries'' both recommissioned by the BBC. She also presented new segments on travel, relocation and buying property for Barclaycard on GMTV.

Property shows presented by Melissa include ''To Buy or Not to Buy'' (BBC1), ''Escape to the Country'' (BBC2), ''Put Your Money Where Your House Is'' (BBC1), and ''Fly To Buy'' (UKTV).

Melissa's lifestyle shows include the BBC2 primetime series ''Get a New Life'' building on her own experiences in industry, ''Countryfile The Summer Diaries'' (BBC1), and ''Summer Live'' and ''Christmas Live'' for UKTV.

Born in Cheshire of Italian-Czech parentage, Melissa grew up with house renovation projects as her parents moved from one property to the next. She graduated in retail marketing from Manchester Metropolitan University and worked in marketing and property relocation before being spotted

As a writer and property expert, Melissa has written for the Mail on Sunday, Moneywise, Homes Overseas, CityAM and Yahoo. Corporate work includes the B&Q Recognition Awards and property exhibitions such as BBC Good Homes, Invest in Property and Viva Espana, .

Melissa puts her property knowledge into practice she is the co-founder together with Charlie Smurfit of property company Porter & Smurfit, which provides a complete design and renovation service. She has renovated and sold several homes and most recently sold her Wandsworth house without using an estate agent.

Melissa enjoys sport, particularly tennis, motoring, sailing and ski-ing, both water-skiing and black runs on snow. She is a patron of the British Thyroid Association and supports the work of sailing charity Kids Company.