How To Be A Mermaid

Michelle Forsbrey on how she came to set up a school teaching very special aquatic skills…

- Hannah Davies

NEW REAL LIFE

A Matter of Life and Debt

MONDAY-FRIDAY / BBC1 / 11.00AM

No, your eyes aren’t deceiving you! With her flowing blonde hair and beautiful tail,Michelle Forsbrey looks every inch like a real-life mermaid.

But in fact she’s an air stewardess, whose life changed dramatically when she suffered a horrific surfing accident three years ago.

While recuperating, Michelle hit upon the idea of setting up Mayim Mermaid Academy, a special school in Bournemouth that teaches children and adults how to swim just like a mermaid or merman, complete with colourful fabric tails!

Michelle’s amazing story is told this week in BBC1’s new 15-part daytime series, A Matter of Life and Debt, which explores the benefits of ethical loans.

TV Times caught up with Michelle, 42, who goes by the name of Mermaid MerShell, to find out more…

What inspired you to become a real-life mermaid?

Like so many children, I loved