Television presenter. Smillie was born in Glasgow, the youngest of four children. She was educated at Hutcheson's Grammar School and studied fashion at Glasgow School of Art. She began her career as a model and got her first television job as a glamorous assistant to Nicky Campbell (b.1962) on the Scottish Television game-show Wheel of Fortune. Known for her warmth and cheerful personality, she went on to work on The Travel Show and Holiday, before finding enormous success with the BBC's house make-over show Changing Rooms, one of the first of the genre. She has risen to become one of the highest earning women in television.
Smillie still lives with her husband and family in Glasgow.