{alltv} 'Wipeout' host has no shame

The professional life of Jessica Phillips has moved from modelling, to motorcycle instruction, to acting and TV hosting.

Completely logical, right?

"Yeah, exactly, modelling to motorcycles to TV, it's just a basic progression," Phillips said with a laugh.

Well, whatever path she took, Phillips is perfectly suited for her role as the on-site co-host of Wipeout Canada, which debuts Sunday, April 3 on TVtropolis.

Wipeout Canada, of course, is the new Canadian version of the well-known obstacle-course game show that has been franchised to many nations around the world.

Phillips' job on Wipeout Canada was to interview the wild and wacky contestants. But many of these people are nuts, to be blunt. So we assume Phillips must have feared for her own safety from time to time.

"I probably should have had those moments, but no, I didn't," said Phillips, 26. "And I promise, I wasn't drinking anything or smoking anything.

"A lot of them were so nervous on camera. But if you just talk to them, like, 'Tell me where you're from, give a shout-out to your friends and family, show me your victory dance', that kind of thing, then you can have fun with them.

"We had great interviews, every single one of them. I made 260 brand new friends. Isn't the energy just amazing from them? They really made me laugh so much that my cheeks would hurt."

Phillips, who grew up in Coldwater, Ont., started modelling when she was 14, then got into motorcycle instruction, teaching people how to ride, when she was 18.

"Then I started getting interested in acting," Phillips recalled. "I didn't know if I'd be able to do it, but my parents and my boyfriend really encouraged me to go and try it.

"So I auditioned to be a suitcase model on Deal or No Deal Canada (which aired in 2007). And when I did that, I really enjoyed being on camera. So I went and got an acting agent and did a couple of commercials and a couple of TV shows (including episodes of Being Erica, Republic of Doyle, Billable Hours and Pure Pwnage)."

When Phillips heard about Wipeout Canada, she knew she had to try to get involved, having been a fan of the American version. But certainly she wasn't the only attractive young model/actress to have the same thought, so we asked Phillips why she thinks she got the job.

"I think what got me the role was that I have no shame," Phillips said. "I am not afraid to laugh at myself. And I'm sure everyone will see, once Wipeout Canada starts airing, that I was willing to do whatever.

"Every interview I would ask the contestants, 'What can you teach me?' Some of them would teach me how to do this really ridiculous dance. Or they'd even get me to sing something. I'm not a singer. I have the worst voice in the world. But there I was, singing away.

"Uh, I think I may be embarrassed once the show starts airing."

Phillips has no need to worry. As we implied earlier, for this job on Wipeout Canada, she admirably zoned in on the essential combination of a willingness to play along plus a dose of comedic incredulity when warranted.

"I got to play and have fun with the contestants, then laugh at them wiping out," Phillips said. "I couldn't ask for a better job."