STARVING

Sunday Mirror, Feb 13, 2005 by SIMON HOUSTON

SEXY Scots news presenter Sarah Heaney is determined to fit well into her fairytale wedding dress next month.

The Scotland Today anchor and former model is among a host of Scottish celebrities starving themselves for an entire day this week, to raise money for the world's hungry.

She'll join Ally McCoist - who has been teased about his figure since giving up football for a TV career.

Others taking part in the Sciaf 24-hour fast include former Celtic boss Tommy Burns, The Proclaimers, River City star Lorraine McIntosh, presenters Kaye Adams and Shereen Nanjiani, and actor Gerard Kelly.

Despite her perfect figure which made her one of Scotland's most sought-after models, Sarah, 34, was once so worried about her weight she resorted to drastic measures to keep it down.

Sarah, who has also worked on Crimefighters UK, GMTV and Moviejuice, will tie the knot with jewellery designer fiance Ed Lyons, 35, at a secret venue near Glasgow.

They got engaged in Majorca last summer. Londoner Ed even designed her diamond ring.

A pal said: "Sarah will be a beautiful bride. She has left those anxious days worrying about her weight in the past. And now she can't wait to get down the aisle, looking a million dollars."

As a model, Sarah was desperate to conform to the stick-thin image associated with the job. "I never quite fitted in," she said recently, "because I was always slightly heavier than other models." But now she is relaxed about her much-admired shape and feels she has things in perspective.

Speaking ahead of this week's fast, she said: "Sciaf makes such a difference and raises awareness about the plight of people are directly affected by war, flood, drought, famine and disease. I'm delighted to be able to support them."

She has vowed to go without breakfast, snacks and dinners.