- guardian.co.uk, Wednesday October 25 2000 03.27 BST
Barbie, the doll designed by toy company Mattel, yesterday launched her radio career. Barbie.fm, which is sponsored by Mattel, started broadcasting over the internet with the help of actress Patsy Kensit.
Aimed at girls aged between three and nine, it will be going out live for the next two days and will address issues such as music, animals and fashion. There will also be interviews with pop stars.
Two sisters, aged eight and six, came up with the idea by playing a pretend game of radio shows featuring their Barbie dolls. David Freeman, the girls' father, and a TV presenter and DJ, contacted Mattel with the idea.
"Barbie has done lots of things in her 41 years. She is about having a belief in yourself and doing what you want to do. This is what we wanted to promote," a Mattel spokesperson said
By lunchtime yesterday the site had attracted more than 50,000 people.
Based in the village hall at Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire, the station will feature Kate Winslet, Andi Peters, the TV personality, and comedienne Sandi Toksvig.
Young girls are also going on air. Lily Magenis, aged 11, introduced a Britney Spears song, and Lucy Ellis, also 11, was interviewed by Miss Kensit.
