SCI-FRIGHT

NINA HAGEN - "NINA"
INDIRA VARMA - "NINA"
RACHEL GRANT - "NINA"

"Sci-Fright" was a cable 'midnight movies' series where science fiction and horror movies were hosted by Nina. The series ran from 27 August 1999 until 2002, airing on Friday nights at 10:00am in the United Kingdom and South Africa; on the United Kingdom's Sci-Fi Channel. Over its run, three different people played Nina. Nina Hagen (1999) Indira Varma (2000) Rachel Grant (2001-2002) The show had been running as the umbrella name for late night movies on United Kingdom's Sci-Fi Channel on Friday nights for a year before a host was adopted and the format altered. The name of the host was adopted from the original presenter Nina Hagen. During the final year the hostess format was replaced by a series of vignettes featuring the character of Nina as played by Rachel Grant under the title "10 Rillington Place". Nina was also known as the Hostess of the Grotesque, the Hostess with the Mostest, the Mistress of Distress, and the Queen of Scream. Nina also appeared - photographed in Zodiacal costumes in a daily "Horrorscopes" feature at UK Scifi. A comic strip about Nina, "The Nina Diaries" started in 2002 in 2000 AD, the "Judge Dredd" magazine. Portrait of "Nina" (Rachel Grant) by Dave Dunlap.

Portrait of "Nina" by Bradley Beard.
"Nina" - biography (taken from Bradley Beard's Facebook page)"

Welcome my naughty night owls, tonight I present Rachel Grant as Nina, hostess of the SyFy UK's Sci-fright. The character of Nina was portrayed by 3 different actresses during the show's run from 1999 to 2003. Rachel was the 3rd actress to portray Nina, and for me, her portrayal checked every box. She's both extremely sexy and funny and her innuendo laden skits deliver a sublime creepiness that keeps you wanting more. Derived from the best British comedy and the darkest European horror, the show's madcap moments are a strange blend of Monty Python meets Dario Argento.

Some great clips can still be seen on YouTube such as Rachel Takes a Shower; a hilarious verbal romp in Rachel's power shower where a clogged drain turns up an unfortunate lover's severed head. And just because we never got to see her show in the states, it]s no reason to loose your head now ... at least not until tomorrow.

From the "Horror Host Underground" website profile: "Get the bloody message?" The United Kingdom's Sci-Fi channel presents a double-bill of films every Friday to chill the viewer to the marrow! Introduced by Nina, a true child of the television age, reared on a constant diet of blood-and-gore film fests, Nina's multiple personalities manifest themselves each week in a bewildering array of costumes as she introduces some awfully frightening (and often frighteningly awful) horror movies. Nina presents Sci-Fright from her home, No. 13 Thrillington Place, which she shares with her cat and dog. Visitors are always welcome...for dinner!"

Some clips of the show:

Sci-Fright - hosted by Nina from The Professor on Vimeo.