Michael Terence Aspel, OBE (born 12 January 1933) is an English journalist and television presenter. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. Events 475 - Basiliscus becomes Byzantine Emperor, with a coronation ceremony in the Hebdomon palace in Constantinople Year 1933 ( MCMXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland A journalist (also called a newspaperman) is a person who practices Journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events trends A presenter, or host (sometimes hostess, in feminine form is a Person or Organization responsible for running an event He has been a high-profile TV personality in the United Kingdom since the 1960s, presenting programmes such as Crackerjack, Aspel and Company, This is Your Life and Antiques Roadshow. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 Crackerjack was a British children's comedy/variety BBC television series This Is Your Life was a television documentary series hosted by its producer Ralph Edwards. Antiques Roadshow is a British Human interest Television show in which Antiques appraisers travel to various regions of Aspel was once married to the actress Elizabeth Power, best-known for her role in EastEnders. Elizabeth "Lizzie" Power is a British actress. Power began her career in repertory theatre and went on to appear in several West End musicals EastEnders is a most popular and award-winning Television Soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC1 on 19 February 1985
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Early career
Aspel was born in Battersea, London, where he attended Emanuel School after passing his eleven-plus in 1944. Battersea is a place in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is an inner-city district located 2 London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Emanuel School is a co-educational public school in Battersea, south-west London. In the United Kingdom the Eleven Plus or Transfer Test is an Examination administered to some students in their last year of primary education Year 1944 ( MCMXLIV) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. After National Service in the Army he secured his first journalistic job working for the Cardiff morning daily, the Western Mail, in the late 1950s. "National Service" redirects here For national service in other countries see National service. Cardiff ( 'kɑːdɪf) is the Capital and the largest city and county in Wales. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive
From there he went to the BBC as a newsreader, becoming one of the country's most familiar faces during the 1960s and 1970s as a regular presenter of the evening news. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. Was also a presenter on Family Favourites on BBC radio.
He narrated the now cult BREMA cartoon documentary, The Colour Television Receiver (aka Degaussing), a film to 'familiarise engineers of some differences between a mono receiver and a colour receiver, from the point of view of adjustment and installation. . ', which was shown regularly on BBC2 between August 1967 and January 1971.
He also provided narration for the BBC nuclear war documentary The War Game, which was judged too horrifying and politically charged to be shown on BBC TV. For the Doctor Who serial see The War Games. The War Game is a 1965 Television film on nuclear war It won the Best Documentary Feature Oscar in 1966, but it was not shown on British television until 1985.
He moved on to a wide variety of light entertainment roles. Light entertainment is a term used to describe a broad range of usually televisual performances These included the long- running BBC children's TV series Crackerjack and Ask Aspel. Crackerjack was a British children's comedy/variety BBC television series In 1969 and 1976 he hosted the BBC's A Song for Europe contest and provided the UK commentary at the Eurovision Song Contest in 1976. Aspel was also a regular host of Miss World. The Miss World pageant is the oldest surviving major international Beauty pageant created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951
He also guest-starred twice on The Goodies, appearing as himself, notably in the episode "Kitten Kong", which won the Silver Rose at the Montreux Light Entertainment Festival. This article discusses The Goodies comedy television series For information about the formation of The Goodies group and for information
In the 1970s, Aspel appeared with a number of other newsreaders and presenters in a song-and-dance routine on The Morecambe and Wise Show. Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, were a British comic Double act, working in variety, radio Film The sketch, in which the presenters were dressed as traditional sailors, is often cited as one of the classic moments of British TV comedy. In another episode, Morecambe refers to him as "Michael Aspirin".
Aspel also presented a mid-morning music and phone-in programme on Capital Radio in London in the 1970s, as well as popular ITV programmes such as Give Us a Clue, Child's Play and The 6 O'Clock Show, a live current affairs and entertainment programme shown only in the LWT (London) region. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Give Us a Clue is a televised Game show version of Charades that was first broadcast on ITV from 1979 to 1992 Child's Play is a 1988 Horror film written by Don Mancini and directed by Tom Holland.
Aspel and Company
One of his best-known roles was as host of his own chat show, Aspel and Company, which ran for several series in the 1980s and 1990s on ITV. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent The programme was seen as a rival to the BBC's long-running Parkinson. Parkinson is a surname and may refer to Cecil Parkinson (born 1931 Baron Parkinson of Carnforth British politician C Aspel and Company was successful in attracting high-profile guests, including then-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher giving a rare non-political interview. The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the political leader of the United Kingdom Margaret Hilda Thatcher Baroness Thatcher LG, OM, PC, FRS (born 13 October 1925
In 1993, Aspel and Company was censured by the Independent Television Commission over a deal with the restaurant chain Planet Hollywood and Matthew Freud's PR company to secure an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The Independent Television Commission (ITC licensed and regulated commercial Television services in the United Kingdom (except S4C in Wales Planet Hollywood, a Theme restaurant chain inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, Matthew Freud (born 1963 is head of Freud Communications an international Public relations firm in the United Kingdom. Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger ( German ˌaɐnɔlt aloʏs ˈʃvaɐtsənɛɡɐ born July 30 1947 is an Austrian American Bodybuilder, Actor Walter Bruce Willis (March 19 1955 is an American actor and Singer-songwriter. Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone (born July 6 1946 is an American Actor, director, producer and Screenwriter. The trio effectively hijacked the programme, and at one point Aspel started reading from the menu, asking the guests if hamburgers and fries were really the way to "body beautiful".
For a time, Aspel and Company performed well for ITV in the highly-competitive Saturday night ratings. Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent After the Planet Hollywood controversy, Aspel vowed never to host a chat show again. Planet Hollywood, a Theme restaurant chain inspired by the popular portrayal of Hollywood, was launched in New York on October 22, [1]
Later career
After the demise of his chat show, Aspel replaced Eamonn Andrews as presenter of This Is Your Life, and continued to present the programme on the BBC until it ended in 2003. Eamonn Andrews, CBE (hon ( 19 December, 1922 &ndash 5 November, 1987) was an Irish born Television presenter This Is Your Life is a television documentary series airing in the United Kingdom originally on BBC Television, and now ITV. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.
He presented a new version of the ITV gameshow Blockbusters for the BBC in 1997. Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar 60 programmes were made.
In 1993, Aspel began presenting the ITV supernatural programme Strange But True?, a series that explored supernatural phenomena and unexplained mysteries. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Independent Television (generally known as ITV) is a public service network of British commercial television broadcasters set up under the Independent The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events Strange But True was a British Supernatural Documentary television series presented by Michael Aspel, which explored Supernatural The programme ran between 1993 and 1997. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar
He presented BBC's Antiques Roadshow from 2000 until 2008, his last programme (filmed at Kentwell Hall, Suffolk) shown on March 30, 2008 being a tribute to himself. Antiques Roadshow is a British Human interest Television show in which Antiques appraisers travel to various regions of 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common KentwellHallYouthjpg|right|thumb|Young Tudor re-enactors at Kentwell Hall]] Kentwell Hall is a Stately home in Long Melford, Suffolk, England [2]
In 2003, Aspel starred in a BBC Three spoof documentary which claimed he had affairs with Pamela Anderson, Valerie Singleton and Angie Best, among others. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. BBC Three is a television channel from the BBC broadcasting via Digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms Documentary film is a broad category of visual expression that is based on the attempt in one fashion or another to " Document " reality Pamela Denise Anderson (born July 1 1967 is a Canadian -born actress, Sex symbol, glamour model, producer, Author, and Valerie Singleton OBE (born 9 April 1937) is an English television and radio presenter best known as the longest-serving female presenter of Angie Best (born Angela MacDonald-Janes in 1953 in Southend on Sea, Essex) is a former Playboy Bunny and model probably best known as the ex-wife of Several well known celebrities were claimed to be love children from these and other conquests, including Daniella Westbrook (with Pamela), Shane Lynch (with Valerie), Mel B (with a West German Eurovision Song Contest entrant), Melinda Messenger, Gail Porter, Michelle Heaton and Ben Shephard. Danniella Westbrook (born 5 November, 1973) is an English actress and Television presenter. Shane Eamon Mark Stephen Lynch (born July 3, 1976, in Dublin) is an Irish Pop star and Boy band Vocalist of Melanie Janine Brown (born 29 May 1975) professionally known as Melanie Brown, Melanie B, Mel B, and Scary Spice West Germany ( Inf German: Westdeutschland or West-Deutschland) was the common English name for the Federal Republic of Germany ( Melinda Jayne Messenger (born 23 February 1971 in Swindon, Wiltshire) is an English Television presenter and was one of Gail Porter (born March 23 1971 at the Simpson's Memorial Hospital in Edinburgh, Scotland) sometimes known by her married name Michelle Christine Heaton, (born 19 July 1980, Gateshead, England) is a British pop Singer, Television Ben Shephard (born 11 December 1974 in Epping is an English Television presenter. [3]
In 2004, Aspel announced that he had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " The non-Hodgkin lymphomas are a diverse group of hematologic cancers which encompass any Lymphoma other than Hodgkin lymphoma. [4]
He has guest hosted the topical quiz show Have I Got News for You on two occasions (October 2005 and November 2007). Have I Got News for You is a British television panel show produced by Hat Trick Productions for the BBC. PortalCurrent events News collections and sources See WikipediaNews collections and sources. November 2007 is the eleventh month of that year It began on a Thursday and 30 days later ended on a Friday
In 2006, he played the role of the narrator in the UK tour of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Richard Timothy Smith (born March 25 1942) better known under his Stage name Richard O'Brien, is an English-born New Zealand-raised The Rocky Horror Show is a long-running British stage musical, opening in London on 19 June 1973
He was at one point favourite to be the new host of Countdown, though on 16 October the Daily Express reported that he had told an audience at a book launch he had already turned the job down. Countdown is a British Game show presented by Des O'Connor and Carol Vorderman, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent Events 456 - Magister militum Ricimer defeats the Emperor Avitus at Piacenza and becomes master of the western The Daily Express is a conservative Middle-market British Tabloid Newspaper.
Honours
In 1993, Aspel was conferred the honour of the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting, and has been voted TV Times and Variety Club Television Personality of the Year. The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British Order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by King George V. He was also voted into the Royal Television Society Hall of Fame for outstanding services to television. A hall of fame (sometimes HOF) is a type of Museum established for any a field of endeavor to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement in that field
He is a supporter of the charity Cancer Research UK. Cancer Research UK' is a Cancer research and awareness-promotion charity in the United Kingdom, formed on 4 February 2002 by the merger
References
- ^ AND MY NEXT GUEST IS... | Independent, The (London) | Find Articles at BNET.com
- ^ "Bruce to host Antiques Roadshow", BBC News, (2007-06-22). Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom. Retrieved on 2007-06-22. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 217 BC - Battle of Raphia: Ptolemy IV of Egypt defeats Antiochus III the Great of the Seleucid kingdom.
- ^ "Pam's fling with antique Aspel".
- ^ "TV star Michael Aspel has cancer", BBC News, (2004-01-04). "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina.
External links
- Michael Aspel at the Internet Movie Database
- Michael Aspel biography at BFI Screenonline
- Interview with Michael Aspel about leaving the Antiques Roadshow
| Preceded by Hugh Scully |
Host of Antiques Roadshow 2000-2008 |
Succeeded by Fiona Bruce |
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