Famous British TV Presenters
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Television has become one of the most popular mediums of entertainment and knowledge. With a plethora of channels available in one screen, it caters to the viewing needs of almost every person on earth. Right from children to young ones, teenagers to adults, men and women and even oldies, it has something to offer for all. Interestingly, every television show has a presenter who hosts the program. The role of a television presenter is extremely challenging for he/she has to deal with an unseen audience and present to them shows, live and recorded, on varying genres. Television presenters are basically links between the shows and the audience. Working at odd hours, always being bright, beautiful and presentable, having a confident personality and possessing knowledge about everything under the sun are traits of a television presenter. British television has had a pool of talented television presenters who have earned a name for themselves - be it Carol Kirkwood and her show BBC Breakfast where she is the main weather presenter or Nicky Campbell and his shows Wheel of Fortune, Long Lost Family and Watchdog, Kate Thorton and her shows The X Factor and This Morning or David Dikinson and his flagship show The David Dickinson Show. To know more about the life, works and shows of British television presenters, read on.
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Birthdate: May 8, 1926
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Isleworth, England
Widely regarded as a national treasure in the United Kingdom, Sir David Attenborough is the only person to have received BAFTAs for TV shows meant for different television sets, such as black and white, color, 3D, HD, and 4K. In 2002, he was mentioned in BBC's 100 Greatest Britons list.
Birthdate: April 11, 1960
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Doncaster, West Riding of Yorkshire
Jeremy Clarkson has come a long way from being a local journalist to becoming a recognized public personality, thanks to his appearance as a presenter in the popular TV show Top Gear. He is credited with making Top Gear one of the most successful shows in the UK. His tongue-in-cheek presenting style and writing often provoke a public reaction.
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Bear Grylls(British Adventurer and Television Presenter Best Known for His TV Series ‘Man vs. Wild’)
Birthdate: June 7, 1974
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
A former Special Air Service serviceman and honorary lieutenant-colonel, Bear Grylls is best known as an adventurer who does interesting things—from eating goat testicles to drinking elephant dung juice—in the TV series Man vs. Wild. Also known for his charity and humanitarian efforts, Bear was appointed OBE in 2019 for services to charity, young people, and the media.
Birthdate: February 16, 1971
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Amanda Holden is an English actress, TV personality, author, and musician. Her autobiography book No Holding Back was ranked first on the Sunday Times bestseller list. Apart from being a media personality, Amanda Holden is also known for her charity work; in 2018, she posed as a mermaid underwater as part of a PETA awareness campaign against the SeaWorld.
Birthdate: November 9, 1979
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Enfield, Greater London, England, United Kingdom
Died: February 15, 2020
A British television personality, Caroline Flack presented many shows ranging from I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! NOW! to The X Factor. Accused of assaulting her boyfriend, she was one of the four participants of the dating reality series Love Island who committed suicide. She stated in her autobiography that he had dated Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex.
Birthdate: January 6, 1960
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Daughter of Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nigella Lawson has written several bestselling cookbooks and hosted many culinary shows. Winner of the British Book Award and the Guild of Food Writers Award, Nigella has previously worked as an editor and freelance journalist and also owns a cookware range.
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Brian Cox
(Physicist Best Known as the Presenter of Science Programme 'Wonders of Life')
Birthdate: March 3, 1968
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Oldham, Lancashire, England
Brian Cox is an English physicist and former musician. He has presented numerous science programs for BBC radio and TV, especially the Wonders of... series. He is also the author of several popular science books. He has been lauded for his efforts to publicize science and was awarded the British Association's Lord Kelvin Award in 2006.
Birthdate: January 16, 1963
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Bristol, United Kingdom
James May is an English journalist and television presenter. May is known for co-presenting the popular factual television show Top Gear alongside Richard Hammond and Jeremy Clarkson. James May is credited with co-founding the independent TV production company W. Chump and Sons.
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Jameela Jamil(British Actress & Presenter Known for Her Role as ‘Tahani Al-Jamil’ in the TV Series ‘The Good Place’)
Birthdate: February 25, 1986
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: London, England, United Kingdom
Jameela Jamil, who works as an actress, model, writer, and radio presenter, is a fighter in every sense of the word; she fought conditions like hearing loss, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, coeliac disease, and anorexia nervosa before establishing herself as an entertainer. Not to mention a car accident that damaged her spine when she was 17 years old!
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Richard Hammond
(Television presenter best known for co-hosting the BBC Two motoring programme Top Gear from 2002 until 2015)
Birthdate: December 19, 1969
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Solihull, England
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Paul Hollywood
(Celebrity Chef and Television Presenter, Widely Known as a Judge on 'The Great British Bake Off')
Birthdate: March 1, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Wallasey, Cheshire, England
Paul Hollywood is an English television presenter and celebrity chef. Since 2010, he has been appearing as a judge on the popular television baking competition, The Great British Bake Off. Paul Hollywood is also a motor racer. He has competed in several tournaments, such as GT Cup. In 2017, he took part in a race at Circuit of the Americas.
Birthdate: February 22, 1928
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Edmonton
Died: August 18, 2017
Bruce Forsyth soared to fame with the show Sunday Night at the London Palladium and later hosted shows such as The Price Is Right and The Generation Game. He also co-hosted Strictly Come Dancing. Forsyth holds a Guinness record for being the longest-tenured male entertainer on TV.
Birthdate: August 18, 1972
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England
Victoria Coren Mitchell is the first woman to win a European Poker Tour contest. She has hosted the BBC game show Only Connect and written several books, including a poker-centered memoir. The Women in Poker Hall of Fame inductee has also written columns for The Guardian and The Observer.
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Dick Strawbridge(British Television Personality, Engineer and Former Army Officer)
Birthdate: September 3, 1959
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Myanmar, Burma
Dick Strawbridge is a British engineer, television personality, and former army officer. In 1993, he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire for his service in Northern Ireland. After his military career, Strawbridge has established himself as a TV personality, appearing on several TV programs. He is popularly referred to as Colonel Dick in the media.
Birthdate: February 10, 1981
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Brighton
With approximately seven million followers on Instagram, Holly Willoughby made her place in the showbiz slowly but surely. She started her career as a model, appearing in posters and advertisements before hogging the limelight for her performance in Lemon La Vida Loca and Keith Lemon: The Film. She earned a BAFTA Children's Award as a children's television presenter.
Birthdate: August 5, 1965
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Tiverton, England, United Kingdom
Mark Labbett gained fame as the “chaser” on the game show The Chase and its subsequent versions. He is known by his nickname “The Beast” on these shows. He has also appeared on several other shows, such as Mastermind, Countdown, SUDO-Q, Celebrity Juice, and The Radio 1 Breakfast Show.
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Sue Perkins(English Actress, Broadcaster and Comedian Known for Her Shows: ‘The Great British Bake Off’ and ‘Insert Name Here’)
Birthdate: September 22, 1969
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Croydon, London, England, United Kingdom
Sue Perkins soared to fame as part of the comedy duo Mel and Sue, with Mel Giedroyc, and co-hosted The Great British Bake Off, with her. Sue has also hosted Insert Name Here and has also authored two autobiographical works. An LGBT icon, she is dating TV host Anna Richardson.
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Sarah Ferguson(Author, Producer and Former Wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York)
Birthdate: October 15, 1959
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Marylebone, London, England
Sarah Ferguson is one of the members of the British royal family. She started working with several charity organizations after marrying Prince Andrew, Duke of York. Even after her divorce, she has continued working with organizations like the American Cancer Society. In 2020, she set up her own foundation called Sarah's Trust.
Birthdate: September 23, 1972
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Manchester
Karl Pilkington is an English comedian, television presenter, radio producer, and actor. He achieved popularity as the producer of Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais' radio program on Xfm. Pilkington is credited with co-founding a TV production company called RiSK Productions. Also known for his charity work, Pilkington designed and signed a card to benefit the Thomas Coram Foundation for Children.
Birthdate: September 27, 1970
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Wellington, Shropshire, England
Anna Richardson is best known as a presenter for various Channel 4 shows such as The Sex Education Show and its four subsequent series. She has also appeared on shows such as Secret Eaters, Naked Attraction, and Love Bites. She is openly bisexual and is currently dating comedian Sue Perkins.
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Katie Piper(Acid Attack Victim & Narrator of Channel 4 Series 'Katie: My Beautiful Face')
Birthdate: October 12, 1983
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Andover, Hampshire, England
Model Katie Piper made headlines after being attacked with acid by her former boyfriend. She underwent a face restoration surgery to rebuild her damaged face. She then became an activist, released an autobiography, and created a documentary. She also owns a foundation to help burn victims and has hosted Bodyshockers.
Birthdate: March 24, 1935
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bath, Somerset
Author of over 75 cookbooks, Mary Berry has also hosted several culinary shows, such as Mary Berry Cooks. The Guardian ranked her the second-best-dressed person over 50. A CBE and DBE recipient, she has also received the Guild of Food Writers Lifetime Achievement Award and an honorary degree.
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Ant Anstead(Television Presenter, Motor Specialist, Car Designer and Builder Known for His TV Show ‘For the Love of Cars’)
Birthdate: March 28, 1979
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Plymouth, Devon, England
Ant Anstead is an English TV presenter and car builder. Having started his career as a police constable, Ant Anstead worked his way into pursuing a career as a car builder, which is what he loved doing the most. His passion for cars provided him with an opportunity to become a TV presenter—an inspiring story indeed.
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Prue Leith
(British-South African Restaurateur, Chef, Television Presenter, Journalist, Cookery Writer)
Birthdate: February 18, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: South Africa
British-South African chef and culinary expert Prue Leith had begun her career with a lunch-supplying business. She later launched her Michelin-starred restaurant Leith's in Notting Hill and a culinary school. Best known as a judge on The Great British Menu, she is also associated with various charitable initiatives.
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Danny Dyer
(Actor & TV Presenter)
Birthdate: July 24, 1977
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: London, England
Danny Dyer is an English presenter and actor best known for playing hard-man roles, such as Tommy Johnson in the sports comedy film The Football Factory. He is also known for presenting the popular documentary series The Real Football Factories. Danny Dyer has been open about his dependency on drugs. He has also supported campaigns to legalize drugs like cocaine.
Birthdate: February 25, 1975
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Streatham
Journalist Naga Munchetty is known for hosting shows such as BBC Breakfast, Victoria Derbyshire, and Newsnight. She previously hosted BBC World News and Working Lunch and also won Celebrity Mastermind. She is also a skilled golfer and plays jazz trumpet and the piano. She publicly criticized Trump for his racism.
Birthdate: January 20, 1975
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: United Kingdom
TV host and automotive journalist Chris Harris is best known as a primary presenter of Top Gear. He had a successful YouTube series, Chris Harris on Cars, which was later moved to the Top Gear website. Chris is also a major contributor to auto magazines such as Evo and Autocar.
Birthdate: June 15, 1968
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Epsom
Mel Giedroyc is an English TV presenter, actress, and comedian. She is known for co-hosting series like Light Lunch and Mel & Sue. Also known for her humanitarian efforts, Giedroyc contributed to Gareth Malone's All Star Choir, in 2014, in an attempt to raise funds for BBC's charity Children in Need. In 2017, she went on to co-present Children in Need.
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Cat Deeley
(Actor, Singer, Model, Radio personality)
Birthdate: October 23, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Sutton Coldfield
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Terry Wogan(Radio and Television Broadcaster Known for His Radio Show ‘Wake Up to Wogan’ and Game Show ‘Blankety Blank’)
Birthdate: August 3, 1938
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Limerick, Ireland
Died: January 31, 2016
Irish radio and TV broadcaster, Terry Wogan, is remembered for his long career with BBC. For over 15 years, his weekday breakfast program, Wake Up to Wogan, drew in millions of listeners. At the peak of his career, he was probably the most listened-to radio broadcaster in Europe. He was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame in 2009.
Birthdate: April 23, 1977
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Erdington, Birmingham, England
John Oliver is a British comedian, political commentator, and TV host whose work in the American talk show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, has influenced the US culture, policymaking, and legislation since 2014; the influence has been called the John Oliver effect. Also a philanthropist, Oliver forgave a medical debt of over $15 million owed by over 9,000 people.
Birthdate: July 14, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Westminster, London, England
TV personality and quizzer Anne Hegerty is best known as a “chaser” on the game show The Chase. She has also been a participant of the reality show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! She had initially been a journalist and a feature writer with the South Wales Argus.
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Louise Redknapp(English Singer, Songwriter, Media Personality and Member of R&B Girl Group ‘Eternal’)
Birthdate: November 4, 1974
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Lewisham, London, England, United Kingdom
Birthdate: March 3, 1971
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Reading
Charlie Brooker is best known for creating the science-fiction series Black Mirror. He has also written for shows such as Brass Eye and hosted shows such as Screenwipe and Gameswipe. He is known for his signature style of sarcastic criticism of society. He is also a creative director of Zeppotron.
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Helen Skelton(Co-Presenter of the BBC Children's Program 'Blue Peter' and 'Countryfile')
Birthdate: July 19, 1983
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Kirkby Thore, Cumbria, England
Best known for her work on BBC productions like Blue Pete, English television presenter Helen Skelton is also a trained lap dance teacher and an adventurer, who kayaked the entire length of River Amazon to raise fund for Sports Relief 2020. Author of Amy Wild: Amazon Summer, she is also the first person to reach South Pole using a bicycle.
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Lucy Worsley
(British Historian Best Known as a Presenter of BBC Television Series on Historical Topics)
Birthdate: December 18, 1973
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Reading, Berkshire, England
British historian and author Lucy Worsley is not just a curator at the charity Historic Royal Palaces, but is also a famed TV presenter, popular for her work on series such as A Very British Murder and If Walls Could Talk. Suffering from a speech disorder, she pronounces “r” in a peculiar way.
Birthdate: March 9, 1987
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Luton, Bedfordshire, England
Investigative journalist Stacey Dooley is best known for presenting socially relevant BBC documentaries with themes such as child labor and gender equality. Some of her notable works are Blood, Sweat and T-shirts and the series Stacey Dooley Investigates. The MBE recipient has also won the reality contest Strictly Come Dancing.
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Lisa Faulkner
(Actress, Presenter and Celebrity Chef)
Birthdate: February 19, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Merton, London, England
Named to the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World six times, actor Lisa Faulkner is best known for her roles in series such as Murder in Suburbia and EastEnders. She has also taught at a theater school and is a talented chef, having won Celebrity Masterchef and co-hosted other cookery shows.
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David Frost(Television Host Best Remembered for the show 'Through the Keyhole' and 'That Was the Week That Was')
Birthdate: April 7, 1939
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Tenterden, Kent, England
Died: August 31, 2013
David Frost was an English media personality, journalist, television host, comedian, and writer. One of the most popular television interviewers of all time, Frost interviewed eight British prime ministers and seven American presidents in office. His interview with Richard Nixon was adapted into a play and film. He also played a key role in the establishment of TV-am in 1983.
Birthdate: May 9, 1971
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England
Edd China is best known as the host of the Discovery Channel show Wheeler Dealers. He has also been part of Fifth Gear and Top Gear. He established Cummfy Banana Limited. After racing a motorized sofa at 148 km/h, China set a Guinness record for the fastest furniture.
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Sally Phillips
(English Actress, Television Presenter, and Comedian)
Birthdate: May 10, 1969
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Hong Kong
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Steve Backshall(British Naturalist, Explorer and Presenter Known for His Wildlife Documentary Program ‘Deadly 60’)
Birthdate: April 21, 1973
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Bagshot, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Two-time BAFTA-winning naturalist and explorer Steve Backshall soared to fame with the BBC program Deadly 60. He has also worked with the Discovery Channel and the National Geographic Channel. He has written The Falcon Chronicles, a series of children’s novels, among other books, and loves mountaineering and martial arts.
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Sharon Osbourne(British-American Television Personality and Author Known for Her Talk Show ‘The Sharon Osbourne Show’)
Birthdate: October 9, 1952
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Brixton, South London, England
Heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne’s wife, Sharon Osbourne is a music manager. She rejuvenated Ozzy’s career by organizing the Ozzfest tour. She was the star of the reality show The Osbournes, wrote several books, was a panelist on Loose Women, and judged America's Got Talent and The X Factor.
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Nadiya Hussain
(British Celebrity Chef and Winner of the Sixth Season of 'The Great British Bake Off')
Birthdate: December 25, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Luton, Bedfordshire, England
Nadiya Hussain is a British TV chef, television presenter, and author. She is best known for winning the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off. Over the years Nadiya Hussain has become a household name in the UK by hosting shows like Nadiya's Family Favourites. In 2017, she was mentioned in Debrett's' 500 most influential people in the UK list.
Birthdate: December 22, 1948
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Ilford, Essex, England
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Jonathan Ross(English Broadcaster, Film Critic, Comedian, Actor, Writer, and Producer)
Birthdate: November 17, 1960
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London
Distinguished for his troubled pronunciation of the letter R, Jonathan Ross is a TV and radio presenter who was practically a synonym for the Friday Night with Jonathan Ross show on BBC One, till he left the broadcaster. The flamboyant man who later pursued his career with ITV and Channel 4 is also a comedian and critic and appeared in a number of films.
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Debbie McGee
(Widow of Magician Paul Daniels)
Birthdate: October 31, 1958
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Surrey, England
Debbie McGee is an English radio, television, and stage performer. She is best known as the widow of magician Paul Daniels, with whom she often appeared on stage. A former ballet dancer, Debbie McGee worked as an artistic director for three years in her own ballet company. She then went on to achieve popularity as a TV and radio personality.
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Fearne Cotton
(English Author and Broadcaster)
Birthdate: September 3, 1981
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Northwood
Fearne Cotton is an English author and broadcaster. She achieved popularity in the late-1990s, when she started presenting children's TV shows for channels like CBBC, CITV, and GMTV. Over the course of her career, Fearne Cotton has also presented popular TV shows like Top of the Pops and The Xtra Factor. She also supports numerous charities including Macmillan Cancer Support.
Birthdate: January 11, 1986
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Rochford, Essex
Rachel Riley is best known as a co-host of the puzzle show Countdown and its spin-off, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. An avid mathematician, she also co-hosted The Gadget Show and It's Not Rocket Science. She also participated in the 11th season of Strictly Come Dancing.
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Stephen Mangan(Actor and Comedian Known for His Roles in the Series 'Green Wing', 'I'm Alan Partridge' and 'Episodes')
Birthdate: May 16, 1968
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, England
Stephen Mangan is best known as Guy Secretan from Green Wing and Sean Lincoln from Episodes. He delivered a Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway play The Norman Conquests. He has also appeared as Dr. Crane in the film Billy Elliot and has been part of Shakespearean plays on radio.