Andrew O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Andrew O'Connor is a British
actor, comedian, magician, television presenter and executive producer
.
's Young Magician of the Year prize. He appeared in a number of variety shows on television, and was invited to join the cast of London Weekend Television
's Copy Cats, a show featuring impressionists such as Bobby Davro
and Gary Wilmot
, in 1985. A second series, without Wilmot, followed in 1986. O'Connor received a writing credit for each series. His own children's show, Andrew O'Connor's Joke Machine soon followed, in which he told jokes and performed magic tricks and invited children to do the same.
In 1986, he began appearing in ITV
's popular Saturday morning children's series, No. 73
. But shortly afterwards, he switched to the BBC
to launch another Saturday morning children's series, On the Waterfront
, alongside fellow ex-No. 73 host Kate Copstick
. In 1991, Andrew became the 2nd actor to play The Head in CITV's arts & crafts show Art Attack
presented by Neil Buchanan
.
In 1988, O'Connor also appeared regularly in short comedy sketches co-written by himself for the Observation round in ITV
game show The Krypton Factor
. In the same year, he took over from Jeremy Beadle
as the presenter of the daytime game show, Chain Letters
. He returned to acting to play the role of the computer in early 90's children's sci-fi show Kappatoo
but it was his career as a quiz-show host that took off, and he subsequently presented the UK version of Talk About, moved to Saturday night prime time in 1991 with One to Win, and returned to daytime television with The Alphabet Game. This latter show was devised and produced by O'Connor, having formed his production company, Objective alongside Michael Vine.
This marked the turning point in his career, and although O'Connor has made numerous on-screen appearances since then, he has mainly been working behind the camera. He has produced numerous comedy and magic related television shows, perhaps the most notable being the critically acclaimed sitcom, Peep Show
, and most of Derren Brown
's programmes.
O'Connor presented an ITV & Family Channel game show called Family Catchphrase, which was a spin off from Catchphrase
, there were 50 episodes from 1994. One episode featured a young Simon Amstell
and another featured a guest appearance from the show's creator, Stephen Radosh.
In 1996, he established Objective Productions with Michael Vine. O'Connor holds the position of Chief Executive.
and Robert Webb
released on May 18, 2007.
. He then went on to play the lead role of Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl
in 1994 and the title role in the revival of Barnum
in 1995 and 1996. He has also directed in theatre with productions of 42nd Street
, Anything Goes
and The Nerd
on tour and The Odd Couple
(female version) in the West End.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
actor, comedian, magician, television presenter and executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
.
Television career
Although he enjoyed a short stint as a child actor, appearing as Tom Brill in The Canal Children in 1976, he made his mark as a children's magician, and won the Magic CircleThe Magic Circle
The Magic Circle is a British organisation, founded in London in 1905, dedicated to promoting and advancing the art of magic.- History :The Magic Circle was founded in 1905 after a meeting of 23 amateur and professional magicians at London's Pinoli's Restaurant...
's Young Magician of the Year prize. He appeared in a number of variety shows on television, and was invited to join the cast of London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television
London Weekend Television was the name of the ITV network franchise holder for Greater London and the Home Counties including south Suffolk, middle and east Hampshire, Oxfordshire, south Bedfordshire, south Northamptonshire, parts of Herefordshire & Worcestershire, Warwickshire, east Dorset and...
's Copy Cats, a show featuring impressionists such as Bobby Davro
Bobby Davro
Bobby Davro is a British actor and comedian. He is mainly known for his work as an impressionist...
and Gary Wilmot
Gary Wilmot
Gary Wilmot is an English actor, writer, comedian, impressionist and singer. He rose to fame in the 80s through a number of television appearances, and subsequently moved into theatre.- Career :...
, in 1985. A second series, without Wilmot, followed in 1986. O'Connor received a writing credit for each series. His own children's show, Andrew O'Connor's Joke Machine soon followed, in which he told jokes and performed magic tricks and invited children to do the same.
In 1986, he began appearing in ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's popular Saturday morning children's series, No. 73
No. 73
No 73, later re-titled 7T3, was a British 1980s children's TV show produced by Television South for the ITV network. It was broadcast live on Saturday mornings and ran from 1982 to 1988...
. But shortly afterwards, he switched to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
to launch another Saturday morning children's series, On the Waterfront
On The Waterfront (TV Series)
On the Waterfront was a BBC Saturday morning children's programme, filmed at Brunswick Dock, Liverpool. It was hosted by Andrew O'Connor, Kate Copstick, Bernadette Nolan and Terry Randall...
, alongside fellow ex-No. 73 host Kate Copstick
Kate Copstick
Kate Copstick is a Glasgow-born Scottish actress, television presenter, writer, critic, director and producer.-Career:She is best known for her roles on the children's TV shows No. 73 and ChuckleVision. She also played Marlene Marlowe in Marlene Marlowe Investigates and performed as part of the...
. In 1991, Andrew became the 2nd actor to play The Head in CITV's arts & crafts show Art Attack
Art Attack
Art Attack is a British children's television series revolving around art. The original series was one of ITV's longest running programmes, running from 1990 to 2007, and was presented throughout by Neil Buchanan. The brand new series launched on Disney Junior on June 6 2011 and is presented by...
presented by Neil Buchanan
Neil Buchanan
Neil Buchanan is an English television presenter best known for his work on the CITV programme Art Attack, a television programme that he presented during its run from 1990 to 2007...
.
In 1988, O'Connor also appeared regularly in short comedy sketches co-written by himself for the Observation round in ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
game show The Krypton Factor
The Krypton Factor
The Krypton Factor was a British game show produced by Granada Television for broadcast on ITV. The show originally ran from 7 September 1977 to 20 November 1995, and was hosted by Gordon Burns and usually broadcast on the ITV network on Mondays at 19:00....
. In the same year, he took over from Jeremy Beadle
Jeremy Beadle
Jeremy James Anthony Gibson-Beadle MBE was an English television presenter, writer and producer. During the 1980s, he was a regular face on British television and in two years appeared 50 weeks of the year. His shows regularly topped the charts beating Coronation Street and EastEnders on one...
as the presenter of the daytime game show, Chain Letters
Chain Letters
Chain Letters was a British television game show produced by Tyne Tees Television. The show was filmed at their City Road studios in Newcastle Upon Tyne and broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom between 7 September 1987 and 25 April 1997. Three contestants competed to win money by changing letters...
. He returned to acting to play the role of the computer in early 90's children's sci-fi show Kappatoo
Kappatoo
Kappatoo was a CITV show based on a book by Ben Steed. In the show, Kappatoo travels back in time to the present and meets a similar looking boy called Simon Cashmere; they exchange lives. Kappatoo lives in the past whilst Simon lives in the far off future.The show premiered on CITV in 1990, with a...
but it was his career as a quiz-show host that took off, and he subsequently presented the UK version of Talk About, moved to Saturday night prime time in 1991 with One to Win, and returned to daytime television with The Alphabet Game. This latter show was devised and produced by O'Connor, having formed his production company, Objective alongside Michael Vine.
This marked the turning point in his career, and although O'Connor has made numerous on-screen appearances since then, he has mainly been working behind the camera. He has produced numerous comedy and magic related television shows, perhaps the most notable being the critically acclaimed sitcom, Peep Show
Peep Show (TV series)
Peep Show is a British sitcom starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb. The television programme is written by Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, with additional material by Mitchell and Webb themselves, amongst others. It has been broadcast on Channel 4 since 2003. The show's seventh series makes it...
, and most of Derren Brown
Derren Brown
Derren Victor Brown is a British illusionist, mentalist, painter, writer and sceptic. He is known for his appearances in television specials, stage productions and British television series such as Trick of the Mind and Trick or Treat...
's programmes.
O'Connor presented an ITV & Family Channel game show called Family Catchphrase, which was a spin off from Catchphrase
Catchphrase (game show)
Catchphrase is a British game show based on a short-lived US game show of the same name. It ran on ITV in the United Kingdom between 12 January 1986 and 19 December 2002, originally hosted by Northern Irish comedian Roy Walker....
, there were 50 episodes from 1994. One episode featured a young Simon Amstell
Simon Amstell
Simon Marc Amstell is a BAFTA nominated, award-winning English comedian, television presenter, screenwriter and actor, best known for his roles as former co-host of Popworld, former host of Never Mind the Buzzcocks and co-writer and star of the sitcom Grandma's House.-Early life:Amstell was born...
and another featured a guest appearance from the show's creator, Stephen Radosh.
In 1996, he established Objective Productions with Michael Vine. O'Connor holds the position of Chief Executive.
Film career
He directed the film Magicians starring David MitchellDavid Mitchell (actor)
David James Stuart Mitchell is a British actor, comedian and writer. He is half of the comedy duo Mitchell and Webb, alongside Robert Webb, whom he met at Cambridge University. There they were both part of the Cambridge Footlights, of which Mitchell became President. Together the duo star in the...
and Robert Webb
Robert Webb (actor)
Robert Webb is an English actor, comedian and writer, and one half of the double act Mitchell and Webb, alongside David Mitchell.-Early life:...
released on May 18, 2007.
Theatre career
In 1993, O'Connor played the title role in the musical BILLY at the Edinburgh FestivalEdinburgh Festival
The Edinburgh Festival is a collective term for many arts and cultural festivals that take place in Edinburgh, Scotland each summer, mostly in August...
. He then went on to play the lead role of Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl
Me and My Girl
Me and My Girl is a musical with book and lyrics by Douglas Furber and L. Arthur Rose and music by Noel Gay. It takes place in the late 1930s in Hampshire, Mayfair, and Lambeth....
in 1994 and the title role in the revival of Barnum
Barnum
-Places:In the United States:*Barnum, Iowa, a small city*Barnum, Minnesota, a small city*Barnum Township, Carlton County, Minnesota*Barnum, Wisconsin, an unincorporated community-People:...
in 1995 and 1996. He has also directed in theatre with productions of 42nd Street
42nd Street
42nd Street may refer to:*42nd Street *42nd Street **"Forty-Second Street", title song from the film*42nd Street -New York City Subway:...
, Anything Goes
Anything Goes
Anything Goes is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. The original book was a collaborative effort by Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse, heavily revised by the team of Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The story concerns madcap antics aboard an ocean liner bound from New York to London...
and The Nerd
The Nerd
The Nerd is a two-act comedy written by American actor/playwright Larry Shue.-Plot:Set in Terre Haute, Indiana in late 1979, The Nerd presents the story of Willum Cubbert, an unassuming young architect, friends Tansy and Axel and unexpected houseguest Rick, who had saved Willum's life in Vietnam...
on tour and The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple
The Odd Couple is a 1965 Broadway play by Neil Simon, followed by a successful film and television series, as well as other derivative works and spin offs, many featuring one or more of the same actors. The plot concerns two mismatched roommates, one neat and uptight, the other more easygoing and...
(female version) in the West End.