Mike Osman
Encyclopedia
Mike Osman is an English radio presenter, impressionist
and entertainer.
He was born in Millbrook, Southampton, England
in August 1959, the fourth of seven brothers. After leaving Millbrook Community Secondary School at 16, he was briefly an apprentice metal-worker before joining the Royal Navy
as a marine engineer and mechanic.
He entered a local talent competition in 1974 at the Saints public house, Millbrook and didn't make the top 3, television celebrity Hilda Baker was the judge and the top prize was £100, a lot of money back in 1974. Mike was only 15 years old at the time, cheeky smile and you could see that the potential was there. The contest was won by a female singer, singing 'Wouldn't It Be Lovely' and second place went to mime artist Pete Allen, winning £40, third place went to piano player Christine Ings who pocketed £20. This was the start of Mikes long career.
He left the Navy in 1982, shortly before the Falkland Islands conflict
, and became a salesman briefly before joining the family roof tiling business. In his spare time he started working in holiday camps and clubs as a semi-professional entertainer, turning full-time in 1984.
In 1985, he joined ITV
’s “Copy Cats” as an impressionist, working alongside Gary Wilmot
and Bobby Davro
. Over the next few years he had roles in Gloria Hunniford
's “Sunday Sunday” show, The Generation Game
, Noel's House Party
and Big Break
, and also as a guest on Sky Sports
. He also did summer tours with Jim Davidson
and Russ Abbott.
In the early 1990s he moved into the after-dinner speaker market. At a boxing function at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London in 1996 he was spotted by Capital Radio
programme controller Richard Park
, who invited Osman to do a Saturday football, music and comedy show on Capital Gold
, called “Home and Away with Mike and the Dugout Crew” with his brothers David and Tony and friend Dave, for a fee of £50 a show. Within a few weeks, they were offered the 10am to 1pm weekday show, and Osman and his colleagues, now renamed as “Mike and the Naughty Boys” were reputed to be earning £125,000 a year. After 2 years at Capital Gold they replaced Tony Blackburn
on the prime breakfast show.
After 6 years, Osman quit the show in 2002 as the early morning starts were taking their toll on his health. Since then he has had a variety of short-term roles in television.
In 2005 he was one of the founding directors of troubled channel Sound TV
which was only on air for about 10 months.
In 2006-07 he was employed by Southampton Football Club
to warm up the crowd before their matches at St. Mary's Stadium. Since then he has presented a Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Solent
.
He is married to Jill and they have a daughter Katie, aged 20, who is also a committed Saints football fan.
Impressionist (entertainment)
An impressionist or a mimic is a performer whose act consists of imitating the voice and mannerisms of others. The word usually refers to a professional comedian/entertainer who specializes in such performances and has developed a wide repertoire of impressions, including adding to them, often to...
and entertainer.
He was born in Millbrook, Southampton, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in August 1959, the fourth of seven brothers. After leaving Millbrook Community Secondary School at 16, he was briefly an apprentice metal-worker before joining the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a marine engineer and mechanic.
He entered a local talent competition in 1974 at the Saints public house, Millbrook and didn't make the top 3, television celebrity Hilda Baker was the judge and the top prize was £100, a lot of money back in 1974. Mike was only 15 years old at the time, cheeky smile and you could see that the potential was there. The contest was won by a female singer, singing 'Wouldn't It Be Lovely' and second place went to mime artist Pete Allen, winning £40, third place went to piano player Christine Ings who pocketed £20. This was the start of Mikes long career.
He left the Navy in 1982, shortly before the Falkland Islands conflict
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
, and became a salesman briefly before joining the family roof tiling business. In his spare time he started working in holiday camps and clubs as a semi-professional entertainer, turning full-time in 1984.
In 1985, he joined 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 “Copy Cats” as an impressionist, working alongside 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 :...
and Bobby Davro
Bobby Davro
Bobby Davro is a British actor and comedian. He is mainly known for his work as an impressionist...
. Over the next few years he had roles in Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford
Gloria Hunniford is a Northern Irish TV and radio presenter, and formerly a singer.-Biography:...
's “Sunday Sunday” show, The Generation Game
The Generation Game
The Generation Game was a British gameshow produced by the BBC in which four teams of two competed to win prizes...
, Noel's House Party
Noel's House Party
Noel's House Party was a BBC television light entertainment show hosted by Noel Edmonds that was broadcast live on Saturday evenings throughout the 1990s. It was set in a large house in the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom, leading to much innuendo. The show was broadcast during the...
and Big Break
Big Break
Big Break is a British game show based around the game of snooker, mixed with traditional game show elements. It was broadcast on BBC1 between 30 April 1991 and 9 October 2002...
, and also as a guest on Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
. He also did summer tours with Jim Davidson
Jim Davidson
Jim Davidson may refer to:* Jim Davidson , American actor* Jim Davidson , American football player, played for Ohio State Buckeyes and drafted by the Buffalo Bills* Jim Davidson , Australia author, see Meanjin...
and Russ Abbott.
In the early 1990s he moved into the after-dinner speaker market. At a boxing function at the Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, London in 1996 he was spotted by Capital Radio
Capital Radio
Capital London is a London based radio station which launched on 16 October 1973 and is owned by Global Radio. On 3 January 2011 it formed part of the nine station Capital radio network.- Pre-launch :...
programme controller Richard Park
Richard Park (broadcaster)
Richard Park is a Scottish media personality and businessman, who is Executive Director of Global Radio. He was previously a media consultant and broadcaster in the UK and has also made appearances as the 'Headmaster' of BBC TV's Fame Academy programmes.-Professional career:Voted most influential...
, who invited Osman to do a Saturday football, music and comedy show on Capital Gold
Capital Gold
Gold is a network of oldies radio stations which was formed by the merger of the Capital Gold network and the Classic Gold Network in August 2007...
, called “Home and Away with Mike and the Dugout Crew” with his brothers David and Tony and friend Dave, for a fee of £50 a show. Within a few weeks, they were offered the 10am to 1pm weekday show, and Osman and his colleagues, now renamed as “Mike and the Naughty Boys” were reputed to be earning £125,000 a year. After 2 years at Capital Gold they replaced Tony Blackburn
Tony Blackburn
Tony Blackburn is an English disc jockey, who broadcast on the "pirate" stations Radio Caroline and Radio London in the 1960s and was the first disc jockey to broadcast on BBC Radio 1 in 1967. In 2002 he was the winner of the ITV reality TV programme I'm a Celebrity.....
on the prime breakfast show.
After 6 years, Osman quit the show in 2002 as the early morning starts were taking their toll on his health. Since then he has had a variety of short-term roles in television.
In 2005 he was one of the founding directors of troubled channel Sound TV
Sound TV
Sound TV was a free-to-air television channel following the tradition of the variety show, which has not been popular in Britain since the 1980s...
which was only on air for about 10 months.
In 2006-07 he was employed by Southampton Football Club
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
to warm up the crowd before their matches at St. Mary's Stadium. Since then he has presented a Sunday morning show on BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent
BBC Radio Solent is the BBC Local Radio service for the Isle of Wight and the English counties of Hampshire and Dorset. Its studios are located in Southampton, in the same purpose-built office block in Havelock Road as the BBC South Today news studios, and there are district offices in Portsmouth,...
.
He is married to Jill and they have a daughter Katie, aged 20, who is also a committed Saints football fan.