Simon Grant
Encyclopedia
Simon Grant in Falmouth
, Cornwall
is a British television presenter and actor
.
presenter, he studied acting at Middlesex University
.
He began presenting on The Saturday Show
in 2002 when he was a virtual unknown, but went on to host other shows like Xperimental and Hard Spell Abbey
, as well as becoming a regular presenter in the CBBC
studio and guest host of The Big Toe Radio Show
on digital radio station BBC 7
. Simon was the longest serving presenter of the The Saturday Show and in the 2004 summer run was the object of the game Gunge Grant in which he competed in a quiz each week with a child contestant, resulting in the loser being gunge
d. This game was changed slightly in 2005 and renamed Gunge GBH (Gunge Grant, Bell
or Humphrey
), with the new rule of a different Saturday Show presenter going head to head with the child each week. Simon was also the original host of Top of the Pops Saturday along with Fearne Cotton
, which led him to present Top of the Pops
. He also appeared in the CBBC Scotland detective show Suspect
, where a team of three children attempt to solve a crime committed in the so called Kilcrammond House Hotel. In 2006 he appeared in BBC One
's Celebrity MasterChef and the BBC's Making Your Mind Up
as southwest England's regional host. On 1 December 2006, he presented in the CBBC studio for the final time.
He is a regular voice for BBC America
and voice over artist for many adverts including Crayola
and McDonalds. Simon hosted a series of Movie Specials for ITV including Ratatouille: Serving up a Feast, a behind the scenes look as smash hit animation Disney Pixar
Ratatouille
. He also presented Hannah Super Fan for Disney Channel
.
As an actor he has performed in fringe theatre around London, including at The King's Head Theatre
in Islington. For CBBC Scotland, he appeared in the drama series Jess the Border Collie. Simon played the Owl in the Children's Party at the Palace
The Queen's Handbag a celebration at Buckingham Palace to mark The Queen's 80th birthday directed by Sir Trevor Nunn. He also appeared in pantomime
Cinderella
in Torquay over the 2006 and 2009 Christmas periods and as Buttons at the Grand Opera House
York in 2007 and at the Kings Theatre in Southsea.
In 2008 he featured in a run of the Guinness World Record holder for longest running live sketch comedy show NewsRevue at the Canal Cafe Theatre
in Little Venice, London
.. He has also twice directed the show. In 2009 and to acclaim in 2010 over the election period.
He has starred in an advert for online insurance and holiday finders 'Money Supermarket.com' and recently took a role in Emmerdale
.
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
is a British television presenter and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Biography
Before becoming a CBBCCBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
presenter, he studied acting at Middlesex University
Middlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
.
He began presenting on The Saturday Show
The Saturday Show (BBC TV series)
The Saturday Show was a BBC children's Saturday morning show that first aired in 2001, replacing the popular Live & Kicking. It had a mix of audience participation, cartoons, games and gunge. Initially it was presented by Dani Behr and Joe Mace. They left in 2002 and were replaced by Fearne Cotton...
in 2002 when he was a virtual unknown, but went on to host other shows like Xperimental and Hard Spell Abbey
Hard Spell Abbey
Hard Spell Abbey was a five-part spelling bee game show produced for CBBC. It was shot entirely on location in Suffolk during 2004. The series was designed to accompany Hard Spell, a family spelling competition for BBC One. Each episode featured games as well as some reality-based filming...
, as well as becoming a regular presenter in the CBBC
CBBC
CBBC is one of two brand names used for the BBC's children's television strands. Between 1985 and 2002, CBBC was the name given to all the BBC's programmes on TV for children aged under 14...
studio and guest host of The Big Toe Radio Show
The Big Toe Radio Show
The Big Toe Radio Show was a daily show for children on the DAB radio station BBC 7 at breakfast time and from 4-6pm. It was aimed at children aged nine to eleven. It featured music, games, stories read from well-known books such as those by Roald Dahl and fun...
on digital radio station BBC 7
BBC 7
BBC Radio 4 Extra, formerly known as BBC 7 and BBC Radio 7, is a British digital radio station broadcasting comedy, drama, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC's archive of spoken-word entertainment...
. Simon was the longest serving presenter of the The Saturday Show and in the 2004 summer run was the object of the game Gunge Grant in which he competed in a quiz each week with a child contestant, resulting in the loser being gunge
Gunge
Gunge as it is known in the British Isles, or slime as it is known in America and other parts of the world is a thick, gooey, runny substance similar in consistency to paint. It has been a feature on many children's programmes for many years around the world and has made appearances in game shows...
d. This game was changed slightly in 2005 and renamed Gunge GBH (Gunge Grant, Bell
Angellica Bell
Angellica Bell is a British television and radio presenter.-Early life:Born in 1976 of St. Lucian heritage, Bell was educated in Ealing, West London at Notting Hill & Ealing High School. She later earned her BA Honours degree in Politics.-Television career:2000–2006Bell joined CBBC in May 2000...
or Humphrey
Jake Humphrey
Jacob John "Jake" Humphrey is an English television presenter, currently best known for his work with BBC Sport, being the youngest ever presenter to host Football Focus, Match of the Day and Final Score. He currently presents the BBC's Formula One coverage and BBC Sports Personality of the Year...
), with the new rule of a different Saturday Show presenter going head to head with the child each week. Simon was also the original host of Top of the Pops Saturday along with Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
, which led him to present Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
. He also appeared in the CBBC Scotland detective show Suspect
Suspect (television)
Suspect is a Whodunit crime mystery program on the children's television channel CBBC. Children attempt to solve crimes committed at the fictional Kilcrammond House Hotel to gain admittance to the Academy of Criminal Investigation...
, where a team of three children attempt to solve a crime committed in the so called Kilcrammond House Hotel. In 2006 he appeared in BBC One
BBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's Celebrity MasterChef and the BBC's Making Your Mind Up
Making Your Mind Up
"Making Your Mind Up" is a song by British pop group Bucks Fizz. It was the winner of the 1981 Eurovision Song Contest and a UK Number-one single...
as southwest England's regional host. On 1 December 2006, he presented in the CBBC studio for the final time.
He is a regular voice for BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
and voice over artist for many adverts including Crayola
Crayola
Crayola is a brand of artists' supplies manufactured by Crayola LLC, which was founded in 1885 as Binney & Smith. It is best known for its crayons...
and McDonalds. Simon hosted a series of Movie Specials for ITV including Ratatouille: Serving up a Feast, a behind the scenes look as smash hit animation Disney Pixar
Pixar
Pixar Animation Studios, pronounced , is an American computer animation film studio based in Emeryville, California. The studio has earned 26 Academy Awards, seven Golden Globes, and three Grammy Awards, among many other awards and acknowledgments. Its films have made over $6.3 billion worldwide...
Ratatouille
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is a traditional French Provençal stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. The full name of the dish is ratatouille niçoise.- Origin :...
. He also presented Hannah Super Fan for Disney Channel
Disney Channel
Disney Channel is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by the Disney-ABC Television Group division of The Walt Disney Company. It is under the direction of Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney. The channel's headquarters is located on West Alameda Ave. in...
.
As an actor he has performed in fringe theatre around London, including at The King's Head Theatre
The King's Head Theatre
The King's Head Theatre, founded in 1970 by Dan Crawford, is an Off-West End venue in London. It was the first pub theatre in the UK. Adam Spreadbury-Maher became Artistic Director in March 2010 .-Background:...
in Islington. For CBBC Scotland, he appeared in the drama series Jess the Border Collie. Simon played the Owl in the Children's Party at the Palace
Children's Party at the Palace
The Children's Party at the Palace was an event organized by Peter Orton of Hit Entertainment and David Johnstone of DJI consult, held at Buckingham Palace Garden on 25 June 2006 in honour of the 80th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II. The event, which had the theme British children's literature, was...
The Queen's Handbag a celebration at Buckingham Palace to mark The Queen's 80th birthday directed by Sir Trevor Nunn. He also appeared in pantomime
Pantomime
Pantomime — not to be confused with a mime artist, a theatrical performer of mime—is a musical-comedy theatrical production traditionally found in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Jamaica, South Africa, India, Ireland, Gibraltar and Malta, and is mostly performed during the...
Cinderella
Cinderella
"Cinderella; or, The Little Glass Slipper" is a folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward. Thousands of variants are known throughout the world. The title character is a young woman living in unfortunate circumstances that are suddenly changed to remarkable fortune...
in Torquay over the 2006 and 2009 Christmas periods and as Buttons at the Grand Opera House
Grand Opera House
Grand Opera House may refer to:in Canada*Grand Opera House in England*Grand Opera House in France*Palais Garnier in Paris, often called the "Grand Opera House"in Northern Ireland*Grand Opera House in the United States...
York in 2007 and at the Kings Theatre in Southsea.
In 2008 he featured in a run of the Guinness World Record holder for longest running live sketch comedy show NewsRevue at the Canal Cafe Theatre
Canal Cafe Theatre
The Canal Cafe Theatre is a 60-seat fringe theatre venue in Little Venice, London, specialising in comedy performances.-Location:The theatre is above the Bridge House pub in Little Venice, on the corner of Westbourne Terrace Road and Delamere Terrace, at the meeting point of the Grand Union and...
in Little Venice, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.. He has also twice directed the show. In 2009 and to acclaim in 2010 over the election period.
He has starred in an advert for online insurance and holiday finders 'Money Supermarket.com' and recently took a role in Emmerdale
Emmerdale
Emmerdale, is a long-running British soap opera set in Emmerdale , a fictional village in the Yorkshire Dales. Created by Kevin Laffan, Emmerdale was first broadcast on 16 October 1972...
.