Simon Groom
Encyclopedia
Simon Groom is a British
Producer & Director, best known as a former presenter of Blue Peter
.
Groom was born in Chesterfield
, Derbyshire
, and was brought up on a farm in Dethick, which he often visited for Blue Peter reports. He attended Birmingham University and worked briefly as an English teacher before becoming a disc jockey and joining Blue Peter in 1978.
Groom's many co-presenters on Blue Peter until leaving in 1986 were Lesley Judd
, John Noakes
, Christopher Wenner
, Tina Heath
, Peter Duncan
, Sarah Greene
, Janet Ellis
and Michael Sundin
.
He became known among the programme's production team for his dry humour and ability to ad lib innuendo
in his broadcasting (which would pass over the heads of the programme's main audience of children). Probably his most famous such statement was at the end of a piece on a replacement door knocker at Durham Cathedral, declaring "what a beautiful pair of knockers". Another notorious remark followed a piece about hedge maintenance where he closed with the remark, "Yes, Sarah
, if you want a good lay, you need a good length."
After leaving Blue Peter, Groom produced his first TV documentary: 'Angels & Devils', a critically acclaimed biopic of film director Ken Russell, voted 'Pick of the Day' in both the Daily Telegraph & Guardian. He also wrote, directed & produced 'A Steamy Affair: the Story of the Flying Scotsman' for Channel 4 TV. His other television documentaries include: 'Bucking Mad', the story of an English rodeo rider [BBC1] & 'Full Circle: the Saving of Derby's Roundhouse' [BBC1].
Groom has also produced and presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four, notably: 'George Oliver: A Man For All Seasons', the story of a Bedfordshire Gamekeeper; 'Peak Park Pressures' - Britain's first national park; and 'Ferry Across the Mekong': 2 thirty minute programmes [Sony nominated] in which he makes a return trip to Cambodia. [In 1979, he was the first Western journalist after John Pilger to enter the country, following the demise of Pol Pot].
Groom is a passionate fan of Derby County F.C. His other interests are: music, film, classic cars & steam trains.
He and his wife Gilly run a 170 acre farm in Derbyshire, where they keep traditional breeds:
Hereford cattle & Jacob sheep.
He currently works as an Ambassador for the city of Derby and in 2010 was given an Honorary Degree by the University of Derby in recognition of his contribution to broadcasting.
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...
Producer & Director, best known as a former presenter of Blue Peter
Blue Peter
Blue Peter is the world's longest-running children's television show, having first aired in 1958. It is shown on CBBC, both in its BBC One programming block and on the CBBC channel. During its history there have been many presenters, often consisting of two women and two men at a time...
.
Groom was born in Chesterfield
Chesterfield
Chesterfield is a market town and a borough of Derbyshire, England. It lies north of Derby, on a confluence of the rivers Rother and Hipper. Its population is 70,260 , making it Derbyshire's largest town...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, and was brought up on a farm in Dethick, which he often visited for Blue Peter reports. He attended Birmingham University and worked briefly as an English teacher before becoming a disc jockey and joining Blue Peter in 1978.
Groom's many co-presenters on Blue Peter until leaving in 1986 were Lesley Judd
Lesley Judd
Lesley Judd is an English dancer and TV presenter, best known as a long-serving host of the BBC children's programme Blue Peter. She was educated at the independent Royal Ballet School...
, John Noakes
John Noakes
John Noakes is a British television presenter and personality, best known for co-presenting the BBC children's magazine programme Blue Peter in the 1960s and 1970s. He remains the show's longest-serving presenter, with a stint that lasted 12 years and 6 months...
, Christopher Wenner
Christopher Wenner
Christopher Wenner is a British journalist and former British television presenter.On 14 September 1978, Wenner joined the British children's television programme, Blue Peter...
, Tina Heath
Tina Heath
Tina Heath is a British actress and former television presenter. In 1973, she played the title role in the popular children's television serial Lizzie Dripping after first playing the character in an episode of Jackanory Playhouse in 1972; her character was supposed to be 12 years old, but in fact...
, Peter Duncan
Peter Duncan (actor)
Peter Duncan is a British actor and television presenter, best known as a former presenter of Blue Peter and for his later family travel documentaries.-Education:...
, Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene is a British television personality well known for presenting live TV: long-running series e.g. Blue Peter, from 19 May 1980 until 27 June 1983, Saturday Superstore, Going Live for 10 years and big event/awards shows.- Early life and career :Greene was born in London, England, the...
, Janet Ellis
Janet Ellis
Janet Ellis is a British television presenter and actress, who appeared on BBC children's television in the 1980s, including a four year period as a presenter on Blue Peter, a role she won after hosting the award-winning children's programme Jigsaw.- Early life :Ellis's father was a soldier,...
and Michael Sundin
Michael Sundin
Michael Sundin was a television presenter, actor, dancer and trampolinist, who is best remembered for his short time as a Blue Peter presenter .-Career history:...
.
He became known among the programme's production team for his dry humour and ability to ad lib innuendo
Innuendo
An innuendo is a baseless invention of thoughts or ideas. It can also be a remark or question, typically disparaging , that works obliquely by allusion...
in his broadcasting (which would pass over the heads of the programme's main audience of children). Probably his most famous such statement was at the end of a piece on a replacement door knocker at Durham Cathedral, declaring "what a beautiful pair of knockers". Another notorious remark followed a piece about hedge maintenance where he closed with the remark, "Yes, Sarah
Sarah Greene
Sarah Greene is a British television personality well known for presenting live TV: long-running series e.g. Blue Peter, from 19 May 1980 until 27 June 1983, Saturday Superstore, Going Live for 10 years and big event/awards shows.- Early life and career :Greene was born in London, England, the...
, if you want a good lay, you need a good length."
After leaving Blue Peter, Groom produced his first TV documentary: 'Angels & Devils', a critically acclaimed biopic of film director Ken Russell, voted 'Pick of the Day' in both the Daily Telegraph & Guardian. He also wrote, directed & produced 'A Steamy Affair: the Story of the Flying Scotsman' for Channel 4 TV. His other television documentaries include: 'Bucking Mad', the story of an English rodeo rider [BBC1] & 'Full Circle: the Saving of Derby's Roundhouse' [BBC1].
Groom has also produced and presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four, notably: 'George Oliver: A Man For All Seasons', the story of a Bedfordshire Gamekeeper; 'Peak Park Pressures' - Britain's first national park; and 'Ferry Across the Mekong': 2 thirty minute programmes [Sony nominated] in which he makes a return trip to Cambodia. [In 1979, he was the first Western journalist after John Pilger to enter the country, following the demise of Pol Pot].
Groom is a passionate fan of Derby County F.C. His other interests are: music, film, classic cars & steam trains.
He and his wife Gilly run a 170 acre farm in Derbyshire, where they keep traditional breeds:
Hereford cattle & Jacob sheep.
He currently works as an Ambassador for the city of Derby and in 2010 was given an Honorary Degree by the University of Derby in recognition of his contribution to broadcasting.