Andrew Hayden-Smith
Encyclopedia
Andrew Hayden-Smith is a British
actor and television presenter best known for his work with CBBC
.
in County Durham
and attended the Pelton Roseberry Sports and Community College
. He has an older half-sister, Kerri Rogan-Smith, from his mother's first marriage. Auditions for popular CBBC children's serial drama Byker Grove
were held at his school and he won the part of Ben Carter, making his first appearance in the eighth series of the show in 1995.
Initially just using the name Andrew Smith, his "bad boy" womanising character became a big hit with viewers. His good looks also gained him much attention and in 2000 he appeared as a guest on Saturday morning CBBC show Live & Kicking
with several other characters from the show. Smith's shy and down-to-earth nature endeared him to viewers and he soon became a regular guest on the show. This led to appearances on other shows and also in teen-magazines, as well as two pantomime
appearances. In 2001 he applied for Equity
membership and was accepted under the name Andrew Hayden-Smith (Hayden being another surname in his family), as the name Andrew Smith was already taken. He announced his change of stage name on Live & Kicking.
Hayden-Smith is openly gay.
Hayden-Smith's popularity continued and, having been a regular guest in the CBBC studio for some time, was invited to guest present the studio links in autumn 2002. He had expressed a wish for some time to have a go at presenting, and was encouraged by existing CBBC presenter Jake Humphrey
to ask the bosses if he could stay on. This was agreed and Hayden-Smith moved to London to become half of the main presenting team for the afternoon slot on BBC1, a position he would continue to hold for just under four years. During that period from time to time he also presented the CBBC breakfast shows on BBC1 and BBC2 as well as the digital CBBC channel. In 2003 he also filmed his final scenes of Byker Grove, in which his character was killed off. Hayden-Smith became one of the most popular presenters on CBBC. Again his down-to-earth persona was a hit with viewers and he became close friends with several of his fellow presenters, including Angellica Bell
and Adrian Dickson
.
During his time on CBBC
, Hayden-Smith was once gunge
d in the studio after a phone-in deciding which presenter should get gunged in honour of the gameshow Get Your Own Back
. With 63% of the votes, Hayden-Smith had a bucket of pink gunge and a bucket of green gunge poured directly over his head.
By this time he had begun presenting the UK Top 40 on CBBC. The show had begun in early 2002 along with the CBBC digital channel and was originally presented by Adrian Dickson
and Konnie Huq
. It was aired on Sunday nights concurrently with the Top 40 show on Radio One. After Dickson and Huq left the show in September 2004, Hayden-Smith was approached to become the sole presenter, having stood in for Dickson at the last minute one Sunday night several months previously. At first the show continued its success, but in 2005 the format changed to become more "computerised" and this was not received well. The last show was broadcast in June 2005.
Hayden-Smith appeared in the episodes "Rise of the Cybermen
", "The Age of Steel
" and "Doomsday
" as Jake Simmonds
in the 2006 series of Doctor Who
. He returned to CBBC having completed the filming, but decided that he wished to concentrate on acting. His final day of presenting was on 7 July 2006, the day before his third and final Doctor Who appearance.
On leaving CBBC and after his final Doctor Who appearance, Hayden-Smith concentrated on his acting career. He played Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
at the Jermyn Street Theatre
, London, 21 April - 17 May 2008. His position as Jake Simmonds on Doctor Who earned him a spot on The Weakest Link. He placed fifth, despite being the strongest link several times. Hayden-Smith has also worked as a continuity announcer for ITV
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
actor and television presenter best known for his work with 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...
.
Early years
Smith was brought up in Chester-le-StreetChester-le-Street
Chester-le-Street is a town in County Durham, England. It has a history going back to Roman times when it was called Concangis. The town is located south of Newcastle upon Tyne and west of Sunderland on the River Wear...
in County Durham
County Durham
County Durham is a ceremonial county and unitary district in north east England. The county town is Durham. The largest settlement in the ceremonial county is the town of Darlington...
and attended the Pelton Roseberry Sports and Community College
Roseberry Sports and Community College
Roseberry Sports and Community College is a state comprehensive school, Sports College and sixth form in County Durham, England, founded in 1956. The College Principal is Mrs...
. He has an older half-sister, Kerri Rogan-Smith, from his mother's first marriage. Auditions for popular CBBC children's serial drama Byker Grove
Byker Grove
Byker Grove was a British television series which aired between 1989 and 2006 and was created by Adele Rose. The show was broadcast at 5.10pm after Newsround on CBBC on BBC One...
were held at his school and he won the part of Ben Carter, making his first appearance in the eighth series of the show in 1995.
Initially just using the name Andrew Smith, his "bad boy" womanising character became a big hit with viewers. His good looks also gained him much attention and in 2000 he appeared as a guest on Saturday morning CBBC show Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking
Live & Kicking was a BBC Saturday morning children's magazine programme, running from 1993 to 2001. The fourth in a succession of Saturday morning shows, it was the replacement for Going Live!, and took many of its features from it, such as phone-ins, games, comedy, competitions and the showing of...
with several other characters from the show. Smith's shy and down-to-earth nature endeared him to viewers and he soon became a regular guest on the show. This led to appearances on other shows and also in teen-magazines, as well as two 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...
appearances. In 2001 he applied for Equity
British Actors' Equity Association
Equity is the trade union for actors, stage managers and models in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1930 by a group of West End performers....
membership and was accepted under the name Andrew Hayden-Smith (Hayden being another surname in his family), as the name Andrew Smith was already taken. He announced his change of stage name on Live & Kicking.
Hayden-Smith is openly gay.
Career
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...
to ask the bosses if he could stay on. This was agreed and Hayden-Smith moved to London to become half of the main presenting team for the afternoon slot on BBC1, a position he would continue to hold for just under four years. During that period from time to time he also presented the CBBC breakfast shows on BBC1 and BBC2 as well as the digital CBBC channel. In 2003 he also filmed his final scenes of Byker Grove, in which his character was killed off. Hayden-Smith became one of the most popular presenters on CBBC. Again his down-to-earth persona was a hit with viewers and he became close friends with several of his fellow presenters, including Angellica 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...
and Adrian Dickson
Adrian Dickson
Adrian Dickson is a South-African born British television and radio host.He began his career after graduating from a Broadcast Journalism university degree course. His first television appearances were for CBBC on BBC Television...
.
During his time on 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...
, Hayden-Smith was once 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 in the studio after a phone-in deciding which presenter should get gunged in honour of the gameshow Get Your Own Back
Get Your Own Back
Get Your Own Back is a British children's game show, which ran from 26 September 1991 to 31 March 2003. It has been presented throughout by Dave Benson Phillips with the addition of Lisa Brockwell as a co-host from 2001 to the programme's end in 2003....
. With 63% of the votes, Hayden-Smith had a bucket of pink gunge and a bucket of green gunge poured directly over his head.
By this time he had begun presenting the UK Top 40 on CBBC. The show had begun in early 2002 along with the CBBC digital channel and was originally presented by Adrian Dickson
Adrian Dickson
Adrian Dickson is a South-African born British television and radio host.He began his career after graduating from a Broadcast Journalism university degree course. His first television appearances were for CBBC on BBC Television...
and Konnie Huq
Konnie Huq
Kanak Asha "Konnie" Huq is a British television presenter, who is best known for being the longest-serving female presenter of Blue Peter, having presented it from 1 December 1997 until 23 January 2008...
. It was aired on Sunday nights concurrently with the Top 40 show on Radio One. After Dickson and Huq left the show in September 2004, Hayden-Smith was approached to become the sole presenter, having stood in for Dickson at the last minute one Sunday night several months previously. At first the show continued its success, but in 2005 the format changed to become more "computerised" and this was not received well. The last show was broadcast in June 2005.
Hayden-Smith appeared in the episodes "Rise of the Cybermen
Rise of the Cybermen
"Rise of the Cybermen" is an episode in the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. The episode features the return of Cybermen, where they are created on Earth itself. It is the first part of a two-part story, the concluding part being "The Age of Steel"...
", "The Age of Steel
The Age of Steel
"The Age of Steel" is an episode of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 20 May 2006 and is the second part of a two-part story that was the first to feature the Cybermen since Silver Nemesis in 1988. The first part, "Rise of the Cybermen", was...
" and "Doomsday
Doomsday (Doctor Who)
"Doomsday" is the thirteenth and final episode in the second series of the revival of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who. It was first broadcast on 8 July 2006 and is the conclusion of a two-part story; the first part, "Army of Ghosts", was broadcast on 1 July 2006...
" as Jake Simmonds
Jake Simmonds
Jake Simmonds is a fictional character played by Andrew Hayden-Smith in the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. He originates from a parallel Earth....
in the 2006 series of Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
. He returned to CBBC having completed the filming, but decided that he wished to concentrate on acting. His final day of presenting was on 7 July 2006, the day before his third and final Doctor Who appearance.
On leaving CBBC and after his final Doctor Who appearance, Hayden-Smith concentrated on his acting career. He played Romeo in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of playwright William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.Romeo and Juliet belongs to a...
at the Jermyn Street Theatre
Jermyn Street Theatre
Jermyn Street Theatre is a performance venue situated in Jermyn Street, London.Formerly a restaurant, under the leadership of Howard Jameson, it was transformed into a 70-seat studio theatre right in the heart of London's West End...
, London, 21 April - 17 May 2008. His position as Jake Simmonds on Doctor Who earned him a spot on The Weakest Link. He placed fifth, despite being the strongest link several times. Hayden-Smith has also worked as a continuity announcer for 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...
.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995–2003 | Byker Grove Byker Grove Byker Grove was a British television series which aired between 1989 and 2006 and was created by Adele Rose. The show was broadcast at 5.10pm after Newsround on CBBC on BBC One... |
Ben Carter | Series 8–15 |
| 2002–2006 | 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... |
Himself | Main Presenter |
| 2004–2005 | UK Top 40 UK Top 40 (TV series) UK Top 40 was a charts-based programme which aired on Sundays at 6pm on the CBBC channel from 2002 to 2005. The Show relaunched in Autumn 2002 along with the new CBBC line up... |
Himself | Main Presenter |
| 2006 | Doctor Who Doctor Who Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior... |
Jake Simmonds | Guest role (3 episodes) |
| 2007 | Peter Pan Peter Pan Peter Pan is a character created by Scottish novelist and playwright J. M. Barrie . A mischievous boy who can fly and magically refuses to grow up, Peter Pan spends his never-ending childhood adventuring on the small island of Neverland as the leader of his gang the Lost Boys, interacting with... |
Peter Pan | Main Role |
| 2007 | 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... |
Dandini | Major Role |