Andrew Younghusband
Encyclopedia
Andrew Younghusband is a Canadian television personality, writer and journalist, best known for his most recent appearances as host of the reality shows Canada's Worst Driver
and Canada's Worst Handyman
, as well as the documentary series Tall Ship Chronicles
.
One of his comedic appearances was an on-stage and television appearance at the Halifax Comedy Festival
. His early television writing duties were in comedic environments, but recently he has written for the two Canada's Worst reality series.
Toiling in limited roles through the 90s, Younghusband made several guest appearances in television series as well as making modest film appearances, several of which placed him on the same sets "rubbing elbows" with notable Canadian (and fellow Newfoundland
natives) personalities like Rick Mercer
, Cathy Jones and Mary Walsh.
In 1999, he was co-creator, writer and actor in the short-lived Canadian series Dooley Gardens
, playing the role of homicidal ex-con Zamboni driver Tracy. Later that year, he began hosting and co-wrote a Salter Street
production called Foodessence, which lasted 65 episodes. The Gemini award
-winning Foodessence explored how, why, and what we eat through anthropology, social-science, history and science. The reality-based and historical aspects of the show seemed to signal the beginning of a change of direction for Younghusband's career.
In 2000, he earned critical acclaim for his role in the film Violet, as Carlos, the brilliant, gay son of the title character played by Mary Walsh. The film, set in Newfoundland, was first screened in August 2000 at the Montreal Film Festival.
Salter Street was purchased by Alliance Atlantis
, and after the completion of his work on Foodessence, he signed up to participate in a new Life Network
reality tv production called Tall Ship Chronicles
.
Departing Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
in December 2000 on a 19-month, around the world voyage, Younghusband became a crew member of the barque
Picton Castle
. On board were the captain and 9 other professional crew members, along with 35 trainees including Younghusband. Although he was the narrator of the program, he also had to act as bona-fide member of the crew who was required to live under 19th-century conditions. During the voyage, the footage was aired (beginning in June 2001) as a 16-part documentary on Life Network, and later on other networks like the UK incarnation of the Travel Channel. Topsail Entertainment, which produced the series, later went on to produce the popular series Trailer Park Boys
. Younghusband had made a guest appearance on the Topsail-produced series Black Harbour
in 1998.
Younghusband appeared on CBC Newsworld
regularly in a segment called Inside Media, in which he shows a talent for political satire
. In 2004, he hosted a national radio show on CBC
1 & 2 called Crank It Up.
Following his experiences in the genre, Younghusband has since worked frequently in reality TV. He hosted and co-wrote the 2005 series Canada's Worst Driver
and its follow up season, Canada's Worst Driver 2
, as well as the World's Worst Driver "bonus" episode. He has hosted all seasons of Canada's Worst Driver (1-6). He was also the host of Canada's Worst Handyman
, seasons 1 through 6.
Over the course of his life and career he has visited more than 40 countries.
(1998), Best Writing in an Information Program or Series for Undercurrents
Canada's Worst Driver
Canada's Worst Driver , is a reality television series first aired on Discovery Channel Canada, based on the UK Channel 4 Television Corporation's Britain's Worst Driver...
and Canada's Worst Handyman
Canada's Worst Handyman
Canada's Worst Handyman is the 2006 season of the reality television series Canada's Worst Handyman airing on Discovery Channel Canada, produced by Proper Television...
, as well as the documentary series Tall Ship Chronicles
Tallship chronicles
Tall Ship Chronicles was a television series produced in Canada in 2001 and 2002. It followed the training of Canadian journalist and actor Andrew Younghusband on an 18-month sail training voyage around the World, on the barque Picton Castle....
.
Career
Younghusband began his career at 15 as a stage actor in St. John's, Newfoundland. He then branched out into different media and different formats, including radio and television, filling roles in both writing positions and as an on-air personality. He has worked in serious and comedic roles, as well as documentary, reality, and news productions.One of his comedic appearances was an on-stage and television appearance at the Halifax Comedy Festival
Halifax Comedy Festival
The Halifax Comedy Festival is an annual comedy festival held in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. The festival is sponsored by the CBC which tapes and broadcasts the comedians' sets as a series of television specials, and is usually about one week long...
. His early television writing duties were in comedic environments, but recently he has written for the two Canada's Worst reality series.
Toiling in limited roles through the 90s, Younghusband made several guest appearances in television series as well as making modest film appearances, several of which placed him on the same sets "rubbing elbows" with notable Canadian (and fellow Newfoundland
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
natives) personalities like Rick Mercer
Rick Mercer
Richard Vincent "Rick" Mercer is a Canadian comedian, television personality, political satirist, and blogger.Mercer first came to national attention in 1990, when he premiered his one man show Show Me the Button, I'll Push It, or Charles Lynch Must Die at the Great Canadian Theatre Company in...
, Cathy Jones and Mary Walsh.
In 1999, he was co-creator, writer and actor in the short-lived Canadian series Dooley Gardens
Dooley Gardens
Dooley Gardens is a Canadian television sitcom, which aired on CBC Television in 1999. The series was set in a hockey rink in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, inherited by Skye Dooley after the death of her father....
, playing the role of homicidal ex-con Zamboni driver Tracy. Later that year, he began hosting and co-wrote a Salter Street
Salter Street Films
Salter Street Films was a Canadian television and film production company based in Halifax, Nova Scotia.- History :The company was founded by brothers Paul and Michael Donovan in 1983. Paul Donovan was trained as a director at the London Film School; Michael graduated from Dalhousie University’s...
production called Foodessence, which lasted 65 episodes. The Gemini award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
-winning Foodessence explored how, why, and what we eat through anthropology, social-science, history and science. The reality-based and historical aspects of the show seemed to signal the beginning of a change of direction for Younghusband's career.
In 2000, he earned critical acclaim for his role in the film Violet, as Carlos, the brilliant, gay son of the title character played by Mary Walsh. The film, set in Newfoundland, was first screened in August 2000 at the Montreal Film Festival.
Salter Street was purchased by Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis
Alliance Atlantis Communications Inc. was a Toronto-based media company that operated primarily as a specialty service operator in Canada. Alliance Atlantis also had offices in Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Dublin, Madrid, Barcelona, Shannon and Sydney.Alliance Atlantis was acquired by Canwest...
, and after the completion of his work on Foodessence, he signed up to participate in a new Life Network
Life Network
Slice is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Shaw Media. Slice is a lifestyle channel directed towards women with programming including talk shows, reality television and more.-History:...
reality tv production called Tall Ship Chronicles
Tallship chronicles
Tall Ship Chronicles was a television series produced in Canada in 2001 and 2002. It followed the training of Canadian journalist and actor Andrew Younghusband on an 18-month sail training voyage around the World, on the barque Picton Castle....
.
Departing Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg , is a Canadian port town in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.Situated on the province's South Shore, Lunenburg is located on a peninsula at the western side of Mahone Bay. The town is approximately 90 kilometres southwest of the county boundary with the Halifax Regional Municipality.The...
in December 2000 on a 19-month, around the world voyage, Younghusband became a crew member of the barque
Barque
A barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
Picton Castle
Picton Castle (ship)
The Picton Castle is a is a fully certified and registered tall ship whose mission is deep-ocean sail training and long distance education. The Picton Castle is perhaps best known for her World Circumnavigations, though she has visited the Great Lakes twice, sailed numerous times on tours on the...
. On board were the captain and 9 other professional crew members, along with 35 trainees including Younghusband. Although he was the narrator of the program, he also had to act as bona-fide member of the crew who was required to live under 19th-century conditions. During the voyage, the footage was aired (beginning in June 2001) as a 16-part documentary on Life Network, and later on other networks like the UK incarnation of the Travel Channel. Topsail Entertainment, which produced the series, later went on to produce the popular series Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys
Trailer Park Boys is a Canadian comedy mockumentary television series created and directed by Mike Clattenburg that focuses on the misadventures of a group of trailer park residents, some of whom are ex-convicts, living in the fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The...
. Younghusband had made a guest appearance on the Topsail-produced series Black Harbour
Black Harbour
Black Harbour is a Canadian television series, which ran on CBC Television from 1996 to 1999.The show starred Rebecca Jenkins as Katherine Hubbard, a successful restaurant owner who returned to live in her Nova Scotia hometown to be with her mother who had suffered a heart attack. Her husband...
in 1998.
Younghusband appeared on CBC Newsworld
CBC Newsworld
CBC News Network is a Canadian English language Category C specialty news channel owned and operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation . It broadcasts into over 10 million homes in Canada. It is the world's third-oldest television service of this nature, after CNN in the United States and...
regularly in a segment called Inside Media, in which he shows a talent for political satire
Political satire
Political satire is a significant part of satire that specializes in gaining entertainment from politics; it has also been used with subversive intent where political speech and dissent are forbidden by a regime, as a method of advancing political arguments where such arguments are expressly...
. In 2004, he hosted a national radio show on CBC
CBC Radio
CBC Radio generally refers to the English-language radio operations of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The CBC operates a number of radio networks serving different audiences and programming niches, all of which are outlined below.-English:CBC Radio operates three English language...
1 & 2 called Crank It Up.
Following his experiences in the genre, Younghusband has since worked frequently in reality TV. He hosted and co-wrote the 2005 series Canada's Worst Driver
Canada's Worst Driver
Canada's Worst Driver , is a reality television series first aired on Discovery Channel Canada, based on the UK Channel 4 Television Corporation's Britain's Worst Driver...
and its follow up season, Canada's Worst Driver 2
Canada's Worst Driver 2
Canada's Worst Driver 2 is the second season of Canada's Worst Driver, a Discovery Channel Canada television series which seeks to improve the driving skills of eight selected contestants, who are also trying to avoid being named the show's eponymous and dubious title...
, as well as the World's Worst Driver "bonus" episode. He has hosted all seasons of Canada's Worst Driver (1-6). He was also the host of Canada's Worst Handyman
Canada's Worst Handyman
Canada's Worst Handyman is the 2006 season of the reality television series Canada's Worst Handyman airing on Discovery Channel Canada, produced by Proper Television...
, seasons 1 through 6.
Personal
After residing most recently in a small fishing village near St. John's, Newfoundland, Andrew Younghusband now resides in Toronto, Ontario.Over the course of his life and career he has visited more than 40 countries.
On-screen roles
- Understanding Bliss (1990) - Andrew/Father Christmas
- Secret Nation (1992) - Brian Peckford #2
- Anchor Zone (1994) - Brogan
- Dead SilenceDead SilenceDead Silence is a 2007 horror film, directed by James Wan and written by Leigh Whannell, the creators of Saw...
(1997) - Reporter #1 - The Outer LimitsThe Outer Limits (1995 TV series)The Outer Limits is an American television series that originally aired on Showtime,the Sci Fi Channel and in syndication between 1995 and 2002...
TV series: episode "Music of the Spheres" (1997) - D.J. - Black HarbourBlack HarbourBlack Harbour is a Canadian television series, which ran on CBC Television from 1996 to 1999.The show starred Rebecca Jenkins as Katherine Hubbard, a successful restaurant owner who returned to live in her Nova Scotia hometown to be with her mother who had suffered a heart attack. Her husband...
TV series: episode "Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" (1998) - Corporal Anderson - BlackflyBlackfly (TV series)Blackfly is a Canadian sitcom which ran on the Global Television Network for two seasons in 2001 and 2002. Although shot single-camera like most Canadian comedies, this series was shot on film rather than videotape and contains a laugh track rather than making use of the usual live audience because...
TV Series: pilot (1999) - McTavish - Dooley GardensDooley GardensDooley Gardens is a Canadian television sitcom, which aired on CBC Television in 1999. The series was set in a hockey rink in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, inherited by Skye Dooley after the death of her father....
TV series (1999) - Tracy - Foodessence Reality TV (1999) - Host
- Violet (2000) - Carlos
- Tall Ship Chronicles Reality TV/documentary (2001) - Narrator/crew member
- Random PassageRandom PassageRandom Passage is a 1992 novel by Newfoundland author Bernice Morgan. It was published by Breakwater Books Ltd. of St. John's, NL. It was followed by a sequel, Waiting for Time....
miniseries (2002) - Matt Escott - Inside Media News/satire (2004) - Host
- Canada's Worst DriverCanada's Worst DriverCanada's Worst Driver , is a reality television series first aired on Discovery Channel Canada, based on the UK Channel 4 Television Corporation's Britain's Worst Driver...
Reality TV (2005) - Host - World's Worst DriverWorld's Worst DriverWorld's Worst Driver follows the formula of Britain's Worst Driver, but it includes contestants from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Thailand and New Zealand...
Reality TV special (2005) - Host - Canada's Worst HandymanCanada's Worst HandymanCanada's Worst Handyman is the 2006 season of the reality television series Canada's Worst Handyman airing on Discovery Channel Canada, produced by Proper Television...
Reality TV (2006) - Host
Writing credits
- UndercurrentsUndercurrents (TV series)Undercurrents was a Canadian television newsmagazine series in the 1990s, hosted by Wendy Mesley.The series, which first aired in 1994, primarily concentrated on investigative and documentary reports about media and technology, such as examining media coverage of controversial issues...
, writer - Foodessence, co-writer
- Tall Ship Chronicles, writer
- Ultimate Survival:Everest, writer
- X-Quest, writer
- Inside Media, writer
- Canada's Worst DriverCanada's Worst DriverCanada's Worst Driver , is a reality television series first aired on Discovery Channel Canada, based on the UK Channel 4 Television Corporation's Britain's Worst Driver...
, co-writer - World's Worst DriverWorld's Worst DriverWorld's Worst Driver follows the formula of Britain's Worst Driver, but it includes contestants from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Thailand and New Zealand...
, co-writer - Canada's Worst HandymanCanada's Worst HandymanCanada's Worst Handyman is the 2006 season of the reality television series Canada's Worst Handyman airing on Discovery Channel Canada, produced by Proper Television...
, co-writer - Blueprint for DisasterBlueprint for DisasterBlueprint for Disaster is a Canadian documentary television series that premiered in 2004 on Discovery Channel Canada. Produced by Temple Street Productions, the program investigates why and how various disasters have happened. Toronto-based Voice Artist Adrian Bell provided the narration for the...
, head writer
Awards and nominations
Nominated: GeminiGemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
(1998), Best Writing in an Information Program or Series for Undercurrents
Undercurrents (TV series)
Undercurrents was a Canadian television newsmagazine series in the 1990s, hosted by Wendy Mesley.The series, which first aired in 1994, primarily concentrated on investigative and documentary reports about media and technology, such as examining media coverage of controversial issues...