Andy Akinwolere
Encyclopedia
Andy Akinwolere is a British
television presenter.
in 1982, and moved to the United Kingdom with his family when he was eight years old. They settled in Birmingham
, where he was educated.
in Kings Norton
, a suburb of Birmingham
, and at Sheffield Hallam University
, from which he graduated in 2004, with a BA (Hons) degree in Media Studies
.
television programme Blue Peter
on 28 June 2006. He is now a senior presenter and was nominated for the prestigious Presenter of the Year Children’s BAFTA
and subsequently nominated with Blue Peter the following year for Best Factual Programme.
His first challenge, as a presenter, was to complete a 150 metre abseil and a 1100 ft Hele Bungee
. He has presented the show with Konnie Huq
, Zöe Salmon
, Gethin Jones
, Helen Skelton
, Joel Defries
and Barney Harwood
. As a presenter he has had great experience from guest presenting on CBBC’s Safari 8 to the established art show SM:ART. Andy most recently presented the BBC red button coverage of the London Mini-Marathon. Akinwolere also co-presented a show held in front of a 3,000 strong crowd, and hosted Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate 50 years of Blue Peter, the most established children’s programme in the country. He also presented a ceremony in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI
during his tour of the United Kingdom in September 2010. He is currently working on programme ideas with BBC Switch
and BBC 2
He took part in the Ready Steady Cook
TV programme, competing against fellow presenter Konnie Huq
in December 2007. In the same year he appeared on the "Weakest Link
" where he was the 5th to be eliminated.
He accidentally dropped the star that had topped the 70 ft (21.3 m) Trafalgar Square Christmas tree
for ten years as he was attaching it to a crane, leaving it slightly damaged; nonetheless, he was allowed to try again once it had been taped up.
On 4 April 2011, he mentioned on-air, that he was planning to leave the show, and it was also reported at the same time in his Blue Peter Blog. It had been reported two days earlier in the Daily Mail
On 25 April 2011, Andy was a contestant on Total Wipeout's
2nd Celebrity Special of Series 4 but had to quit in The Wipeout Zone because he hurt himself on Killer Surf. He came 2nd in The Qualifier and Crash Mountain and came 1st in both Dizzy Dummies rounds.
In June 2011, he set a new world record for the deepest location for an open water swim, when he swam over five miles across the Palau Trench in the Pacific Ocean - the first person to have ever done so. This was significant as 10 weeks before he was scared of water & said to be 'terrified of swimming open stretches of water.'
On 28 June that same year and after 5 years on the show Andy made his final show on Blue Peter on the day the show was moving to Salford.
in addition to English
. His mother and father both lived abroad for a while and he spent a small part of his childhood living in Nancy, France
. He has been quoted as saying he has seen 118 different cities around the world. He mentioned on Blue Peter on 8 April 2009 that he shares a flat with CBBC presenter Johny Pitts
. He is an amateur photographer and has had pictures published in National Geographic Kids Magazine and the 2010 Christmas edition of Vogue Bambini. He is also a keen collector of rare vinyl and rare music.
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...
television presenter.
Early life
Akinwolere was born in NigeriaNigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
in 1982, and moved to the United Kingdom with his family when he was eight years old. They settled in Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, where he was educated.
Education
Akinwolere attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic SchoolSt. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School, Birmingham
St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic School is a mixed Catholic secondary school in Kings Norton, Birmingham, England that specialises in mathematics and computing. The school, which is part of the Birmingham Catholic Partnership, consists of key stage three , key stage four and a Sixth form college...
in Kings Norton
Kings Norton
Kings Norton is an area of Birmingham, England. It is also a Birmingham City Council ward within the formal district of Northfield.-History:...
, a suburb of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, and at Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
, from which he graduated in 2004, with a BA (Hons) degree in Media Studies
Media studies
Media studies is an academic discipline and field of study that deals with the content, history and effects of various media; in particular, the 'mass media'. Media studies may draw on traditions from both the social sciences and the humanities, but mostly from its core disciplines of mass...
.
Career
His first job was as a 'runner' for the BBC. He was asked to audition by one of the Blue Peter directors he met whilst eating out with work colleagues; he had previously intended to go into documentary-making and radio. Akinwolere began co-presenting the BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television programme 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...
on 28 June 2006. He is now a senior presenter and was nominated for the prestigious Presenter of the Year Children’s BAFTA
British Academy Film Awards
The British Academy Film Awards are presented in an annual award show hosted by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts . It is the British counterpart of the Oscars. As of 2008, it has taken place in the Royal Opera House, having taken over from the flagship Odeon cinema on Leicester Square...
and subsequently nominated with Blue Peter the following year for Best Factual Programme.
His first challenge, as a presenter, was to complete a 150 metre abseil and a 1100 ft Hele Bungee
Bungee jumping
Bungee jumping is an activity that involves jumping from a tall structure while connected to a large elastic cord. The tall structure is usually a fixed object, such as a building, bridge or crane; but it is also possible to jump from a movable object, such as a hot-air-balloon or helicopter, that...
. He has presented the show with 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...
, Zöe Salmon
Zöe Salmon
Zöe Salmon is a television presenter who hosted the children's television show Blue Peter from 23 December 2004 to 25 June 2008. She also appeared on Dancing on Ice in early 2009.-Life and career:...
, Gethin Jones
Gethin Jones
Gethin Clifford Jones is a Welsh television presenter who has co-presented the BBC children's programme Blue Peter....
, Helen Skelton
Helen Skelton
Helen Skelton is an English television presenter. She has worked on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter since 2008...
, Joel Defries
Joel Defries
Joel Defries is a British-born presenter, who worked on the BBC1 children's programme Blue Peter from 2008-10. He previously worked on the New Zealand television station, C4.-Education:...
and Barney Harwood
Barney Harwood
Barney Harwood is an English television presenter and actor, known for his work with CBBC.-Television:For CBBC, he presented Prank Patrol and was a voice-over commentator for The Smokehouse, while on BBC Two, he co-presented Basil's Swap Shop , alongside Basil Brush.Previous work for CBBC included...
. As a presenter he has had great experience from guest presenting on CBBC’s Safari 8 to the established art show SM:ART. Andy most recently presented the BBC red button coverage of the London Mini-Marathon. Akinwolere also co-presented a show held in front of a 3,000 strong crowd, and hosted Queen Elizabeth II to celebrate 50 years of Blue Peter, the most established children’s programme in the country. He also presented a ceremony in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
during his tour of the United Kingdom in September 2010. He is currently working on programme ideas with BBC Switch
BBC Switch
BBC Switch was the brand for BBC content aimed at UK teenagers. The brand launched on Saturday 20 October 2007 on BBC Two And ceased broadcasting on Saturday 17 December 2010...
and BBC 2
He took part in the Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook
Ready Steady Cook was a BBC daytime TV cooking programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott became the new host...
TV programme, competing against fellow presenter 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...
in December 2007. In the same year he appeared on the "Weakest Link
Weakest Link
The Weakest Link is a British television quiz show, currently broadcast on BBC Two. It was devised by Mr Wilton and Euan Green and Cathy Dunning, and developed for television by the BBC Entertainment Department. It has since been replicated around the world. The UK version is hosted by Anne...
" where he was the 5th to be eliminated.
He accidentally dropped the star that had topped the 70 ft (21.3 m) Trafalgar Square Christmas tree
Trafalgar Square Christmas tree
The Trafalgar Square Christmas tree is the name for the famous Christmas tree donated to the people of London by the city of Oslo each year since 1947...
for ten years as he was attaching it to a crane, leaving it slightly damaged; nonetheless, he was allowed to try again once it had been taped up.
On 4 April 2011, he mentioned on-air, that he was planning to leave the show, and it was also reported at the same time in his Blue Peter Blog. It had been reported two days earlier in the Daily Mail
On 25 April 2011, Andy was a contestant on Total Wipeout's
Total Wipeout
Total Wipeout is a British game show, hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram, which first aired on 3 January 2009. Each week 20 contestants compete in a series of challenges in an attempt to win £10,000. These challenges are based in large pools of water or mud and generally involve large...
2nd Celebrity Special of Series 4 but had to quit in The Wipeout Zone because he hurt himself on Killer Surf. He came 2nd in The Qualifier and Crash Mountain and came 1st in both Dizzy Dummies rounds.
In June 2011, he set a new world record for the deepest location for an open water swim, when he swam over five miles across the Palau Trench in the Pacific Ocean - the first person to have ever done so. This was significant as 10 weeks before he was scared of water & said to be 'terrified of swimming open stretches of water.'
On 28 June that same year and after 5 years on the show Andy made his final show on Blue Peter on the day the show was moving to Salford.
Personal life
Akinwolere has four siblings - three brothers and one sister who live in the United States - and speaks YorubaYoruba language
Yorùbá is a Niger–Congo language spoken in West Africa by approximately 20 million speakers. The native tongue of the Yoruba people, it is spoken, among other languages, in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo and in communities in other parts of Africa, Europe and the Americas...
in addition to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
. His mother and father both lived abroad for a while and he spent a small part of his childhood living in Nancy, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He has been quoted as saying he has seen 118 different cities around the world. He mentioned on Blue Peter on 8 April 2009 that he shares a flat with CBBC presenter Johny Pitts
Johny Pitts
Johny Pitts is a UK TV presenter, writer and photographer from Sheffield. He currently presents Escape from Scorpion Island, Roar and All Over the Place...
. He is an amateur photographer and has had pictures published in National Geographic Kids Magazine and the 2010 Christmas edition of Vogue Bambini. He is also a keen collector of rare vinyl and rare music.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 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... |
Himself | Main Presenter alongside 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... , Zöe Salmon Zöe Salmon Zöe Salmon is a television presenter who hosted the children's television show Blue Peter from 23 December 2004 to 25 June 2008. She also appeared on Dancing on Ice in early 2009.-Life and career:... and Gethin Jones Gethin Jones Gethin Clifford Jones is a Welsh television presenter who has co-presented the BBC children's programme Blue Peter.... |
| 2007 | 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... |
Himself | Main Presenter alongside 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... , Zöe Salmon Zöe Salmon Zöe Salmon is a television presenter who hosted the children's television show Blue Peter from 23 December 2004 to 25 June 2008. She also appeared on Dancing on Ice in early 2009.-Life and career:... and Gethin Jones Gethin Jones Gethin Clifford Jones is a Welsh television presenter who has co-presented the BBC children's programme Blue Peter.... |
| SMart SMart SMart was a British CBBC television programme based on the subject of art, which began in 1994. The programme was recorded at BBC Television Centre in London, previously it had been recorded in Studio A at BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham. The format is similar to the Tony Hart programmes Take Hart... |
Himself | Guest Presenter 1 episode | |
| Ready Steady Cook Ready Steady Cook Ready Steady Cook was a BBC daytime TV cooking programme it first debuted on 24 October 1994 and the last edition was broadcast on the 2 February 2010. The programme was hosted by Fern Britton from 1994 until 2000 when celebrity chef Ainsley Harriott became the new host... |
Himself | Participant alongside co-presenter 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... |
|
| 2008 | 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... |
Himself | Main Presenter alongside 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... , Zöe Salmon Zöe Salmon Zöe Salmon is a television presenter who hosted the children's television show Blue Peter from 23 December 2004 to 25 June 2008. She also appeared on Dancing on Ice in early 2009.-Life and career:... , Gethin Jones Gethin Jones Gethin Clifford Jones is a Welsh television presenter who has co-presented the BBC children's programme Blue Peter.... , Helen Skelton Helen Skelton Helen Skelton is an English television presenter. She has worked on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter since 2008... and Joel Defries Joel Defries Joel Defries is a British-born presenter, who worked on the BBC1 children's programme Blue Peter from 2008-10. He previously worked on the New Zealand television station, C4.-Education:... |
| The Weakest Link The Weakest Link The Weakest Link is a television game show which first appeared in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 14 August 2000 and will end its run in 2012 when its host Anne Robinson ends her contract. The original British version of the show airs around the world on BBC Entertainment... |
Himself | Contestant on Blue Peter Special | |
| SMart SMart SMart was a British CBBC television programme based on the subject of art, which began in 1994. The programme was recorded at BBC Television Centre in London, previously it had been recorded in Studio A at BBC Pebble Mill in Birmingham. The format is similar to the Tony Hart programmes Take Hart... |
Himself | Guest Presenter 1 episode | |
| 2009 | 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... |
Himself | Main Presenter alongside Helen Skelton Helen Skelton Helen Skelton is an English television presenter. She has worked on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter since 2008... and Joel Defries Joel Defries Joel Defries is a British-born presenter, who worked on the BBC1 children's programme Blue Peter from 2008-10. He previously worked on the New Zealand television station, C4.-Education:... |
| Coronation Street Coronation Street Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960... |
Himself | Guest Cameo for 1 episode | |
| 2010 | 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... |
Himself | Main Presenter alongside Helen Skelton Helen Skelton Helen Skelton is an English television presenter. She has worked on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter since 2008... and Joel Defries Joel Defries Joel Defries is a British-born presenter, who worked on the BBC1 children's programme Blue Peter from 2008-10. He previously worked on the New Zealand television station, C4.-Education:... . |
| The Big Assembly | Himself | Main Presenter, with Pope Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See... , of school assembly simulcast to over 2000 Catholic schools and 100,500 people in Britain on 17 September. |
|
| England's Worst Ever XI BBC 3 | Himself | Guest Presenter | |
| Teensville BBC Two | Himself | Main Presenter for Documentary | |
| 100 Greatest Toys Channel 4 | Himself | Guest Presenter | |
| 2011 | Total Wipeout Total Wipeout Total Wipeout is a British game show, hosted by Richard Hammond and Amanda Byram, which first aired on 3 January 2009. Each week 20 contestants compete in a series of challenges in an attempt to win £10,000. These challenges are based in large pools of water or mud and generally involve large... |
Himself | Contestant (had to quit in Wipeout Zone because of injury) |
| 2011 | 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... |
Himself | Main Presenter alongside Helen Skelton Helen Skelton Helen Skelton is an English television presenter. She has worked on the BBC children's programme Blue Peter since 2008... and Barney Harwood Barney Harwood Barney Harwood is an English television presenter and actor, known for his work with CBBC.-Television:For CBBC, he presented Prank Patrol and was a voice-over commentator for The Smokehouse, while on BBC Two, he co-presented Basil's Swap Shop , alongside Basil Brush.Previous work for CBBC included... |