Grub Smith
Encyclopedia
Michael 'Grub' Smith is an English television presenter and journalist
for FHM
and Poker Player magazines.
, effectively a promotion after being given the nickname Maggot by a master at his prep school.
Grub Smith is a graduate
of Cambridge University
with a Masters Degree in history
and anthropology
.
, he worked as a journalist on a series of men's magazines in the UK, starting with GQ.
He also hosted the first season of another humorous travel series on Bravo called Sin Cities
in 2000. The series looked at sexual entertainment options around the world, and as part of one episode filmed in Los Angeles
, he appeared in a porn film featuring the famous porn star Mrs. B. He also co-hosted a spin-off of the sexually-oriented travel series, Sin Cities Unleashed, with Ashley Hames
.
He hosted his own comedy-travel show Travel Sick
on Bravo from 2001 to 2002, where he visited a different region of the world in each episode. Once he reached his destination, he was asked to complete five undesirable challenges. If he failed a task, he was forced to perform something extra and even more unpleasant. The series aired on Comedy Central
in the United States
.
In March 2004, he presented a two-part Channel 4
television series on human attitiudes to killing and how military training get around it called The Truth About Killing . The programme was seen as covering a hidden important topic but the tone of presentation, which veered between light-hearted banter and extremely graphic images of war, was criticised by many who saw it. It has not been repeated in the UK.
In 2005, he appeared on the chat show Heads Up with Richard Herring
to discuss his life, career and his love of poker. He also commentated on Poker Den, the PokerHeaven.com online series, and the Celebrity Poker Club
series. That year, he also hosted a UK documentary series called Million 2 One where different statistical truths were discussed and explained.
On 10 March 2007, he hosted the BBC Three
programme, Eaten Alive.http://www.rockhopper.tv/programmes/148/ Filmed at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
, he drew on his Cambridge academic background and his previous experience in Travel Sick to present a serious programme about the disease called bilharzia (also known as schistosomiasis
)and the risks tourists take when visiting some parts of Africa.
He hosted a show on ITV
in 2008 called, Bouncers, a show about the bouncers of various clubs in Britain.
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
for FHM
FHM
FHM, originally published as For Him Magazine, is an international monthly men's lifestyle magazine.- History :The magazine began publication in 1985 in the United Kingdom under the name For Him and changed its title to FHM in 1994 when Emap Consumer Media bought the magazine, although the full For...
and Poker Player magazines.
Early life
Born Michael Smith, he adopted the name Grub when at Downside SchoolDownside School
Downside School is a co-educational Catholic independent school for children aged 11 to 18, located in Stratton-on-the-Fosse, between Norton Radstock and Shepton Mallet in Somerset, south west England. It is attached to Downside Abbey...
, effectively a promotion after being given the nickname Maggot by a master at his prep school.
Grub Smith is a graduate
Alumnus
An alumnus , according to the American Heritage Dictionary, is "a graduate of a school, college, or university." An alumnus can also be a former member, employee, contributor or inmate as well as a former student. In addition, an alumna is "a female graduate or former student of a school, college,...
of Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
with a Masters Degree in history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
.
Career
After beginning his career on the Literary ReviewLiterary Review
Literary Review is a British literary magazine founded in 1979 by Anne Smith, then head of the Department of English at Edinburgh University. Its offices are currently on Lexington Street in Soho, London, and it has a circulation of 44,750. Britain's principal literary monthly, the magazine was...
, he worked as a journalist on a series of men's magazines in the UK, starting with GQ.
He also hosted the first season of another humorous travel series on Bravo called Sin Cities
Sin Cities
Sin Cities was a British sexually-oriented travel television series. It originally broadcast on Bravo from 2000 to 2007. It has also been broadcast on Showcase in Canada. Series 1 and 2 were produced by Visual Voodoo while Series 3 and 4 were produced by Class Films.The first season was hosted by...
in 2000. The series looked at sexual entertainment options around the world, and as part of one episode filmed in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, he appeared in a porn film featuring the famous porn star Mrs. B. He also co-hosted a spin-off of the sexually-oriented travel series, Sin Cities Unleashed, with Ashley Hames
Ashley Hames
Ashley Martyn Hames is an English television presenter, director and writer.-Presenting & Direction:...
.
He hosted his own comedy-travel show Travel Sick
Travel Sick
Travel Sick was a British hybrid comedy-travel television series that originally aired on Bravo from 2001 to 2002. It placed UK writer Grub Smith in a different region of the world in each episode. In each destination, he was asked to complete five undesirable challenges posed by the show's producers...
on Bravo from 2001 to 2002, where he visited a different region of the world in each episode. Once he reached his destination, he was asked to complete five undesirable challenges. If he failed a task, he was forced to perform something extra and even more unpleasant. The series aired on Comedy Central
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
In March 2004, he presented a two-part Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
television series on human attitiudes to killing and how military training get around it called The Truth About Killing . The programme was seen as covering a hidden important topic but the tone of presentation, which veered between light-hearted banter and extremely graphic images of war, was criticised by many who saw it. It has not been repeated in the UK.
In 2005, he appeared on the chat show Heads Up with Richard Herring
Heads Up with Richard Herring
Heads Up with Richard Herring or HUWRH, was a British celebrity chat show written by and starring Richard Herring, who is best known as one half of comedy duo Lee and Herring, the stars of BBC Two shows Fist of Fun and This Morning With Richard Not Judy...
to discuss his life, career and his love of poker. He also commentated on Poker Den, the PokerHeaven.com online series, and the Celebrity Poker Club
Celebrity Poker Club
Celebrity Poker Club was a British television series featuring celebrities playing poker. It aired on Challenge from 2003 to 2005 as a spin-off to Channel 4's popular Late Night Poker series...
series. That year, he also hosted a UK documentary series called Million 2 One where different statistical truths were discussed and explained.
On 10 March 2007, he hosted the BBC Three
BBC Three
BBC Three is a television network from the BBC broadcasting via digital cable, terrestrial, IPTV and satellite platforms. The channel's target audience includes those in the 16-34 year old age group, and has the purpose of providing "innovative" content to younger audiences, focusing on new talent...
programme, Eaten Alive.http://www.rockhopper.tv/programmes/148/ Filmed at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest of the United Kingdom's current 140 NHS Foundation Trusts. The Chief Executive is Sir Andrew Cash and the Medical Director Professor Michael Richmond....
and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is a research and teaching institution focused on neglected tropical diseases and the control of diseases caused by poverty. It is a registered charity affiliated to the University of Liverpool...
, he drew on his Cambridge academic background and his previous experience in Travel Sick to present a serious programme about the disease called bilharzia (also known as schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by several species of trematodes , a parasitic worm of the genus Schistosoma. Snails often act as an intermediary agent for the infectious diseases until a new human host is found...
)and the risks tourists take when visiting some parts of Africa.
He hosted a show on 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...
in 2008 called, Bouncers, a show about the bouncers of various clubs in Britain.