Neil Buchanan
Encyclopedia
Neil Buchanan is an English
television presenter best known for his work on the CITV
programme Art Attack
, a television programme that he presented during its run from 1990 to 2007. He has also presented Finders Keepers (1991–1996), It's a Mystery
(1996–2000), and also produced and appeared in ZZZap!
as Smart Arty (1993–1998)
, Merseyside
(originally Lancashire). He enrolled at Liverpool Art College
but was turned down.
He attended Liverpool Institute High School, now the Paul McCartney
-sponsored Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
who made two albums and five singles and were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
scene. The band also provided backing vocals for Des'ree
and Gary's Guitars.
Marseille reformed in 2009 and the band are currently recording a new album.
, later renamed 7T3. He had attended the original audition, having met the No. 73 producers when his band Marseille appeared on Southern Television
's Saturday Banana. He did not become a regular until the third series of No. 73 shown in 1983. After production ceased on 7T3 in 1988 he went on to present Motormouth
, another Saturday morning children's programme made by TVS
alongside Gaby Roslin. Buchanan stayed with Motormouth until the show's cancellation in 1992.
In 1990 he began presenting the CITV
show Art Attack from its inception. In March 2000, Britt Allcroft
, subsequently Gullane Entertainment
, purchased the rights to the series from Buchanan in a £14 million transaction.
In 1991 he hosted the British version of Finders Keepers, a room-raiding game show for both TVS and Scottish Television
when TVS lost their licence to broadcast. He co-hosted the show with Diane Youdale
, the former Gladiators star, in its final series in 1996. He also presented Animal Crazy with co-host Jenny Powell
for two series between 1994 and 1995, the show was produced by The Media Merchants for Granada Television, and It's a Mystery
alongside Sophie Aldred
, from 1996 to 1999.
From 1995 to 1997 Buchanan presented the awards show The CITV Awards, which gave the viewers a chance to vote on who they think should win a CITV
Award.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
television presenter best known for his work on the CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
programme Art Attack
Art Attack
Art Attack is a British children's television series revolving around art. The original series was one of ITV's longest running programmes, running from 1990 to 2007, and was presented throughout by Neil Buchanan. The brand new series launched on Disney Junior on June 6 2011 and is presented by...
, a television programme that he presented during its run from 1990 to 2007. He has also presented Finders Keepers (1991–1996), It's a Mystery
It's a Mystery (CITV)
It's a Mystery was a networked Children's ITV programme which ran for five series from 1996 - 2002. It was produced by The Media Merchants Television Company Ltd and Meridian Broadcasting Ltd. Series five was simply called Mystery....
(1996–2000), and also produced and appeared in ZZZap!
ZZZap!
Zzzap was a British children's television comedy programme. The concept of the show was a giant comic that has been brought to life. The show ran from 8 January 1993 until 21 September 2001, and was produced by The Media Merchants and Meridian Broadcasting...
as Smart Arty (1993–1998)
Early life
Neil Buchanan was born in AintreeAintree
Aintree is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton, Merseyside. It lies between Walton and Maghull on the A59 road, about north of Liverpool city centre, in North West England....
, Merseyside
Merseyside
Merseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
(originally Lancashire). He enrolled at Liverpool Art College
Liverpool College of Art
Liverpool College of Art is located at 68 Hope Street, in Liverpool, England. It is a Grade II listed building.The building is currently owned by Liverpool John Moores University housing its School of Social Science....
but was turned down.
He attended Liverpool Institute High School, now the Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
-sponsored Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts.
Music
Buchanan was in a band called MarseilleMarseille (band)
Marseille are a British heavy metal band from Liverpool, England.-History:Marseille formed in Liverpool in early 1976, and released their debut album, Red, White and Slightly Blue on the Mountain Records label in 1978. Original members were Paul Dale , Neil Buchanan , Andy Charters , Keith Knowles ...
who made two albums and five singles and were part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal
New Wave of British Heavy Metal
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal was a heavy metal movement that started in the late 1970s, in Britain, and achieved international attention by the early 1980s. The movement developed as a reaction in part to the decline of early heavy metal bands such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin and Black...
scene. The band also provided backing vocals for Des'ree
Des'ree
Des'ree is an English pop/soul singer who was popular during the 1990s. She is well known for her hits: "Feel So High", "You Gotta Be", "Life", and "Kissing You"...
and Gary's Guitars.
Marseille reformed in 2009 and the band are currently recording a new album.
Television
Buchanan made his television debut on a Saturday morning show called No. 73No. 73
No 73, later re-titled 7T3, was a British 1980s children's TV show produced by Television South for the ITV network. It was broadcast live on Saturday mornings and ran from 1982 to 1988...
, later renamed 7T3. He had attended the original audition, having met the No. 73 producers when his band Marseille appeared on Southern Television
Southern Television
Southern Television was the first ITV broadcasting licence holder for the south and south-east of England from 30 August 1958 until the night of 31 December 1981. The company was launched as Southern Television Limited and the title Southern Television was consistently used on-air throughout its life...
's Saturday Banana. He did not become a regular until the third series of No. 73 shown in 1983. After production ceased on 7T3 in 1988 he went on to present Motormouth
Motormouth
Motormouth was a Saturday morning children's television series that was produced by Television South and aired across the ITV network for four series, running between 3 September 1988 and 4 April 1992...
, another Saturday morning children's programme made by TVS
Television South
Television South was the ITV franchise holder in the south and south east of England between 1 January 1982 and 31 December 1992. The company operated under various names, initially as Television South plc and then following reorganisation in 1989 as TVS Entertainment plc, with its UK...
alongside Gaby Roslin. Buchanan stayed with Motormouth until the show's cancellation in 1992.
In 1990 he began presenting the CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
show Art Attack from its inception. In March 2000, Britt Allcroft
Britt Allcroft
Britt Allcroft is the multi- award-winning creator of a trio of children's entertainment produced in the 1980s and 1990s: "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends", , "Shining Time Station" and "Britt Allcroft's Magic Adventures of Mumfie".She was born Hilary Mary Allcroft, in Worthing, England and, at...
, subsequently Gullane Entertainment
Gullane Entertainment
Gullane Entertainment was the name of the company that replaced that of The Britt Allcroft Company in 2000, when Britt Allcroft herself left the company she had originally co-founded with her then-husband Angus Wright....
, purchased the rights to the series from Buchanan in a £14 million transaction.
In 1991 he hosted the British version of Finders Keepers, a room-raiding game show for both TVS and Scottish Television
Scottish Television
Scottish Television is Scotland's largest ITV franchisee, and has held the ITV franchise for Central Scotland since 31 August 1957. It is the second oldest ITV franchisee still active...
when TVS lost their licence to broadcast. He co-hosted the show with Diane Youdale
Diane Youdale
Diane Youdale , is an English television personality, who is best known for her role as "Jet" on the television series Gladiators.-Biography:...
, the former Gladiators star, in its final series in 1996. He also presented Animal Crazy with co-host Jenny Powell
Jenny Powell
Jenny Powell , is a British television presenter.-Early life:Powell's parents are from South Africa, she attended Woodford County High School for Girls in Woodford Green and the Italia Conti school in London.-Career:...
for two series between 1994 and 1995, the show was produced by The Media Merchants for Granada Television, and It's a Mystery
It's a Mystery (CITV)
It's a Mystery was a networked Children's ITV programme which ran for five series from 1996 - 2002. It was produced by The Media Merchants Television Company Ltd and Meridian Broadcasting Ltd. Series five was simply called Mystery....
alongside Sophie Aldred
Sophie Aldred
Sophie Aldred is an English actress and television presenter, best known for her portrayal of The Doctor's companion Ace in the television series Doctor Who during the late 1980s.-Early life:...
, from 1996 to 1999.
From 1995 to 1997 Buchanan presented the awards show The CITV Awards, which gave the viewers a chance to vote on who they think should win a CITV
CITV
CITV is a British television channel from ITV Digital Channels Ltd, a division of ITV plc. It broadcasts content from the CITV archive, as well as commissions and acquisitions. CITV itself is the programming block on the main ITV Network .The CITV channel broadcasts from 06:00 to 18:00...
Award.