Peter Rowell
Encyclopedia
Peter Rowell is a television presenter, newsreader
and radio presenter from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, who has been working since the 1980s in Bristol
.
.
Rowell spent the early part of his career working for the BBC as a radio and television presenter in Newcastle upon Tyne
fronting shows including the Breakfast Show.
At the end of the 1980s, Rowell moved to Bristol to work for GWR Radio. Shortly after this, he began working for HTV
and began working for them full time in 1997. In the same year, he was the subject of national headlines himself, after making a private comment about Diana, Princess of Wales
to his studio crew while a microphone was still on. The comment was broadcast accidentally and HTV received complaint letters. However, Rowell's reputation remained un-dented and he went on to become one of HTV's most popular presenters.
He rejoined BBC Radio Bristol
in June 2010. Of his move back to radio, Rowell said "there are very few people Peter Rowell doesn't know. I am absolutely thrilled and excited to be joining BBC Radio Bristol. I cannot wait to get behind the microphone and celebrate this fantastic region of ours."
In 2011, he learned how to be a stand-up
comedian
in aid of Comic Relief
. Rowell attended boot camp
to learn stand up comedy with famous comedians before performing his routine on 13 March 2011 in Bristol.
Rowell's stint at BBC Bristol ended in 2011, when his contract came to an end.
Rowell supports charities including the National Animal Support League and KWADS (Knowle West Against Drugs).
On 29 March 2011, Rowell was reported missing
after he failed to turn up for work and could not be contacted. He is believed to have become depressed
after the death of his father. On 30 March 2011, it was reported that he had been found "safe and well" in Keswick, Cumbria
.
On 22 April 2011, Avon and Somerset Police announced that Rowell had been charged with four counts of indecent assault, dating back to the 1990s, and had been remanded in custody. In May 2011, Rowell was charged with seven counts of possessing and making indecent images of children along with seven counts of indecent assault against girls under the age of 16.
On 9 June 2011, it was announced that Mr. Rowell would stand to face charges relating to a fifth victim, including rape of a minor. He appeared in North Avon Magistrates' Court to face three new charges; two of indecent assault and one of rape against a 16 year old victim. He was released on bail, having had a curfew imposed by the courts and was also ordered to surrender his passport. He returned to court on June 24 for a plea hearing on these latest charges and was released on bail
with conditions attached until October 2011. In October 2011 the BBC reported that Rowell is to stand trial in the Spring of 2012 after denying seventeen child sex charges.
News presenter
A news presenter is a person who presents news during a news program in the format of a television show, on the radio or the Internet.News presenters can work in a radio studio, television studio and from remote broadcasts in the field especially weather...
and radio presenter from Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, who has been working since the 1980s in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
.
Career
Rowell presented The Sunday Show and The Afternoon Show for BBC Radio BristolBBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol is the BBC Local Radio service for the English city of Bristol and the surrounding former Avon area. Launched in September 1970, it broadcasts from Broadcasting House in Bristol on FM frequencies 94.9 MHz , 104.6 MHz , 103.6 MHz , on AM 1548 kHz and on DAB.The...
.
Rowell spent the early part of his career working for the BBC as a radio and television presenter in Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
fronting shows including the Breakfast Show.
At the end of the 1980s, Rowell moved to Bristol to work for GWR Radio. Shortly after this, he began working for HTV
HTV
HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales & West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England, which operated from studios in Cardiff and Bristol. The company provided commercial television for the dual-region 'Wales and West' franchise, which it won from TWW in 1968...
and began working for them full time in 1997. In the same year, he was the subject of national headlines himself, after making a private comment about Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
to his studio crew while a microphone was still on. The comment was broadcast accidentally and HTV received complaint letters. However, Rowell's reputation remained un-dented and he went on to become one of HTV's most popular presenters.
He rejoined BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol
BBC Radio Bristol is the BBC Local Radio service for the English city of Bristol and the surrounding former Avon area. Launched in September 1970, it broadcasts from Broadcasting House in Bristol on FM frequencies 94.9 MHz , 104.6 MHz , 103.6 MHz , on AM 1548 kHz and on DAB.The...
in June 2010. Of his move back to radio, Rowell said "there are very few people Peter Rowell doesn't know. I am absolutely thrilled and excited to be joining BBC Radio Bristol. I cannot wait to get behind the microphone and celebrate this fantastic region of ours."
In 2011, he learned how to be a stand-up
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
in aid of Comic Relief
Comic Relief
Comic Relief is an operating British charity, founded in 1985 by the comedy scriptwriter Richard Curtis and comedian Lenny Henry in response to famine in Ethiopia. The highlight of Comic Relief's appeal is Red Nose Day, a biennial telethon held in March, alternating with sister project Sport Relief...
. Rowell attended boot camp
Training camp
A training camp is a place, usually with an army-camp-type environment, where people go to learn skills, usually skills involving physical action rather than book subjects, usually for an armed force or an action sport...
to learn stand up comedy with famous comedians before performing his routine on 13 March 2011 in Bristol.
Rowell's stint at BBC Bristol ended in 2011, when his contract came to an end.
Personal life
Rowell is married to Mirinda Rowell.Rowell supports charities including the National Animal Support League and KWADS (Knowle West Against Drugs).
On 29 March 2011, Rowell was reported missing
Missing person
A missing person is a person who has disappeared for usually unknown reasons.Missing persons' photographs may be posted on bulletin boards, milk cartons, postcards, and websites, along with a phone number to be contacted if a sighting has been made....
after he failed to turn up for work and could not be contacted. He is believed to have become depressed
Depression (mood)
Depression is a state of low mood and aversion to activity that can affect a person's thoughts, behaviour, feelings and physical well-being. Depressed people may feel sad, anxious, empty, hopeless, helpless, worthless, guilty, irritable, or restless...
after the death of his father. On 30 March 2011, it was reported that he had been found "safe and well" in Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick, Cumbria
Keswick is a market town and civil parish within the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. It had a population of 4,984, according to the 2001 census, and is situated just north of Derwent Water, and a short distance from Bassenthwaite Lake, both in the Lake District National Park...
.
On 22 April 2011, Avon and Somerset Police announced that Rowell had been charged with four counts of indecent assault, dating back to the 1990s, and had been remanded in custody. In May 2011, Rowell was charged with seven counts of possessing and making indecent images of children along with seven counts of indecent assault against girls under the age of 16.
On 9 June 2011, it was announced that Mr. Rowell would stand to face charges relating to a fifth victim, including rape of a minor. He appeared in North Avon Magistrates' Court to face three new charges; two of indecent assault and one of rape against a 16 year old victim. He was released on bail, having had a curfew imposed by the courts and was also ordered to surrender his passport. He returned to court on June 24 for a plea hearing on these latest charges and was released on bail
Bail
Traditionally, bail is some form of property deposited or pledged to a court to persuade it to release a suspect from jail, on the understanding that the suspect will return for trial or forfeit the bail...
with conditions attached until October 2011. In October 2011 the BBC reported that Rowell is to stand trial in the Spring of 2012 after denying seventeen child sex charges.