Roger Bisby
Encyclopedia
Roger Lawrence Bisby is an English
television presenter and journalist
, known for his expertise in the British building industry. He was the building expert on the long-running British consumer affairs television series, Watchdog and then later Rogue Traders, both for the BBC
.
one of six children to opera singer Charles Yates Bisby and Jean Hazel Bisby, Roger initially entered the building industry as an apprentice plumber. He went on to train as a college lecturer, and has also run his own building company for nearly 30 years. He specialises in trouble shooting and has a dogged determination to get to the bottom of difficult problems.
(for which he has been Products Editor for 16 years), Professional Electrician, Professional Heating and Plumbing Installer, and Professional Housebuilder and Property Developer.
Published books include:
, local BBC Radio
and Capital FM.
), Watchdog
(BBC
), Rogue Traders (BBC
) and Dirty Tricks of the Tradesmen (BBC
).
Television appearances:
Corporate work:
with his Self Build and DIY web site Self Builder, which he co-developed with Motion New Media. In addition to his own podcast, blog and forum, Bisby also hosts a regular podcast for MK Electric called Switch on to MK
. He also gets involved in environmental clean ups.
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 and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, known for his expertise in the British building industry. He was the building expert on the long-running British consumer affairs television series, Watchdog and then later Rogue Traders, both for the BBC
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
.
Biography
Born in the City of LondonCity of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
one of six children to opera singer Charles Yates Bisby and Jean Hazel Bisby, Roger initially entered the building industry as an apprentice plumber. He went on to train as a college lecturer, and has also run his own building company for nearly 30 years. He specialises in trouble shooting and has a dogged determination to get to the bottom of difficult problems.
Media Career
In the last 20 years, Bisby has had a comprehensive media career in many different areas. He has written articles and reviews for magazines and newspapers, had a series of DIY books published, appeared in television programmes, hosted radio shows, and more recently he has written a blog and started podcasting.Publishing
Bisby entered journalism after sending an unsolicited article to a local paper as a PR exercise for his building company. Bisby currently works on several building trade publications for Hamerville Publishing including Professional Builder MagazineProfessional Builder UK
Professional Builder UK is a UK-based trade magazine and website featuring building products, news, legislation updates, information on UK Building Regulations, step-by-step installations and product tests relevant to the small to medium-sized builder....
(for which he has been Products Editor for 16 years), Professional Electrician, Professional Heating and Plumbing Installer, and Professional Housebuilder and Property Developer.
Published books include:
- Marshall CavendishMarshall CavendishMarshall Cavendish is a subsidiary company of Times Publishing Group, the printing and publishing subsidiary of Singapore-based conglomerate Fraser and Neave and at present is a publisher of books, directories and magazines. Marshall Cavendish was established in the United Kingdom in 1968 by Norman...
DIY guides - Reader’s DigestReader's DigestReader's Digest is a general interest family magazine, published ten times annually. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, its headquarters is now in New York City. It was founded in 1922, by DeWitt Wallace and Lila Bell Wallace...
DIY Encyclopaedia - Fix It DIY
- Here’s How
- The Knack
- Plumbing and Central Heating, Hamlyn Practical DIY Guides, 1990 (ISBN 978-0600564607)
- B&Q Best Way To Do It series
Radio
He put his love of troubleshooting to good use as the expert on the LBC's (London Broadcasting Company) Fix It Phone In which remained one of their most popular shows throughout its 15 years of broadcast. Bisby has also made guest appearances on talkSPORTTalkSPORT
Talksport , owned by UTV radio, is one of the United Kingdom's three terrestrial analogue Independent National Radio broadcasters, offering a sports and talk radio service broadcast from London to the United Kingdom....
, local BBC Radio
BBC Radio
BBC Radio is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927. For a history of BBC radio prior to 1927 see British Broadcasting Company...
and Capital FM.
Television
His television work includes appearances as the resident expert on The Terrace (BBCBBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
), Watchdog
Watchdog (TV series)
Watchdog is a BBC television series that investigates viewers' reports of problematic experiences with traders, retailers, and other companies around the UK...
(BBC
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
), Rogue Traders (BBC
BBC Television
BBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
) and Dirty Tricks of the Tradesmen (BBC
BBC
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 appearances:
- This MorningThis Morning (TV series)This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
with Richard and JudyRichard and JudyRichard and Judy is the name informally given to Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, a married couple who are both British television presenters and columnists. Since their marriage, their television appearances have been largely made as a couple. They are best known for presenting This Morning and...
(ITVITVITV 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...
) - DIY Phone In - Good Morning with Anne and NickGood Morning with Anne and NickGood Morning with Anne and Nick was a BBC1 daytime television show presented by Anne Diamond and Nick Owen, from October 1992 to May 1996. The pair had previously presented TV-am on ITV, but now directly competed with ITV's This Morning....
(ITVITVITV 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...
) - DIY Phone In - Granada TelevisionGranada TelevisionGranada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
- DIY programmes - WatchdogWatchdog (TV series)Watchdog is a BBC television series that investigates viewers' reports of problematic experiences with traders, retailers, and other companies around the UK...
(BBCBBC TelevisionBBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
) - Resident Building Expert - Rogue Traders (BBCBBC TelevisionBBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
) - Resident Plumbing and Heating Expert - House of Horrors (ITVITVITV 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...
) - Resident Building Expert - The Terrace (BBCBBC TelevisionBBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
) - Resident Building Expert - BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- Building Industry Pundit - Sky NewsSky NewsSky News is a 24-hour British and international satellite television news broadcaster with an emphasis on UK and international news stories.The service places emphasis on rolling news, including the latest breaking news. Sky News also hosts localised versions of the channel in Australia and in New...
- Plumbing and Heating Expert - Dirty Tricks of the Tradesmen (BBCBBC TelevisionBBC Television is a service of the British Broadcasting Corporation. The corporation, which has operated in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Royal Charter since 1927, has produced television programmes from its own studios since 1932, although the start of its regular service of television...
) - Acting Rogue Tradesman
Corporate
Since 1992, Bisby has been involved in the production of corporate media as a writer, voice over artist, presenter, advisor and producer. His ability to ad-lib and work without a script when in front of the camera or behind the microphone, is a major factor in his success in the corporate media world.Corporate work:
- Worcester Bosch GroupWorcester Bosch GroupWorcester, Bosch Group is a United Kingdom based domestic heating and hot water products manufacturer....
- Energy House, Boiler Installation Guides and Guide to Energy Efficiency - Wedi - Tile Backer and Fundo
- Stanley Tools - Range Overview
- Jeyes - Cleaning up in the Garden
- Marshalls Paving - Range Guide
- Alpha Tape - Alfa Tape Live Demonstration
- Titan - Installing the Ecosafe
- NuHeat Underfloor Heating - Installation Guide
- DeWalt Powertools - Range Overview
- Bosch Power tools - Getting the Job Done
Internet
More recently, Bisby has moved into New MediaNew media
New media is a broad term in media studies that emerged in the latter part of the 20th century. For example, new media holds out a possibility of on-demand access to content any time, anywhere, on any digital device, as well as interactive user feedback, creative participation and community...
with his Self Build and DIY web site Self Builder, which he co-developed with Motion New Media. In addition to his own podcast, blog and forum, Bisby also hosts a regular podcast for MK Electric called Switch on to MK
Personal life
Bisby enjoys cycling (at the age of 13 Bisby cycled around Britain), travel, running and rock climbingRock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
. He also gets involved in environmental clean ups.
External links
- www.selfbuilder.net - Self Builder web site
- www.switchonmk.com - Switch on to MK Podcast
- uk.youtube.com - Roger Bisby on YouTube