Michael Aspel Biography

Fast Facts

• Became Vice-President of The Children's Trust, which works to help children with brain injuries
• In 1993, he was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his services to broadcasting
• In 1984, he became president of the Ability UK charity
• Served in the British Army as a paratrooper from 1951 to 1953
• Before beginning his entertainment career as a radio actor, he worked in a department store, laid drainpipes and sold advertising space
• His first role as an actor was as a villain in a "Children's Hour" play
• Quote: "It's rather sad, isn't it? You look at an object and you think: 'That hasn't changed at all in all the years I've known it--but the hand which is holding it is considerably changed․'"
• Known as a genial presenter on a number of BBC programs, he got his start in the field as the first newsreader on BBC Wales
• Stated that he was more nervous about taking over from Hugh Scully as the host of "Antiques Roadshow UK" than he had been about any other part of his career up to that point, as he felt he had such big shoes to fill
• Though he doesn't claim to be an expert on antiques, some of his favorites are pre-Raphaelite paintings and Georgian silver