Presenter who was one of the most recognisable faces on TV quit for 'normal' job

Daily Mirror

9 hours ago

Michael Underwood was a mainstay of children's TV in the 1990s and 2000s, presenting shows like Jungle Run, Ministry of Mayhem and Xchange
A beloved figure in children's television during the late 90s and early 00s, took an unexpected turn when his presenting roles became scarce - he courageously decided to retrain and embark on a drastically different career path.
Initially stumbling into the world of presenting after discovering a callout for audition tapes during his time at a radio station, Michael Underwood carved out a niche for himself, hosting a range of iconic kids' shows like Jungle Run and Ministry of Mayhem, as well as becoming a familiar face as an entertainment reporter for GMTV and Good Morning Britain.
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Beyond his presenting credentials, at age 39, Michael has also participated in high-profile reality shows such as Dancing on Ice, Celebrity MasterChef, and All Star Mr and Mrs with his partner, fellow presenter and Celebrity Big Brother star Angellica Bell. She too is known for her work with classic children's programmes like Xchange, 50/50, and That's Genius!
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He and Angellica lead a comparably ordinary life in their five-bedroom Victorian semi in Kingston-upon-Thames, London, with their son and daughter.
However, when Michael's opportunities began to wane, he found himself at a crossroads. Speaking to The Mirror, he disclosed: "The phone stopped ringing. It's just not a nice place to be in. I needed to make a decision."
"I thought you know what, I've got my teaching degree, I've got 20 years in broadcasting behind me, maybe I can take that skill set and put it to good use. Help build children's confidence, help them with their oracy, and their presenting skills. That's when I thought: 'Yeah, let's grab the bull by the horns and maybe take a step out into a different career'."
He first took up a part-time drama teacher position at Surbiton High Boy's Prep School, peppering Year 4 classes with his broadcast experience, until he stepped up as a form teacher in 2019. Last September, with a full teaching degree under his belt, he embraced a full-time position at King's College School in Wimbledon.
Reflecting on his earlier ambitions, he shared: "I never grew up wanting to be a television presenter, acting's what I loved but my family could never afford to send me to drama school."
Recounting familial influences, he continued: "My mum was a nursery nurse, my sister was a nursery nurse, so working with children was in the family. It was my mum who actually said: 'Why don't you think of doing drama as a teaching degree, specialise in that and you've got something to fall back on if the acting doesn't work out.'".