Jamie Theakston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jamie Theakston
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
James Paul Theakston
21 December 1970 Cuckfield, West Sussex, England
|
| Occupation | Presenter, producer, narrator, actor |
| Employer |
|
| Known for | Heart Radio Top of the Pops Live & Kicking Traffic Cops (Narrator) Motorway Cops (Narrator) |
| Spouse(s) |
Sophie Siegle
(m. 2007) |
| Children | 2 |
Jamie Theakston (born 21 December 1970) is a well-known English TV and radio presenter. He has worked on many popular shows for channels like the BBC, ITV, and Channel 5.
You might know him from the Saturday morning kids' show Live & Kicking. He also co-hosted the music show Top of the Pops. Today, he wakes up the nation as a co-host on the national breakfast show for Heart Radio with Amanda Holden.
Jamie has also narrated the popular BBC series Traffic Cops. He has won several awards for his work. These include a BAFTA for Live & Kicking and many radio awards.
Contents
Jamie Theakston's Early Life and Education
Jamie joined the National Youth Theatre when he was 13. He acted in plays like Murder in the Cathedral. He even acted alongside famous people like Daniel Craig.
After school, he studied business at London Metropolitan University. He earned a first-class degree. While at university, he started reading traffic news on BBC GLR. He wanted to become a sports reporter.
Jamie Theakston's Career Highlights
On the Radio
Before becoming a broadcaster, Jamie worked for an auction house. He also reported on football and cricket for BBC radio. The BBC's head of sport noticed him. At 23, he was hired to host the Saturday Sport Show.
He then hosted many shows for BBC Radio 5 Live. In 1999, he joined Radio 1. He hosted the Sunday Lunch show and "One Big Sunday" events. He moved to a Saturday morning slot in 2001.
Jamie left Radio 1 in 2002. He wanted to try acting more. In 2005, he joined Heart 106.2 in London. He hosted Heart Breakfast with Harriet Scott. Their show won awards, including a Sony Silver Entertainment Award.
In 2009, Jamie and Harriet won Radio Presenter of the Year. Harriet left in 2013. Emma Bunton from the Spice Girls took her place. Emma left in 2018.
Since June 2019, Heart Breakfast has been a national show. Jamie now hosts it with Amanda Holden.
On Television
Jamie has hosted many TV shows. He presented The O Zone and The Priory. He was also a main host for Top of the Pops (1998–2003). He co-presented Live & Kicking (1996–1999) with Zoë Ball.
He also hosted the reality show The Games. Other shows include Beg Borrow or Steal and The People's Quiz. He also presented This Morning Summer on Fridays.
Jamie has covered big events like the Glastonbury Festival for the BBC. He also covered the Oscars and the Grammys. He narrates Traffic Cops and Motorway Cops. Since 2015, he has narrated Caught on Camera.
He also appeared as himself in comedy shows. These include Rock Profile and FM.
Acting Roles
Besides presenting, Jamie is also an actor. He has appeared in TV shows like Agatha Christie's Marple. He was also in Little Britain.
He acted with Amanda Holden in Mad About Alice. He also worked with Adam Faith in Murder in Mind. Jamie has also performed in plays in London's West End. These include Art and Home and Beauty.
Jamie Theakston's Personal Life
Jamie Theakston married Sophie Siegle in 2007. They live in west London and have two children.
He enjoys fencing and competed for Sussex in 1985. He is also a captain of a cricket team. His team was the first from England to play against the Afghan cricket team in Kabul.
Jamie is a member of Mensa. This is a group for people with high IQs. He also supports Brighton & Hove Albion football club.
In September 2024, Jamie shared that he was diagnosed with stage I laryngeal cancer. He said the outlook was "very positive".
Helping Others: Charity Work
Jamie is very involved in charity work. In 2003, he visited Uganda. He met with former child soldiers there. He is a patron for Cancervive. This charity helps people whose families or friends have cancer.
He has played in the Soccer Aid charity football match five times. In 2010, he was named man of the match. He saved four penalties for England!
In 2019, Jamie cycled 650 miles for charity. This was for Global's charity, Make Some Noise. He cycled from Edinburgh to London in eight days. Along the way, he met many children and their families.
Jamie Theakston's Shows and Roles
Theatre Performances
| Play | Venue | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Marat/Sade | Playhouse | |
| Murder in the Cathedral | Spitalfields | |
| 'Art' | Whitehall | |
| Home and Beauty | Lyric |
TV Shows and Films
| Year | Programme | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Drive (The Afternoon Play) | BBC One | |
| 1999-2002 | The Priory | Channel 4 | |
| Natural Born Losers | BBC One | ||
| Pick n Mix | UK Play | ||
| Comic Relief | BBC One | ||
| Landmarks | BBC Two | ||
| The Brits | ITV | ||
| 2001 | 100 Greatest Kids Shows | Channel 4 | |
| Behind the Music | VH1 | ||
| Richest Kids | ITV | ||
| Bitesize | BBC Two | ||
| 2004 | The Simpsons Quiz | Channel 4 | |
| 2004 | The UK Music Hall of Fame | Channel 4 | |
| 50 Years, 50 Records | ITV | ||
| The Oscars: Live | Sky One/Sky Movies | ||
| 1976 | Wish You Were Here | ITV | |
| 1983 | Taggart | ITV | |
| 1995–2000 | The O-Zone | BBC Two | |
| 1996–1999 | Live & Kicking | BBC One | |
| 1997–2000 | Glastonbury Festival | BBC One/BBC Two | |
| 1997–2003 | Top of the Pops | BBC One | |
| 1998 | Blankety Blank | BBC One | Guest |
| 1998 | Confessions | BBC One | Guest |
| 1998 | Not a Lot of People Know That | BBC One | Guest |
| 1998–1999 | Grammy Awards | BBC One | |
| 1999 | Total Eclipse | BBC One | |
| 1999 | It's Only TV...but I Like It | BBC One | Guest |
| 1999 | NetAid | BBC Two | |
| 1999 | Phones, Robbers and Videotape | BBC One | |
| 1999 | 2000 Today | BBC One | |
| 1999–? | Children in Need | BBC One | |
| 1999–2000 | Rock Profile | BBC Two | |
| 2000–2001 | A Question of Pop | BBC One | |
| 2000 | Before They Were Famous | BBC One | Guest |
| 2000 | Bob Martin | ITV | |
| 2000 | BBC Music Live | BBC One | |
| 2000 | Holiday | BBC One | |
| 2000 | Secret Life of Stars | BBC One | |
| 2000 | Stars of Tomorrow | BBC One | |
| 2000 | Trading Places | BBC One | |
| 2001 | The True Story of TOTP | BBC Two | Host |
| 2001 | Aqua | BBC Two | |
| 2001 | Car Wars | BBC One | |
| 2001 | Linda Green | BBC One | |
| 2002 | Sport Relief | BBC One | |
| Queen's Jubilee Concert | BBC One | ||
| 2003 | Murder in Mind | BBC One | |
| 2003–2006 | The Games | Channel 4 | |
| 2003— | Traffic Cops | BBC One (2003–2015) Channel 5 (2016—) |
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| 2004 | Mad About Alice | BBC One | |
| Beg, Borrow or Steal | BBC Two | ||
| Little Britain | BBC Three | ||
| Agatha Christie's Marple ("The Body in the Library") | ITV | ||
| 2004–2005 | With a Little Help from My Friends | ITV | |
| 2005 | All*Star Cup | Sky One | |
| 2007 | Concert for Diana | BBC One | |
| The National Lottery People's Quiz | BBC One | ||
| The Search | Channel 4 | ||
| 2008–2015 | Motorway Cops | BBC One | |
| 2009 | FM | ITV2 | |
| 2013 | This Morning Summer | ITV | |
| 2013– | Forbidden History | Yesterday/UKTV | |
| 2015– | Caught on Camera | ITV | |
| 2016 | Dogs Might Fly | Sky One | |
| 2017 | Richard Osman's House of Games | BBC Two |
Radio Shows
| Year | Programme | Channel | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saturday Sports Show | GLR | ||
| Sportscall | BBC Radio 5 | ||
| Friday Night on 5 | BBC Radio 5 | ||
| Jamie Theakston's Cricket Show | BBC Radio 5 | ||
| Radio 5 Sport | BBC Radio 5 | ||
| The Sunday Lunch | BBC Radio 1 | ||
| The Jamie Theakston Show | BBC Radio 1 | ||
| The Griff Rhys Jones Show | BBC Radio 2 | ||
| One Big Sunday | BBC Radio 1 | ||
| 2005–2012 | Heart London Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and Harriet Scott | Heart | |
| 2013–2018 | Heart London Breakfast with Jamie and Emma | Heart | |
| 2019– | Heart UK Breakfast with Jamie and Amanda | Heart |
