Neil Oliver facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neil Oliver
Oliver in 2006
Born	(1967-02-21) 21 February 1967 (age 58) Renfrew, Scotland
Citizenship	British
Alma mater	University of Glasgow
Occupation	Television presenter, author, historian
Years active	2002 – present
Children	3

Neil Oliver (born 21 February 1967) is a Scottish television host and author. He is well-known for presenting TV shows about history and archaeology, which is the study of human history through old objects. Some of his most famous shows are A History of Scotland, Vikings, and Coast.

Besides his TV work, Oliver writes books about history. From 2017 to 2020, he was the president of the National Trust for Scotland, an organization that protects important places in Scotland. Since 2021, he has worked as a presenter for the news channel GB News.

Early Life and Schooling

Neil Oliver was born in Renfrew, Scotland. He grew up in the towns of Ayr and Dumfries. After finishing school at Dumfries Academy, he went to the University of Glasgow.

At university, he studied archaeology. After graduating, he worked as an archaeologist for a while before deciding to become a journalist.

Career in Television and Writing

First TV Shows

Oliver's first big television appearance was in 2002 on the BBC show Two Men in a Trench. In this series, he and fellow archaeologist Tony Pollard explored famous British battlefields. He also helped write books to go with the show.

Later, he presented other history shows like The Face of Britain and appeared on programs like The One Show and Time Team.

Famous History Programs

Many people know Oliver from the popular series Coast, which explores the coastline of Britain. He started as a co-presenter in 2005 and became the main host for several later series. He also hosted similar shows about the coastlines of Australia and New Zealand.

Between 2006 and 2018, he presented many history documentaries for the BBC. These included A History of Scotland (2008) and Sacred Wonders of Britain (2013). In 2012, he wrote and presented a three-part series called Vikings, which explored the lives of these famous seafaring people.

Recent Work

In April 2021, Oliver joined the news channel GB News. He hosts a weekly show where he discusses current events and interviews people. He also wrote a regular column for The Sunday Times newspaper from 2016 to 2022.

In June 2025, his recorded commentary was removed from the City Sightseeing tour buses in Glasgow. His face had also been featured on the side of the buses.

Opinions and Views

Scottish Independence

In 2014, Scotland held a vote on whether to become an independent country. Oliver said he was "proud of Britain" and preferred for Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom. His appointment as president of the National Trust for Scotland caused some debate because of his views.

In 2020, he again stated his opposition to Scottish independence. He said he sees himself as a British citizen.

COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Oliver expressed strong opinions about the government's actions. He said that lockdowns were a "huge mistake." He also criticized the plan to give COVID-19 vaccines to children. His views on these topics led to him leaving a campaign group called These Islands. In January 2024, on his GB News show, he promoted a theory that the vaccine caused a condition he called "turbo-cancer."

Other Views

On his GB News show, Oliver has shared his thoughts on other topics. In 2023, he spoke of a "silent war" by politicians to gain "total control of the people" and create a "one-world government." Some groups, including the Board of Deputies of British Jews, criticized his comments, saying they were similar to harmful conspiracy theories.

He has also shared his views on climate change. In July 2023, he claimed that news reports about very high temperatures in Europe were not true and were meant to scare people. A BBC weather expert, Tomasz Schafernaker, said that Oliver's claims were incorrect.

Personal Life

Neil Oliver lives in Stirling, Scotland, with his wife and their three children. He has also been a patron for the Association of Lighthouse Keepers, a group that supports the history of lighthouses.

He has received honorary degrees from the University of Abertay Dundee in 2011 and the University of Glasgow in 2015 in recognition of his work.

Works

Television

Books

• The Story of the World in 100 Moments (2021)
• Wisdom of the Ancients (2020)
• The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places (2018)
• Master of Shadows (2015)
• Vikings (2012)
• A History of Ancient Britain (2011)
• A History of Scotland (2009)
• Amazing Tales for Making Men Out of Boys (2008)
• Coast from the Air (2007)
• Not Forgotten (2006)
• Castles and Forts (with Simon Adams and Tony Pollard) (2006)
• Two Men in a Trench II: Uncovering the Secrets of British Battlefields (with Tony Pollard) (2003)
• Two Men in a Trench: Battlefield Archaeology – The Key to Unlocking the Past (with Tony Pollard) (2002)