Simon Groom facts for kids

Simon Groom (born on August 12, 1950) is a British producer and director. He is best known for being a presenter on the famous children's TV show Blue Peter. He worked on the show from 1978 to 1986.

Early Life and Education

Simon Groom was born in Chesterfield, a town in Derbyshire, England. He grew up on a farm in a place called Dethick. This farm later appeared in some of his Blue Peter reports.

He went to Herbert Strutt Grammar School in Belper, Derbyshire. After that, he studied at the University of Birmingham.

Simon's Career Journey

Working on Blue Peter

Before joining Blue Peter, Simon Groom worked as an English teacher for a short time. He also worked as a disc jockey. In 1978, he became a presenter on Blue Peter, a very popular children's television show.

While on Blue Peter, Simon worked with many other presenters. Some of his co-presenters included Lesley Judd, John Noakes, Peter Duncan, and Sarah Greene. He was known for his clever and sometimes funny comments.

Other TV and Radio Work

After leaving Blue Peter, Simon Groom continued his career in media. He hosted a morning radio show on BBC Radio Bedfordshire. In 1992, he even released his own music! He covered the song "Can't Help Falling in Love" by Elvis Presley.

Simon also became a successful TV producer and director. He made a documentary called Angels & Devils. This film was about the famous director Ken Russell. He also wrote, directed, and produced A Steamy Affair: the Story of the Flying Scotsman for Channel 4. This documentary was about the famous steam train.

His other TV documentaries include Bucking Mad, which was about an English rodeo rider. He also made Full Circle: the Saving of Derby's Roundhouse for the BBC. This film was about saving a historic building in Derby.

Simon has also produced and presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four. These include George Oliver: A Man For All Seasons, about a gamekeeper. He also made Peak Park Pressures about Britain's first national park. Another notable work was Ferry Across the Mekong. This radio series was about his return trip to Cambodia. In 1979, he was one of the first Western journalists to visit Cambodia after a difficult period in its history.

In March 2013, his documentary The Flying Scotsman: A Rail Romance was shown on BBC Two. This 60-minute program was very popular and was shown again several times.

Personal Life and Achievements

Simon Groom has been an ambassador for the city of Derby. This means he helps represent and promote the city. In 2010, the University of Derby gave him an honorary degree. This special award recognized his important contributions to broadcasting.