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Simon Calder
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Simon Calder Biography
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- TV/Radio Presenter
Simon Calder presents at travel industry events, chairs conferences and delivers after-dinner speeches on the adventures and misadventures of a travel writer: Simon Calder has years of experience with each of these roles. Engagements include: hosting workforce-wide training sessions for a major UK airport; presenting on the future of travel at a range of leading travel industry events; hosting an international conference on passengers' rights; after-dinner speaking and award presentations at a wide range of industry occasions.
In addition to these professional engagements, Simon regularly speaks on behalf of a variety of good causes.
Simon Calder's Love For Travel
Simon Calder owes his love of travel to his parents - and in particular their decision to move to Crawley, a new town in Sussex. He was born beside the A23 on Christmas Day, 1955. By the time he was six, he realised that there was likely to be more to life than this. Fortunately, that summer he joined the Crawley branch of the Woodcraft Folk (www.woodcraft.org.uk). They promptly organised a camping trip to the Lake District, and Simon was hooked.
Later that same year, the USSR decided to send some nuclear warheads to Cuba. President Kennedy threatened retaliation and Simon's parents realised that Gatwick airport, two miles away, was in the line of Soviet fire. So they took the family to Gatwick, and boarded a plane to Guernsey in the Channel Islands, where they stayed for a week before the superpowers stepped back from the brink of nuclear war. Simon has been grateful to Fidel Castro ever since.
Travelling to Dieppe
The next significant age was 13, when he (Simon, not Fidel) travelled abroad for the first time, on a school day trip to Dieppe in northern France; unfortunately, learning Russian, not French, was compulsory at his school, so communication was tricky. This was also the year when he started to learn the fine art of free travel by starting to hitch-hike. Four decades later, he is still thumbing his way around the world, augmented by cycling.
Simon Calder's First Job
Simon's first job was a cleaner for British Airways at Gatwick airport. He later worked as a security guard frisking passengers. It was during the long gaps between flights (this was a while ago) that he began to write budget travel guidebooks, starting with the Hitch-hiker's Manual: Britain.
Travel Journalism and more
When not frisking or writing, Simon was reading Mathematics at Warwick University. He graduated in 1978. After a brief stint teaching Maths in Crawley, and a longer stint as radio engineer at the BBC in London, Simon became travel editor for The Independent in 1994. Soon afterwards he began presenting for BBC2's Travel Show. In 2003 he became a regular presenter for the Holiday programme on BBC1, and in 2007 presented the last film in the final programme of the series, which had run for 37 years. He now presents Simon Calder's Travel Clinic on London's news station, LBC 97.3, and contributes regularly to BBC Breakfast News and GMTV. He also shoots a weekly travel blog for Sky.com. Not much sleep there, then.
More About Simon
In 1997 Simon married Charlotte in Las Vegas. Their first daughter, Daisy, was born in 2000; their second, Poppy, arrived in 2003. They live in London
For more information or to book Simon Calder, call us on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Outside of appearing and speaking at live corporate and private events Simon Calder has a number of retail products available that can be purchased through Speakers Corner. For upcoming new book and product launches related to Simon Calder then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Simon Calder Books
Simon Calder News
A selection of relevant news related to Simon Calder and TV/Radio Presenter stories. For more information on Simon Calder or details as to how to book Simon Calder for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 20 8365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Entertainment & Arts Review of 2008
30th December 2008A year of reality shows, great paintings and controversy - it all happened in the world of arts, television and radio in 2008. Here are some of the years highlights....
30th December 2008A year of reality shows, great paintings and controversy - it all happened in the world of arts, television and radio in 2008. Here are some of the years highlights....
Newsreaders help raise record sum for Children in Need
16th November 2008Some of the BBC's best known newsreaders performed a medley of ABBA songs to help raise a record 21 million pounds for Children in Need.
16th November 2008Some of the BBC's best known newsreaders performed a medley of ABBA songs to help raise a record 21 million pounds for Children in Need.
Children's BAFTA Nominations Announced
7th November 2008Nominations are out for this year's EA British Academy Children's Awards. The event celebrates excellence in children's film, television and video games.
7th November 2008Nominations are out for this year's EA British Academy Children's Awards. The event celebrates excellence in children's film, television and video games.
Radio Presenters & Interviewers are More Popular than Ever
5th August 2010There has been a big boost in radio listeners over the past few months and interviewing and hosting skills make radio presenters such as Evan Davies and Sarah Montague some of the best conference facilitators around.
5th August 2010There has been a big boost in radio listeners over the past few months and interviewing and hosting skills make radio presenters such as Evan Davies and Sarah Montague some of the best conference facilitators around.
Terry Wogan confirms that Chris Evans will replace him as Radio 2 Breakfast host
7th September 2009Sir Terry, 71, told listeners of the long-running Wake Up to Wogan that he would be stepping down at the end of the year.Chris Evans is due to take over the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show slot. However, Sir Terry will not be quitting the airwaves altogether as he has an exciting new show lined up. The DJ said this was the hardest decision he has ever had to make in his broadcasting career. Wake up to Wogan has an army of fans, 8 million of whom tune in on a daily basis to hear his idiosyncratic musings.
7th September 2009Sir Terry, 71, told listeners of the long-running Wake Up to Wogan that he would be stepping down at the end of the year.Chris Evans is due to take over the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show slot. However, Sir Terry will not be quitting the airwaves altogether as he has an exciting new show lined up. The DJ said this was the hardest decision he has ever had to make in his broadcasting career. Wake up to Wogan has an army of fans, 8 million of whom tune in on a daily basis to hear his idiosyncratic musings.
Parkinson's last stand
26th November 2007The TV veteran handpicked the final lineup himself, which included David Beckham, Sir Michael Caine, Dame Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Peter Kay, Dame Edna Everage.
26th November 2007The TV veteran handpicked the final lineup himself, which included David Beckham, Sir Michael Caine, Dame Judi Dench, Billy Connolly, Peter Kay, Dame Edna Everage.
Stars unite for Children in Need
16th November 2007Pop stars, actors and TV presenters are joining forces to raise money for BBC Children in Need. The annual fundraising event culminates in a seven-hour BBC One show with performers including The Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue and Annie Lennox.
16th November 2007Pop stars, actors and TV presenters are joining forces to raise money for BBC Children in Need. The annual fundraising event culminates in a seven-hour BBC One show with performers including The Spice Girls, Kylie Minogue and Annie Lennox.
The National Television Awards 2007
1st November 2007In the end, the National Television Awards, which have been held in London, could have been rebranded Ant and Dec's Wednesday Night Takeaway.
1st November 2007In the end, the National Television Awards, which have been held in London, could have been rebranded Ant and Dec's Wednesday Night Takeaway.
David Beckham to Appear on Final ‘Friday Night with Jonathan Ross’
1st July 2010It has been announced that David Beckham will be joining presenter and awards host Jonathan Ross on the sofa for his last ever show in two weeks time.
1st July 2010It has been announced that David Beckham will be joining presenter and awards host Jonathan Ross on the sofa for his last ever show in two weeks time.
'Thrilled' Natasha Kaplinsky has a baby boy
29th September 2008Natasha Kaplinsky gave birth to a baby boy The newsreader, 36, gave birth to her son, who has not been named, at a London hospital at 8.30am.
29th September 2008Natasha Kaplinsky gave birth to a baby boy The newsreader, 36, gave birth to her son, who has not been named, at a London hospital at 8.30am.
Simon Calder Reviews
Simon Calder has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Simon Calder for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Simon Calder for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0) 208 365 3200 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
"It was a great evening and Simon was, as ever, a real pleasure to work with. I hope we can persuade him to continue to do be our awards host? Can you please pencil us in for next year now?"
"I want to thank Simon so much for his fantastic contribution to the judging of the Awards and the wonderful way he came across at the event. His presentation was so engaging and the accompanying slides were hilarious. Ive had so much feedback from guests since saying how much they loved listening to Simon speech. "
"We really appreciate the energy and creative thinking you bring to the events we organise on regeneration. The contributions you have made to our Magnetic South Conference, the Making of Medway event and Beyond Brighton Pier have been brilliant and we always look forward to working with you."
If you are interested in booking Simon Calder for your live event or require any additional information regarding Simon Calder then please fill in the enquiry form below and one of the Speakers Corner booking agents will contact you within 24 hours.
"Simon is a joy to work with and went the extra mile for our client by even mentioning them on national TV!"
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News
2nd September 2010
Michael Douglas shared his struggle on The Late Show with David Letterman yesterday and keynote speakers including Lance Armstrong and Martina Navratilova have been open to sharing their own experiences and stories of hope.
1st September 2010
The BBC One controller, Jay Hunt has confirmed that Graham Norton's chat show will switch to friday nights in October to replace Friday Night with Jonathan Ross.
