Nick Hewer
Hewer at the BAFTAs in 2009
Born
Nicholas Radbourn Hewer[1]

(1944-02-17) 17 February 1944 (age 80)[1]
Swindon, Wiltshire, England[citation needed]
NationalityBritish
EducationClongowes Wood College
Occupation(s)Public relations consultant (retired)
Television personality
Years active1966–98 (Amstrad/Business career)
2005–present (Television career)
EmployerAmstrad plc.
Known forAdvisor to Lord Sugar in United Kingdom version of The Apprentice, Host of Countdown
Political partyLabour Party
SpouseMargo Spindler (divorced)
PartnerCatherine (present)
Children2
Parent(s)Patricia and John Hewer

Nicholas Radbourn Hewer (born 17 February 1944) is a British former public relations consultant-turned-television personality and television presenter, who lives in Northamptonshire, England. He is probably best known for his role as Lord Sugar's advisor on the UK version of the BBC television show The Apprentice. Since 2012, he has been host of the long-running Channel 4 programme Countdown, alongside Rachel Riley and Susie Dent, having taken over from Jeff Stelling.

Early life

Hewer was born in Swindon on 17 February 1944. He lived in Old Town, and was educated at Clongowes Wood College, an exclusive Jesuit boarding school, located in County Kildare, Ireland.[3] His mother, Patricia Hewer (née Jamison), and father, John David Radbourn Hewer (senior partner of the Old Town firm of veterinary surgeons Hewer, Spriggs and Wilson, well-known for prompt professional attention and for the fast cars with which they kept in immediate touch with clients' farm livestock in rural north Wiltshire during the 1940s, 50s and 60s) had met when both were university students in Dublin. He has two sisters and two brothers.

His grandfather, John, began as a vet in Swindon on Drove Road in 1912. His maternal grandfather, Oswald Jamison was High Sheriff of Belfast during the 1920s.[4][5]

He secured a place to study law at Trinity College, Dublin. But his parents could not afford for him to go.[6]

Hewer moved to London in the 1960s.[7]

Career

He started his own PR company in 1966. He spent 21 years in the Amstrad management group. His PR company was hired by Amstrad to represent them in 1983.[6] He sold his PR agency in 1998.

Television

Hewer has appeared on panel shows Would I Lie to You?, Ask Rhod Gilbert, Have I Got News for You, Room 101 and Sunday Brunch.

On 16 November 2011, it was announced that Hewer would be the new host of Channel 4 show Countdown.[8] His first show was broadcast on 9 January 2012.

In July 2012, Hewer presented a four-programme BBC Two series called The Farm Fixer, where he assisted farmers in Northern Ireland in diversifying.

Hewer also presented two BBC One series The Town that Never Retired and We All Pay Your Benefits, both alongside Margaret Mountford.

On 28 August 2013, Hewer was the subject of the BBC One genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are?.

The Apprentice

Hewer and ex-Amstrad owner Alan Sugar became friends through their working relationship;[7] he is one of Sugar's advisers in each episode of The Apprentice television show.

Personal life

He married Margo Spindler in 1973 but they divorced in 1985.[6]

Hewer has a house in Bordeaux, southwest France and one in Northamptonshire where he lives with his partner Catherine. He has two children (James and Kate)[6] from a previous marriage.[9]

In July 2008, Hewer took part in the charity drive event, the Mongol Rally, in a Renault 4, driving from London to Ulan Bator. He raised over £12,000 for Hope and Homes for Children.[10] He wrote a series of blogs about his journey for the online travel section of the Daily Telegraph.

Hewer is a supporter of the Labour Party.[11] On 2 November 2012, Hewer received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Kingston University recognising his 'outstanding contribution to business and entrepreneurship' .[12][13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Jeffries, Stuart (9 May 2011). "Nick Hewer: 'The Apprentice does a great job for young people'". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
  2. ^ McLaughlin, Martyn (9 May 2008). "'You're fired' – Edinburgh University is panned after Apprentice's error". The Scotsman. ((cite news)): C1 control character in |title= at position 17 (help)
  3. ^ All fired up! (Irish Independent) 26 March 2008
  4. ^ "Who Do You Think You Are? Series 10 - 6. Nick Hewer". Radio Times. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  5. ^ Nick Hewer Family History
  6. ^ a b c d Mcgibbon, Rob (3 May 2013). "Nick Hewer: 'Working for Alan Sugar influenced me the most. He lives life like a battle and I've grown to like the smell of cordite'". The Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 13 March 2014.
  7. ^ a b "BBC - The Apprentice - The Board". web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  8. ^ "The Apprentice star Nick Hewer is new host of Countdown". the Guardian. 16 November 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Nick Hewer on The Apprentice: Interview". The Daily Telegraph. London. 23 March 2009. Retrieved 10 June 2009.
  10. ^ "Justgiving - Nick Hewer". Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  11. ^ "BBC News - Nick Hewer: The Labour Party's new 'apprentices'". www.bbc.co.uk. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 20 November 2010.
  12. ^ Nick Hewer receives honorary degree from Kingston University
  13. ^ Nick Hewer receives honorary doctorate from Kingston University
Preceded byJeff Stelling Host of Countdown 2012–present Succeeded byIncumbent
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