We’re really stepping up
TV star Michael’s switch to classroom
When the phone stopped ringing and work dried up, TV host Michael Underwood knew he had to make some life changes.
So the trained teacher swapped the studio for the classroom to inspire primary school kids.
While the past year has been hard on everyone, Michael has found his old skills have come in handy.
“I’ve really enjoyed it – it’s almost like being on camera,” he says.
“It’s amazing what teachers are doing with remote learning .You might think, ‘oh this is easy for them – they’re sat at home just churning out lessons they have done before’.
“But it’s actually been a lot of work, the amount of energy you put into engaging children online to keep them occupied. The screen is a huge barrier. It has meant learning new skills.”
Michael, 45, starred Dancing on Ice in 2008 – when he pulled out with a broken ankle, and has presented programmes on
CBBC, CITV as well as shows like Surprise Surprise and Good Morning Britain. He has been married to in
Michael in 2008
With Stephen Mulhern and Holly Willoughby
Angellica Bell, who co-presents The Martin Lewis Money Show, for over 10 years. But he originally trained as a teacher – on his mum’s advice.
“I never grew up wanting to be a TV presenter,” he says. “Acting’s what I loved but my family could never afford to send me to drama school. My mum and sister were nursery nurses, so working with children was in the family. Mum said: ‘Why don’t you think of doing drama as a teaching degree? Specialise in that and you’ve got something to fall back on if acting doesn’t work out.’” Michael did a four-year teaching degree and his
big break came by
MARRIED Michael and wife Angellica Bell
chance while saving for a teaching access course after university.
“I was at a local radio station, just answering phones and saw an ad in the internal BBC newspaper which said: ‘Would you like to be a children’s TV presenter? Send a video tape to this address.’ I got a call to go to London, auditioned and ended up on this Gaby Roslin show.”
But the work dried up and Michael said he “needed to make a decision”: “I thought ‘I’ve got my teaching degree, 20 years in broadcasting, maybe I can take that skill set and put it to good use, help build children’s confidence.”
The father of two has been teaching at Surbiton High Boys’ Prep School for three years and is also backing the Mirror’s Help a Child to Learn Campaign.
Readers have raised over £200,000 for school supplies for needy kids after an initial £1million donation from the National Education Union, which kickstarted the appeal. “The Mirror’s campaign is so important,” said Michael. “Basic materials are key. If you don’t even have those
then you don’t stand a chance.”
ONLINE helpachildtolearn.com CHEQUE ‘Help a Child to Learn’ c/o Help a Child to Learn, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London, WC1H 9BD
PEOPLE are walking 30% more in lockdown – and Sheffield leads the way, a study has found.
The average number of daily steps in Britain is up from 3,500 (about 1.8 miles) to 4,550 (2.3 miles).
Research by charity WaterAid shows Sheffield folk are top on 5,000 steps.
Next is Plymouth then Norwich and London.