Andrew O'Connor (actor)

Andrew O'Connor (born 1963 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire) is a British actor, comedian, magician, television presenter and executive producer.

Television career

Although he enjoyed a short stint as a child actor, appearing as Tom Brill in the BBC mini-series The Canal Children in 1976[1], he made his mark as a children's magician, and won the Magic Circle's Young Magician of the Year prize in 1981.[2] After appearing in a number of variety shows on television, he was invited to join the cast of London Weekend Television's Copy Cats, a showcase featuring impressionists such as Bobby Davro and Gary Wilmot, in 1985. A second series, without Wilmot, followed in 1986. O'Connor received a writing credit for each series. His own children's show, Andrew O'Connor's Joke Machine soon followed, in which he told jokes and performed magic tricks and invited children to do the same.[3]

In 1986, he began appearing in ITV's popular Saturday morning children's series, No. 73. But shortly afterwards, he switched to the BBC to launch another Saturday morning children's series, On the Waterfront,[4] alongside fellow ex-No. 73 host Kate Copstick. In 1991, O'Connor became the second actor to play The Head in CITV's arts and crafts show Art Attack presented by Neil Buchanan.

In 1988, O'Connor also appeared regularly in short comedy sketches co-written by himself for the Observation round in ITV game show The Krypton Factor. In the same year, he took over from Jeremy Beadle as the presenter of the daytime game show, Chain Letters. He returned to acting to play the role of the computer in early 90's children's sci-fi show Kappatoo but it was his career as a quiz-show host that took off, and he subsequently presented the UK version of Talk About, moved to Saturday night prime time in 1991 with One to Win, and returned to daytime television with The Alphabet Game. This latter show was devised and produced by O'Connor, under the aegis of Objective Productions which he formed with Michael Vine.

The formation of Objective Productions marked a turning point in O'Connor's career, and although he has made numerous on-screen appearances since then, as host, presenter or panelist,[5] he has mainly worked behind the camera. He has produced numerous comedy and magic-related TV shows, perhaps the most notable being the critically acclaimed sitcom, Peep Show, and most of Derren Brown's programmes.

In 1993 O'Connor presented The Big Breakfast for a week while Chris Evans was on holiday, but did not enjoy the experience of live television.[6] He presented an ITV & Family Channel game show called Family Catchphrase, which was a spin-off from Catchphrase; there were 50 episodes from 1994. One episode featured a young Simon Amstell and another featured a guest appearance from the show's creator, Stephen Radosh. Also in 1994, O'Connor played the lead in the touring musical Me and My Girl.[6]

He established Objective Productions with Michael Vine, where O'Connor holds the position of Chair. The company website claims the company was founded in 1991[7] but a 2005 interview with O'Connor in The Independent lists 1996 as the year the company was formed.[6]. According to Companies House, Objective was incorporated on the 9th April 1992[8]

O'Connor is an advocate of PBS and in particular Channel Four, to whom he attributes a large part of his success as a producer.[9]

Film career

He directed the film Magicians starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb released on 18 May 2007. He also directed May the Best Man Win in 2013.

Theatre career

In 1993, O'Connor played the title role in the musical BILLY at the Edinburgh Festival. He then went on to play the lead role of Bill Snibson in Me and My Girl in 1994 and the title role in the revival of Barnum in 1995 and 1996. He has also directed in theatre with productions of 42nd Street, Anything Goes and The Nerd on tour and The Odd Couple (female version) in the West End. 2015 O'Connor is Directing Derren Brown: Miracle with Andy Nyman.

Awards

O'Connor has won two BAFTA awards for The Quick Trick Show[6] and Peep Show, and Magicians won best comedy film at the Miami film festival.

References

  1. ↑ The Canal Children, IMDb
  2. ↑ The Magic Circle
  3. ↑ Andrew O'Connor's Joke Machine at the BFI
  4. ↑ Stafford, Geoff (April 1990). "On location with a BBC make-up artist". Video Maker. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
  5. ↑ IMDb - TV appearances
  6. 1 2 3 4 Interview by Oliver Duff (2005-06-27). "Andrew O'Connor: My Life In Media - Media - News". The Independent. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  7. ↑ "About us | Company Information". Objective Productions. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
  8. ↑ Companies House data
  9. ↑ Andrew O'Connor's OFCOM statement

External links

Preceded by
Jeremy Beadle		 Host of Chain Letters
1988-1989 		Succeeded by
Allan Stewart
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