Phil Spencer
| Phil Spencer | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born |
11 December 1969 Littlebourne, Kent, England |
| Occupation |
TV presenter businessman journalist |
| Years active | 2000-present |
| Employer | Channel 4 |
| Notable credit(s) |
Location, Location, Location Relocation, Relocation Secret Agent Love It Or List It |
| Spouse(s) | Fiona Spencer |
| Children | 2 |
Philip John Edward Spencer "Phil" Spencer[1] (born 11 December 1969) is a British media personality, television presenter and journalist, best known as the co-presenter of Channel 4 property show Location, Location, Location along with its spin-off Relocation, Relocation between 2004 and 2011 alongside Kirstie Allsopp.[2]
In 2011, Phil presented the holiday programme Vacation, Vacation, Vacation, but since 2012 has hosted property show, Phil Spencer: Secret Agent and Love It Or List It for Channel 4.
Education
Spencer was educated at Uppingham School,[3] an independent school for boys in the small market town of Uppingham, Rutland, in the Midlands, where he was Head Boy.[4]
Spencer attended London South Bank University
Business career
Having studied as a surveyor in the early 1990s, Spencer decided that the housing market was heavily biased towards the sellers in terms of professional support available, and saw an opportunity to set himself up as a home finder.[5] He founded property search company Garrington Home Finders Ltd in 1996.[5] He describes himself as not the first to see this opportunity "but I was probably second or third, and Kirstie [Allsopp] was the fourth."[5] The company entered into liquidation in early 2009, a victim of the credit crunch that followed the financial crisis of 2007–2008.[5] It was eventually saved by one of Spencer's former office managers.[5]
He remains an active property investor and landlord. He is director and shareholder of Raise The Roof Productions, a company which describes itself as the largest "true" independent production company in Scotland and one of Channel 4's biggest supplier.[6] He is also an Honorary Member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Media career
Spencer's promotion of Garrington and the concept of using a buying agent to find a home led Spencer to become the co-host of Location, Location, Location and Relocation, Relocation.
Spencer has maintained his reputation as a UK property expert and in early 2010, Spencer partnered with co-host Kirstie Allsopp and launched a new independent production company called Raise the Roof with colleagues from IWC Media.[7]
Spencer has also continued his writing career and in April 2010 his book Adding Value to Your Home was published.[8]
Another book by Spencer, How To Buy Your First Home was published in 2011, along with How To Buy A House which he co-wrote with Kirstie Allsopp in 2014.
On 2 January 2012, he presented a special edition of The Million Pound Drop Live as part of Channel 4's 'Mash Up'. Spencer returned to the game show on 15 June 2012 with Kirstie Allsopp, to play the game for their chosen charities.
In November 2012, it was announced that Spencer would host a new daytime game show The Common Denominator, on Channel 4. The show aired for one series of 39 episodes.[9]
He continues to present Location, Location, Location, Phil Spencer: Secret Agent and Secret Agent Down Under on Channel 4. He and Allsopp present Kirstie and Phil's Love It or List It, which began in April 2015.
Personal life
Spencer grew up in Littlebourne, Kent and now lives in Hampshire, with his Australian wife, Fiona, and their two sons, Jake and Ben.[5] He is an Ambassador for SOS Children's Villages,[10] Action Medical Research and Ellenor Children's Hospice at Home. He is a patron of Mungos, a London homelessness charity.,[11][12] Estate Agent Giving and Just Springers Rescue. Spencer is keen on shooting live game and has made his support for field sports known.[13]
In August 2014, Spencer was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to the 2014 referendum on that issue.[14]
References
- ↑ "Spotlight On... Phil Spencer". Western Mail. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
- ↑ Latest. "Phil Spencer's biography". Channel4.com. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ School details – Uppingham Guide to Independent Schools
- ↑ Phil Spencer's biography TV Lives
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Property Market (29 July 2009). "Phil Spencer: from boom to bust". Telegraph. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
- ↑ "About us - Raise The Roof Productions - Raise the Roof". Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ↑ Deans, Jason (15 March 2010). "Kirstie Allsopp and Phil Spencer set up independent production company". guardian.co.uk.
- ↑ Markosky, Cheryl (12 April 2010). "Phil Spencer: how to add value to your home". The Telegraph.
- ↑ "Channel 4 Commissions The Common Denominator". Endemol Distribution News. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
- ↑ "SOS Children's Celebrity Supporters". SOS Children's Villages. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
- ↑ No tenant? What about the homeless? The Independent, 17 October 2010
- ↑ Real Lettings, Real Lives Broadway Homelessness and Support, 13 October 2010
- ↑ Fieldsports Magazine Profile
- ↑ "Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics". theguardian.com. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2014.