In the 1990s and 2000s, Michael Underwood was a household name in children’s television, hosting programs like Xchange, Ministry of Mayhem, and Jungle Run.
When his presenting roles became scarce, a beloved child actor from the late 1990s and early 2000s unexpectedly took a different direction and made the courageous decision to retrain and pursue a completely different career path.
Initially stumbling into the world of presenting after discovering a callout for audition tapes during his time at a radio station, Michael Underwood carved out a niche for himself, hosting a range of iconic kids’ shows like Jungle Run and Ministry of Mayhem, as well as becoming a familiar face as an entertainment reporter for GMTV and Good Morning Britain.
Beyond his presenting credentials, at age 39, Michael has also participated in high-profile reality shows such as Dancing on Ice, Celebrity MasterChef, and All Star Mr and Mrs with his partner, fellow presenter and Celebrity Big Brother star Angellica Bell. She too is known for her work with classic children’s programmes like Xchange, 50/50, and That’s Genius!
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His and his daughter live in a similarly ordinary house in Kingston-upon-Thames, London, with their son and daughter.
However, when Michael’s opportunities began to wane, he found himself at a crossroads. Speaking to The Mirror, he disclosed: “The phone stopped ringing. It’s just not a nice place to be in. I needed to make a decision.”
“I thought you know what, I’ve got my teaching degree, I’ve got 20 years in broadcasting behind me, maybe I can take that skill set and put it to good use. Help build children’s confidence, help them with their oracy, and their presenting skills. That’s when I thought: ‘Yeah, let’s grab the bull by the horns and maybe take a step out into a different career’.”
He began his career at Surbiton High Boy’s Prep School as a part-time drama teacher, peppering Year 4 classes with his broadcasting background, before moving on to become a form teacher in 2019. With a full teaching license in hand, he accepted a full-time position at King’s College School in Wimbledon in September.
He shared his earlier ambitions when he said, “I never wanted to be a television presenter; acting was what I loved, but my family could never afford to send me to drama school.”
Source: Mirror
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