Adrian Chiles - Biography & Images
Adrian Chiles (born 21 March 1967) is a British television and radio presenter.
His journalistic training and love of football resulted in the development of a career in two streams of broadcasting when he was at the BBC: fronting general and notably business programmes such as The One Show, Working Lunch and The Money Programme; and sports programmes like Match of the Day 2.
BBC
Chiles joined the BBC originally for work experience on Business Breakfast. He then became an assistant producer and, by 1993, was presenting BBC Radio 4’s Financial World Tonight. He then began presenting and producing his own show Chiles on Saturday for BBC Radio 5 Live, which was awarded the sports category Gold Medal at the “Sony Radio Academy Awards” in 2002.
Chiles’ experience from Financial World Tonight led to him fronting the BBC Two business show Working Lunch, where he came to popular notice. He has since created, scripted and fronted a variety of other programmes for the BBC, including for BBC Two the 2003 series So What Do You Do All Day?, a look at the lives of the rich and famous, and Asian Millionaires. For BBC One he created and fronted Royal Millions, an investigation of the Queen’s finances, as well as reports for Panorama and various documentaries.
From 2006-2009, Chiles presented the spin-off series of the popular UK television show The Apprentice called The Apprentice: You’re Fired!, in which he interviews the latest candidate to be fired.
During August 2006 Adrian Chiles co-presented a pilot of a new BBC One early-evening magazine programme, The One Show. The programme was re-commissioned for 2007 with Chiles returning as host, leaving Working Lunch. Chiles’ last appearance on The One Show was on 30 April 2010 and his favourite guest from the programme rock singer Robert Plant appeared again. His final show also saw video tributes to an emotional Chiles from Prime Minister Gordon Brown and political leaders David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
In April 2007, Chiles was a guest host of BBC One’s popular satirical news quiz, Have I Got News for You. He stated that he is frequently mistaken for author and presenter Ray Mears.
When the BBC won back the rights to Premier League football, Chiles became the host of Match of the Day 2 on Sundays. In the run-up to the 2006 World Cup, he was an integral part in BBC Three’s African Cup of Nations coverage. He was also a member of the BBC’s World Cup team often bringing viewers late night highlights. He was a main presenter of the BBC’s Euro 2008 coverage and was one of the anchors of the morning 2008 Olympics coverage from Beijing.
ITV
After news media speculation suggesting that the BBC wished to increase the popularity of The One Show on Fridays by introducing Chris Evans alongside Christine Bleakley in an extended one-hour format, Chiles was said to be discussing a contract with ITV. After Evans was confirmed as the new Friday presenter in a revamped one-hour format, Chiles left the BBC for ITV in a four year contract, speculated to be worth £1million per year. Chiles left the BBC on 30 April 2010.
From May 2010, Chiles fronted ITV’s football coverage. He made his ITV debut on 24 May 2010, presenting the England v Mexico friendly at Wembley (England won the match 3-1).
On 6 September 2010 he made his first appearance on Daybreak, ITV’s new breakfast television programme.
In January and February 2011, Chiles presented That Sunday Night Show on ITV.
Charity work
In March 2008, Chiles embarked on a charity cycling trip with footballer Alan Shearer from Newcastle upon Tyne to London via West Bromwich for Sport Relief. The duo raised £371,065 for their feat.
In 2010, Chiles grew a beard, which was later shaved off by his One Show co-host Christine Bleakley for Sport Relief, raising £60,000 in the process.
Other activities
Chiles is the author of “We Don’t Know What We’re Doing”. Published in 2007, the book recounts the stories of a varied cast of avid West Bromwich Albion supporters whom Chiles met over the course of the 2005/06 season, at the end of which the team was relegated from the Premier League. The book also documents Chiles’ own obsession with his beloved “Baggies.”
He was the World Record holder for highest number of kisses received in 60 seconds until 2009, with 78.
In 2004, Chiles appeared with Johnny Vegas and Mackenzie Crook in the movie Sex Lives of the Potato Men in a cameo role as the host of a sex party.
He appeared on the second series of Al Murray’s Happy Hour as himself, and also had a cameo as himself in series two of That Mitchell and Webb Look.
On 23 November 2009, Chiles released a 2 Good 2 Bad: The World Cup DVD based on the popular segment from Match of the Day 2.
Personal life
Chiles married Jane Garvey, now a regular presenter of Woman’s Hour on BBC Radio 4, in September 1998 in Swansea. Chiles and Garvey have two daughters, both born in Hammersmith and Fulham, London: Evelyn Katarina (born January 2000) and Sian Mary (born March 2003). In June 2008, the couple separated; they divorced in October 2009. He is a Roman Catholic.
Chiles is well known for his support of West Bromwich Albion Football Club, where he is a season-ticket holder and presenter on some of the club’s official DVDs. Both of his cars have WBA in their registration and he has a stained glass West Bromwich Albion crest above his door. He also supports the Croatian national team, because of his Croatian mother.
Chiles plays the double bass, as revealed when he dueted with violinist Nigel Kennedy playing “Fever” on The One Show. On 7 May 2008 his co-presenter on The One Show, Christine Bleakley, sang part of a song with Chiles accompanying on piano. Chiles also plays the organ at St Martin on occasions.
