Christopher Jonathan Hollins (born 20 March 1971) is an English journalist, presenter and TV personality. Hollins is best known for being the sports correspondent for BBC Breakfast until 2012 and for winning Strictly Come Dancing 2009.
Chris Hollins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | Christopher Jonathan Hollins 20 March 1971 Bromley, London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, Presenter, Sportsman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notable credit(s) | BBC Breakfast (2005–12) Watchdog (2010–15) Food Inspectors (2012–14) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Sarah Alexander (m. 2012) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parent | John Hollins | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Cricket information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm off break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1994 | Oxford University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FC debut | 20 April 1994 Oxford University v Glamorgan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last FC | 29 June 1994 Oxford University v Cambridge University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 22 December 2007 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Hollins presented the BBC consumer rights series Watchdog from 2010 until 2015.
Early life
editHollins was born into a footballing family in Bromley, south London. His father was John Hollins, the former Chelsea, Arsenal, Queens Park Rangers and England footballer. His uncle David was a goalkeeper and played for Newcastle United as well as Wales, winning eleven caps.
Hollins was educated at Bickley Park School in Bromley and Tonbridge School. He graduated from Durham University in 1993 with a degree in history and sociology and a special diploma in social sciences from Keble College, Oxford in 1994.[1][2]
Career
editSport
editAfter leaving Tonbridge School in 1989,[3] he played football for Charlton, Queens Park Rangers, and Aldershot Town. He then attended Durham University and subsequently Oxford University for whom he played first-class cricket and gained a blue.[4][5]
Television
editHollins started his media career at London TV station Channel One TV, then owned by Associated Newspapers. He then moved to Sky Sports in 1994 followed by spells at GMTV, Meridian and Five TV.
Hollins joined BBC News in 1999, and has also reported for Grandstand and Football Focus. He joined BBC Breakfast in October 2005, replacing Rob Bonnet.
Hollins was the main sport presenter on Breakfast, presenting on Mondays–Thursdays until his final show on 21 March 2012 (he had decided not to make the move to Salford as the show was being relocated). He was also a regular male relief presenter during the week, standing in for main presenter Bill Turnbull. Hollins has reported from the 2002 World Cup in Japan, the 2010 World Cup, and America to cover The Masters golf in 2007.
In 2009, Hollins joined the presenting team of the BBC One antiques show Cash in the Attic.[citation needed]
In April 2010, Hollins co-presented The One Show for a week alongside Louise Minchin while regular hosts Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley were unavailable.[6] Hollins returned to co-host an episode with Alex Jones in March 2016.
In September 2010, Hollins became a co-presenter on Watchdog. He later left following the 2015 series. In July 2011 Hollins became a co-presenter on BBC One's programme The Great British Weather.
Hollins and Matt Allwright presented three series of Food Inspectors, a factual programme which began airing on BBC One in February 2012. In 2016, Hollins co-presented the third series of Secret Britain alongside Ellie Harrison and Denise Lewis.
Strictly Come Dancing
editHollins won the 2009 series of Strictly Come Dancing with dance partner Ola Jordan, beating Ricky Whittle in the final.[2] He consistently won the public vote throughout, despite losing the judges' vote 190 – 186 in the Final. Hollins and Jordan were the only pair in the competition never to face the "Dance Off"
Film
editHollins appeared in the 2007 film Run Fatboy Run[7] as a marathon commentator[citation needed] alongside Denise Lewis.[8]
Personal life
editIn March 2012, Hollins married Sarah Alexander with whom he has two children.[9][10] The family live in Rotherfield Greys, Oxfordshire.[11]
Charity work
editIn 2008, Hollins became a patron of children's cancer charity CLIC Sargent.[citation needed] Chris Hollins is an ambassador for Gold Challenge, part of the official mass participation legacy programme for the London 2012 Games,[citation needed] and a supporter of WellChild.[12]
Filmography
edit- Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | BBC News | ||
| Grandstand | Reporter | ||
| Football Focus | Reporter | ||
| 2005–2012 | BBC Breakfast | Sport presenter | |
| 2009 | Strictly Come Dancing | Competitor | Series 7 winner |
| 2009–2012 | Cash in the Attic | Co-presenteter | |
| 2010, 2016 | The One Show | Guest presenter | |
| 2010–2015 | Watchdog | Co-presenter | Alongside Matt Allwright |
| 2011 | The Great British Weather | Co-presenter | |
| 2012–2014 | Food Inspectors | Co-presenter | Alongside Matt Allwright |
| 2016 | Secret Britain | Co-presenter | Series 3 onwards; with Ellie Harrison and Denise Lewis |
- Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Run Fatboy Run | Marathon commentator |
References
edit- ^ "Notable Hild Bede Alumni". Durham University. Retrieved 29 March 2024.
- ^ a b "All that glitters... One quick step from Oxford to Strictly". Oxford Today. 23 (2): 19. 2011.
- ^ Tonbridge School Archived 24 August 2004 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sons and Daughters Archived 27 June 2006 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Chris Hollins & Ola Jordan Archived 28 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine BBC – Strictly Come Dancing 2009
- ^ Chris Hollins to stand in for Adrian Chiles on The One Show The Mirror, 9 April 2010
- ^ Chris Hollins Talent4Media
- ^ Full cast and crew for Run Fatboy Run Internet Movie Database
- ^ "Marriages". The Times. No. 70512. 5 March 2012. p. 51. Retrieved 29 February 2024 – via Times Digital Archive.
- ^ "My life in travel: Chris Hollins, BBC sports presenter and journalist". The Independent. 1 June 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "Amazing Sarah's marathon effort". www.henleystandard.co.uk. Retrieved 14 May 2023.
- ^ "WellChild Celebrity Ambassadors". Archived from the original on 18 September 2015.
External links
edit- Chris Hollins at IMDb
- Chris Hollins appointed new Sports Presenter on BBC Breakfast BBC Press Office, 5 October 2005
- Chris Hollins Breakfast Profile and Interview, BBC News, 24 October 2005
- Chris Hollins on the Yesterday website