Rob Bell (TV presenter)
{{short description|British TV presenter (born 1979)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Rob Bell
| honorific_suffix = MSc
| image = Rob Bell by the Milau Viaduct in the South of France.jpg
| caption = Rob Bell by the Millau Viaduct in France
| birth_date = 1979
| birth_place = Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England
| nationality = British
| alma_mater = University of Bath
| years_active = 2012–present
| website = {{url|https://www.robbell.tv}}
}}
Rob Bell (born 1979) is a British TV presenter and STEMnet ambassador.{{cite web|url=https://news.iaps.uk/story/engineer-tv-presenter-broadcaster-adventurer-rob-bell-visits-vinehall|title=Engineer, TV Presenter, Broadcaster, Adventurer, Rob Bell Visits Vinehall – IAPS|work=IAPS News |access-date=30 October 2018 |last1=School |first1=Vinehall }} He has appeared on TV programmes on BBC, Channel 5, Travel Channel (now DMAX) and Yesterday.
In 2015, Bell became one of just a few people to complete seven marathons on seven continents in seven days.{{Cite web|date=2015-03-02|title=7 marathons, 7 continents, 7 days – the '777' experience|url=https://athleticsweekly.com/featured/7-marathons-7-continents-7-days-rob-bell-777-experience-18262/|access-date=2020-10-04|website=AW|language=en-GB}}
Early life
Born in Buckinghamshire in 1979, his father's work with General Motors took the family to the United States when Bell was six and on to the outskirts of Paris when he was nine. His mother was a big influence for what was to become a passion for engineering.{{Cite journal|title=Railways in the Media|url=https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/media/Rob-Bell-Collector-1.pdf|journal=Hornby the Collector|volume=119|pages=39–40}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/travel/themes/adventure/9374271/Travelling-by-man-power-alone|title=Travelling by Man Power Alone – stuff.co.nz p.10 November 2013|date=9 November 2013|access-date=30 October 2018}}
Bell achieved a Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering with French at the University of Bath,{{cite web|url=https://www.institution-engineering-designers.org.uk/Article/Features/high-fliers-1|title=High Fliers! – Institution of Engineering Designers p.1 September 2018|access-date=30 October 2018}} completing his dissertation at University in Lyon, France.{{cite web|url=https://www.iol.co.za/entertainment/tv/man-power-inspires-sa-adventure-1605280|title=Man power inspires SA adventure – IOL.co.za p.11 November 2013|access-date=30 October 2018}} He had previously worked for French radio station Connexion FM and the Energy Saving Trust before he started in television.{{cite web|url=https://www.biogs.com/rob-bell|title=Who is Rob Bell? - biogs.com|access-date=30 October 2018}}
Career
Bell's first television work was the BBC series Engineering Giants, which he co-hosted with engineer turned comedian Tom Wrigglesworth in 2012.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jul/15/engineering-giants-tv-review|title=TV review: Engineering Giants; Thelma's Gypsy Girls – The Guardian Dowling.T p.15 July 2012|website=TheGuardian.com|date=15 July 2012|access-date=30 October 2018}} In 2013 he presented the Travel Channel programme Rob Bell's Engineering Enigmas and its series Man Vs World, where he participated in several adventure sports in different locations around the world.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-11-21/man-vs-world-rob-bell-travels-four-nations-via-mountain-board-paraglide-and-white-water-canoe/|title=Man Vs World: Rob Bell travels four nations via mountain board, paraglide and white water canoe – Radio Times Bremner.J p.21 November 2013|access-date=30 October 2018}} This was followed up in 2014 by the BBC programme The Science of D-Day,{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-27715451/the-science-behind-the-d-day-landings|title=The science behind the D-Day landings – BBC News 6 June 2014|work=BBC News|access-date=30 October 2018}} and another Travel Channel programme Secrets and Mysteries London{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2014-10-02/underground-london-5-secret-places-to-visit-in-and-around-the-city/|title=Underground London: 5 secret places to visit in and around the city – Radio Times Bremner.J p.2 October 2014|access-date=30 October 2018}} and the Channel 5 six-part series Underground Britain.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/c62fmy/secrets-of-underground-britain-episode-guide/series-1/2/|title=Secrets of Underground Britain|access-date=30 October 2018}}
In 2015 Bell presented the BBC history programme Haslar: Secrets of a War Hospital,{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/tv-and-radio-reviews/11696984/Haslar-The-Secrets-of-a-War-Hospital-BBC-Two-review-gruesome.html|title=Haslar: The Secrets of a War Hospital, BBC Two, review: 'gruesome' – The Telegraph Howse.C p.24 June 2015|date=24 June 2015 |access-date=30 October 2018}} and then completed seven marathons on seven continents for the Travel Channel series Monster Marathon Challenge.
In 2016 Bell presented the BBC documentary Tank Men to commemorate 100 years since the first use of tanks,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b07tbzgx|title=Tank Men – bbc.co.uk|access-date=30 October 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/14732976.Tank_Museum_plays_part_in_BBC_documentary_on_first_ever_tank_battle/|title=Tank Museum plays part in BBC documentary on first ever tank battle – Daily Echo Durkin.J p.9 September 2016|date=9 September 2016 |access-date=30 October 2018}} and narrated the BBC series Sea Cities.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/dy8ngf/sea-cities--s1-e1-plymouth/|title= Series 1 Episode 1 Plymouth – Radio Times|access-date=30 October 2018}} He also presented the Channel 5 series Britain's Greatest Bridges.{{cite web|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/tyne-bridge-star-national-tv-12189674|title=The Tyne Bridge is the star of a national TV programme: When is it televised? – The Chronicle Morton.D p.17 November 2016|date=17 November 2016|access-date=30 October 2018}} He also appeared as a contributor to the Yesterday series Abandoned Engineering, which was later adapted to the 2017 US series Mysteries of the Abandoned on the Science Channel.
During 2017 he presented further Channel 5 programmes: Inside the Tube – Going Underground,{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/inside-tube-london-underground|title=Going underground: how London's Central Line was built (and why it's so unreliable) – wired.co.uk|magazine=Wired UK|access-date=30 October 2018}} Great British Royal Ships,{{cite web|url=http://www.channel5.com/show/great-british-royal-ships/|title=Great British Royal Ships – myfive|access-date=30 October 2018}} and The World's Greatest Bridges.{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/fyj566/the-worlds-greatest-bridges-episode-guide/|title=The World's Greatest Bridges – Radio Times|access-date=30 October 2018}} He co-presented The Great Fire (with Dan Jones and Suzannah Lipscomb){{cite web|url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/great-fire-london-burns-what-you-need-know-about-1666-blaze-1624161|title=The Great Fire: London Burns – What you need to know about the 1666 blaze – International Business Times Binding.L p.31 May 2017|date=31 May 2017|access-date=30 October 2018}} and Brunel:The Man who Built Britain.{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/whats-on-tv-today-lnq79svsn|title=What's on TV today Friday December 8: our television, film and radio picks = The Sunday Times p.3 December 2017|access-date=30 October 2018}} He also presented the BBC show Invented in The South.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b08w1jg3|title=Invented in – BBC.co.uk|access-date=30 October 2018}}
In 2018 Bell presented further programmes for Channel 5 with The Flying Scotsman airing in February,{{cite web|url=http://www.thenational.scot/news/16047022.Tonight__39_s_TV__Collateral_and_The_Unstoppable_Flying_Scotsman/|title=Tonight's TV: Collateral and The Unstoppable Flying Scotsman – The National p.26 February 2018|date=26 February 2018 |access-date=30 October 2018}} World's Tallest Skyscrapers in June{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/gnmq7x/worlds-tallest-skyscrapers-beyond-the-clouds--series-1-episode-1/|title=World's Tallest Skyscrapers – Radio Times|access-date=30 October 2018}} and Walking Britain's Lost Railways in September.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/articles/walking-britain-lost-railways/|title=On the trail of Britain's lost railways – The Telegraph Horsford.S p.21 September 2018|newspaper=The Telegraph|date=21 September 2018|access-date=30 October 2018|last1=Horsford|first1=Simon}} A second series of Walking Britain's Lost Railways premiered in 2020.
In 2021, Bell presented the Channel 5 series London's Greatest Bridges with Rob Bell.{{cite web|url=https://www.channel5.com/show/londons-greatest-bridges/|title=London's Greatest Bridges with Rob Bell|website=channel5.com|accessdate=28 December 2020}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Television series ! Role ! Notes ! Ref |
|---|
| 2012
| Engineering Giants | Co-presenter | 3 episodes |
| 2013
| Rob Bell's Engineering Enigmas | Presenter | | |
| rowspan="2" |2014
| The Science of D-Day | Presenter | Documentary |
| Secrets and Mysteries of London
| Presenter | Documentary |
| rowspan="3" |2015
| Underground Britain | Presenter | TV series |
| Haslar: Secrets of a War Hospital
| Presenter | Documentary |
| Monster Marathon Challenge
| Presenter | TV series |
| rowspan="3" |2016
| Tank Men | Presenter | Documentary |
| Sea Cities
| Co-presenter | TV series |
| Britain's Greatest Bridges
| Presenter | TV series |
| 2017–present
| Co-presenter | TV series |
| rowspan="6" |2017
| Mysteries of the Abandoned | Co-presenter | TV series |
| Inside the Tube – Going Underground
| Presenter | TV series |
| The World's Greatest Bridges
| Presenter | TV series |
| The Great Fire: London Burns
| Co-presenter | TV series |
| Brunel:The Man who Built Britain
| Presenter | TV series |
| Invented in...
| Presenter; episode "The South" | TV series |
| 2017–2020
| Great British Royal Ships | Presenter | TV series |
| rowspan="4"| 2018
| Sea Cities | Presenter | TV series |
| The Flying Scotsman
| Presenter | TV series |
| Numb Skulls
| Presenter | TV series; episode "Atlantic Crossing" |
| World's Tallest Skyscrapers: Beyond the Clouds
| Presenter | TV series |
| 2018 – present
| Walking Britain's Lost Railways | Presenter | TV series |
| rowspan="5" |2019
| Building the Channel Tunnel: 25 Years On | Narrator | TV series |
| London: 2000 Years of History
| Presenter | TV series |
| The Blitz: Britain On Fire
| Co-presenter | TV series |
| Secret Nazi Bases
| Co-presenter | TV series |
| When Buildings Collapse: World's Worst Engineering Disasters
| Presenter | Documentary |
| rowspan="2" |2020
| Britain's Lost Battlefields with Rob Bell | Presenter | TV series |
| On Board Britain's Nuclear Submarine: Trident
| Presenter | Documentary |
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| London's Greatest Bridges with Rob Bell | Presenter | TV series |
| The Buildings That Fought Hitler
| Presenter | TV series |
| 2021 – present
| Building the Impossible | Presenter | TV series |
| rowspan="3" | 2021
| Britain's Top 10 Ships | Presenter | Documentary |
| The Stonehenge Enigma: What Lies Beneath?
| Presenter | Documentary |
| When Big Things Go Wrong
| Contributor | TV series |
| 2022
| British Planes That Won the War with Rob Bell | Presenter | TV series |
| 2023
| Britannia: Secrets of the Royal Yacht | Presenter | Documentary |
| 2024
|Inside Nuclear - Heysham 2 |Presenter |Documentary | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|5425506|Rob Bell}}
- https://www.robbell.tv/resume
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Rob}}
Category:BBC television presenters
Category:English television presenters
Category:Alumni of the University of Bath