Neil Buchanan |
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Neil Buchanan is an affable, fast talking Liverpudlian. After he left school, in the mid-seventies, he applied to Liverpool Art College but, after being made to choose between art and music, he decided to go with his first love and joined a band instead. He enjoyed a short career as a rock star and after the band split up went looking for a job. One advert in particular caught his eye, 'Have you ever had breakfast with a gorilla?' It was advertising for acts on a new TVS Saturday morning children's show No 73. Neil thought this was hilarious and replied 'No, but I've had my picture taken with a monkey!' and sent them a photo of him aged 5 with a monkey on his knee. He was offered a spot on the show as a caricaturist and the rest, as they say, is history.
Neil has presented many children's TV programmes including Motormouth, Finders Keepers and Zzzap! He then collaborated with Tim Edmunds to invent, present and produce Art Attack, ITV's acclaimed children's art show. In the past five years, few of ITV children's shows have been as consistently successful as Art Attack, and, as a home grown British show, it is also very popular with parents. Despite increased competition from dedicated children's channels such as Nickelodeon and The Children's Channel, Art Attack continues to command a loyal following of around five million viewers each week and is the most popular television programme made especially for children! It is popular with TV bodies too and has won various awards from the likes of New York International Film and TV Festival, the Prix Danube, the Prix Jeunesse, The Royal Television Society and BAFTA.
You’ve been presenting the show for a long time; do you find it difficult coming up with new ideas for Art Attack projects, where do you get your inspiration?
I get my inspiration from anywhere and everything. Walking down the street, going on holiday, sitting watching the telly, even playing with bubbles in the bath!
Has an Art Attack creation ever gone wrong - have there been any disasters?!
Two things are my pet hate. Sticky tape – it always curls up and seems to have a life of its own when used in the heat of the studio lights. I suffer from wind – no, not that type! When I am doing my Big Art Attacks outdoors there has been the odd occasion when I have been near the end of the picture and a gust of wind has blown it away.
Do you think children are still as enthusiastic about Art now as when you first began presenting the show?
I am convinced that all children are born creative. If the mail that I receive is anything to go by, every child up until about the age of seven thinks that they are the greatest artist in the world – and quite right too.
It is only when children get to the age of about seven or eight that well meaning teachers, parents and older siblings start to pass judgement and they start to question their own abilities. I firmly believe every child’s creativity is their own personal statement in life as to who they are.
Do you have a favourite Art Attack project you’ve worked on, or a favourite show?
Yes, I have to confess my favourite Art Attack project I worked on was when I created a massive Santa Claus in the snow up in the mountains of Breckenridge in the USA. As you can imagine there was lots of snow fun to be had on that trip.
4 Quick Questions:
Who is your favourite artist?
Toulouse Lautrec and Walt Disney. Toulouse had the style and Walt had the imagination and ideas.
What is your favourite book
The Hobbit – for it’s fantastic storytelling, and Alice in Wonderland and Wind in the Willows - for their illustrations.
What is your idea of happiness?
My idea of true happiness is being on an adventure somewhere in the Everglades in Florida.
How would you like to be remembered?
I would just like to be remembered.
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