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Tim Lovejoy
Tim Lovejoy
Tim Lovejoy
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Timothy Paul Lovejoy (born 28 March 1968) is an English television presenter best known for hosting Saturday morning football programme Soccer AM with Helen Chamberlain for over a decade and BT Sports Panel on Saturday mornings. He presents Sunday Brunch on Channel 4.

Key Information

Career

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Early career

[edit]

Lovejoy began his television career as a covering VJ for MTV. He then joined Planet 24, working as a researcher for The Big Breakfast before going on to produce the show.[1]

Richard Marson's book celebrating fifty years of Blue Peter also comments that Lovejoy auditioned as a presenter in the 1990s.[2]

Soccer AM

[edit]
Main article: Soccer AM

Lovejoy began hosting and producing football show Soccer AM on Sky Television in 1996, with Helen Chamberlain. He remained on the show for eleven years.

Following the success of Soccer AM, Lovejoy became a radio DJ, joining Xfm before moving to Virgin Radio, where he briefly presented a Sunday-afternoon show. He also hosted Tim Lovejoy and the Allstars, a show similar to TFI Friday, on Sky 1, where he chatted with celebrities, between performances from a variety of bands.

In 2006, Lovejoy was appointed as the co-host of the car show Fifth Gear on Five for two series.

Lovejoy announced on 5 June 2007 that he would be leaving Soccer AM after eleven years.[3]

Post-Soccer AM

[edit]

Following his departure from Soccer AM, Lovejoy joined BBC Radio 5 Live as the Wednesday night host of its football phone-in show 6-0-6 though he was dropped in 2009.[4] He also presented the UK edition of Five's Major League Soccer magazine show David Beckham's Soccer USA

In 2008, Lovejoy launched an internet TV channel called Channel Bee. As of 20 November 2009, the website has been taken down.[5]

In February 2010, Lovejoy guest presented an episode of Blue Peter 12 years after auditioning for the show. A clip of Lovejoy's original audition was shown during the programme.[6]

Lovejoy participated in the 2011 series of Celebrity MasterChef.

Something for the Weekend

[edit]
Main article: Something for the Weekend

From 2006 until 2012, Lovejoy co-presented the Sunday morning TV programme Something for the Weekend on BBC2, opposite chef Simon Rimmer and various female co-hosts including Louise Redknapp (previous co-hosts include Amanda Hamilton and Caroline Flack).[7]

The show centred on cookery, with celebrity guests assisting in the preparation of easy recipes, and viewers encouraged to make the same dishes at home. It also had regular segments on cocktails, gadgets, and 'guess the year' based on old pop and news clips.

It was reported in January 2012 that the show, which in 2011 ran as a 46 × 90-minute series, had fallen foul of the BBC's Delivering Quality First cuts because of its unfortunate scheduling on BBC 2 during the day, despite consistently high ratings. The show ended in March, and an online campaign was launched to save the programme.[8]

Sunday Brunch and Daily Brunch

[edit]
Main article: Sunday Brunch

On 25 March 2012, Lovejoy and Rimmer began hosting a new show for Channel 4, Sunday Brunch.[9][10] The series started one week after the final episode of Something for the Weekend.

In 2014, Lovejoy and Rimmer presented a short-lived spin-off series called Daily Brunch, airing Monday to Fridays from 10 am. The show lasted for just eight weeks.[11]

BT Sport

[edit]

In August 2013, Lovejoy began hosting the Saturday morning BT Sports Panel (BTSP) show of predictions, previews and reviews – a format similar to his former Soccer AM days.

Books

[edit]

The two other books are linked to his TV series; Lazy Brunch, 'co-authored' with chef Simon Rimmer (Quadrille Publishing, London, 2008) and Something for the Weekend: 60 fabulous recipes for a Lazy Brunch, also co-authored with Rimmer (Quadrille Publishing, London, 2009). His name is also associated with two DVDs on football: Lovejoy and Redknapp's Best of Football (2007) and Tim Lovejoy's Football Managers Uncut – A Guide to the Game's Greatest Gaffers (2008).

His book Lovejoy on Football was not critically well received. Taylor Parkes in monthly football magazine When Saturday Comes described it as "tedious in the extreme ... Hopelessly banal and nauseatingly self-assured, smirkingly unfunny ... There’s something sinister here, too: beamingly positive, thrilled by wealth, too pleased with himself to ask awkward questions."[12]

Podcast

[edit]

In 2017 Lovejoy launched Dear Lovejoy, originally an agony uncle podcast, but later evolving into a series of interviews.[13]

Personal life

[edit]

Lovejoy married Jade in 2002 and has twin girls from the marriage, born in 2002. Lovejoy was in a relationship with English netball player Tamsin Greenway. She gave birth to the couple's first child together, a daughter, on 22 May 2013.[14] In May 2016, Lovejoy announced that this relationship had ended.

In 2009, Lovejoy was named by The Daily Telegraph as the 49th most eligible bachelor in Britain.[15]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Tim Lovejoy

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Timothy Paul Lovejoy (born 28 March 1968) is an English television presenter and producer best known for hosting the Sky Sports football programme from 1996 to 2007 alongside , transforming it into a cult Saturday morning staple that blended sports analysis with comedy sketches and celebrity interviews. Lovejoy's career began after leaving school, initially working in mortgage sales before entering the entertainment industry as a merchandise manager for touring bands and transitioning to television as a (VJ) for . He later served as a researcher and producer on Channel 4's , where his experience in live broadcasting paved the way for his breakthrough role on , which he also produced during its early years, amassing over 1,500 hours of presentation. In 2006 and 2007, he co-hosted Channel 5's motoring programme . Lovejoy hosted BBC Two's lifestyle show Something for the Weekend from 2006 to 2012, featuring cookery, fashion, and music segments. Since 2012, he has co-hosted Channel 4's with chef , a long-running weekend programme that combines celebrity chats, cooking demonstrations, and light-hearted banter, airing live every Sunday. In addition to his on-screen work, Lovejoy has ventured into digital media, launching the online channel Channel Bee in 2008 in partnership with , focusing on comedy, football, and music content. In 2024, he reunited with Chamberlain to co-host the Soccer A-Z. He has also authored books on football, including Lovejoy on Football (2007), reflecting his passion for the sport.

Early life and education

Childhood and family

Timothy Paul Lovejoy was born on 28 March 1968 in Northwood, a suburb in , . His father began his career as an before transitioning to a role in personnel management at a large company, while his mother was one of the early professionals involved in selling computer programs during the start of the computer boom. Lovejoy grew up in this environment alongside his older brother, James. James Lovejoy tragically died in 2004 at the age of 37 following a prolonged battle with , an event Tim has described as profoundly numbing and transformative in his perspective on mortality. These family dynamics, including a supportive household in , contributed to Lovejoy's early exposure to diverse professional worlds, though specific childhood experiences shaping his media interests remain largely private.

Education

Tim Lovejoy attended , a in , , near his birthplace in . At the school, Lovejoy participated actively in sports, excelling as a star basketball player and using his time there primarily as an opportunity to play football, which he later described as a key highlight of his educational experience. He completed his secondary education by earning six O-Levels, attended college briefly without applying himself, and forwent further formal education or courses in or media. Lovejoy's early enthusiasm for football, developed through these activities, fostered an interest in media that shaped his path into television presenting.

Television career

Early career

Tim Lovejoy began his television career in the early as a (VJ) and video journalist for UK, where he covered segments such as "MTV at the Movies" and gained initial experience in researching and producing content. Prior to this, he had worked in the music industry as a merchandise manager for touring bands and briefly in sales during the , but his passion for media led him to "blag" his way into after leaving school without higher education. Following his time at , Lovejoy joined the production company in the mid-1990s as a junior researcher on the breakfast show , which had launched in 1992. He quickly advanced to the role of producer on the program, honing skills in production and working alongside figures like Chris Evans during its early years. In 1996, Lovejoy transitioned to at the start of the 1996-97 season, taking on initial presenting roles focused on football coverage and building his expertise in sports broadcasting. This move marked his entry into sports media, leveraging his lifelong interest in football from a background that included playing the sport in school.

Soccer AM

Tim Lovejoy joined as presenter and executive producer in 1996, co-hosting the Saturday morning football entertainment show alongside until his departure in 2007. The program, originally launched by in 1994 as a straightforward highlights show, transformed under their tenure into a lively, irreverent staple that aired live and attracted around 750,000 viewers weekly at its peak. Lovejoy's involvement helped elevate it from a niche sports segment to a cultural touchstone, blending football with broader entertainment to appeal beyond dedicated fans. The show's format during Lovejoy's era featured a unique mix of football analysis, such as match previews and highlights, comedy sketches performed by a resident team including characters like and , and celebrity interviews with figures from and music, including and . Live elements added spontaneity, with on-air antics like skill challenges and audience interactions creating an atmosphere of organized chaos that distinguished it from traditional sports programming. Lovejoy contributed significantly to the show's innovations, emphasizing fan engagement through segments like "Save Chip," a humorous fan-driven campaign, and integrating indie music performances and live stunts to infuse football culture with pop elements. He aimed to create accessible content, stating, "I wanted to make a football show that you could enjoy without liking football," which broadened its appeal and encouraged viewer participation via phone-ins and on-site fan features. In 2007, Lovejoy announced his exit from after 11 years, citing a desire for a change of direction to pursue a new project with a strong focus for Simon Fuller's 19 TV. A Sky Sports spokesperson noted, "We understand that he wants a change of direction," while a source close to the production indicated he felt it was time to branch out, potentially taking some team members with him. Lovejoy's era left a profound legacy on Saturday morning television, pioneering an irreverent style that merged sports with comedy and music to foster a cult-like fan community, often described as "like a club" where insiders shared in-jokes and endless energy. It influenced by making football more approachable and fun, peaking at 750,000 viewers and embedding segments like dance-offs and sword fights into collective memory, while shaping the tone for future youth-oriented shows.

Something for the Weekend

Something for the Weekend was a Sunday morning lifestyle magazine programme on , launched on 8 October 2006 with and chef as initial hosts. Tim Lovejoy joined as the main host in 2007 alongside Rimmer and Hamilton. The show featured a relaxed format blending cookery demonstrations by Rimmer, fashion segments, music performances, cocktail recipes, and interviews with celebrities, all designed to provide viewers with ideas for leisurely weekend activities. Lovejoy's energetic presenting style, honed from his sports background, helped drive the conversational tone, often incorporating humorous banter with guests and co-hosts during live 90-minute episodes. Lovejoy's involvement marked a significant shift in his career from high-energy sports broadcasting on , which he left in , to a more domestic lifestyle format that emphasized entertainment and practical tips over competitive analysis. This transition allowed him to explore broader presenting skills, including facilitating cooking challenges and celebrity chats, while occasionally drawing on his radio work at to bridge his sports persona with lighter topics. Notable episodes highlighted diverse guests, such as comedian and former basketball player in April 2009, singer and Spice Girl in January 2009, and musicians and in October 2009, showcasing the show's mix of comedy, music, and culinary content. The programme concluded after its sixth series, with the final episode airing on 18 March 2012, following the BBC's decision to cancel it due to consistently low viewing figures, averaging around 1 million viewers per episode in its last season. Critical reception praised the show's affable chemistry between Lovejoy, Rimmer, and rotating co-hosts like from 2010, but noted its struggle to stand out in a crowded Sunday morning slot, leading to its replacement by repeats in the schedule. Fan backlash was strong, with a to save the series gathering over 21,000 signatures, reflecting its cult appeal despite the ratings shortfall.

Sunday Brunch

Tim Lovejoy co-hosts on , a live Sunday morning programme that debuted on 25 March 2012 alongside chef . The show adopts a relaxed format blending casual chat, celebrity interviews, cookery segments, and musical performances, often featuring light-hearted banter between the hosts and guests. This structure draws from Lovejoy and Rimmer's prior lifestyle presenting experience on BBC's Something for the Weekend, providing an informal antidote to more structured food programming. The programme has evolved since its launch, expanding its reach with the introduction of a weekday spin-off, Daily Brunch with , which premiered on 13 October 2014 and aired live from 10am for 60 minutes each weekday. While the daily version extended the duo's on-screen partnership, remained the flagship, maintaining its three-hour slot focused on weekend entertainment with a mix of culinary demonstrations and guest discussions. In 2025, Lovejoy took temporary breaks from the show, leading to guest hosts stepping in. In June, reality television star replaced him for several episodes as he stepped away after 13 years on air. Similarly, in August, former presenter co-hosted alongside Rimmer during Lovejoy's absence. These changes were attributed to planned leave, allowing the show to continue its routine of engaging conversations and on-set cooking. During an October 2025 episode, Lovejoy shared a personal anecdote on air, revealing he had once considered a transplant procedure but ultimately walked out of the upon second thoughts. As of November 2025, continues to air weekly, having adjusted its schedule in to run from 10am to 1pm, enhancing its role as a staple of Channel 4's weekend lineup. The programme maintains solid viewership, with audience demand 2.3 times the average for television series, reflecting its enduring appeal as a light-hearted cultural fixture that has shaped Sunday morning viewing for over a decade. Its blend of humour, celebrity access, and accessible cookery has cemented Lovejoy and Rimmer's on-screen chemistry as a television phenomenon.

Other presenting roles

In 2013, Lovejoy joined BT Sport as the host of the Saturday morning magazine show BT Sports Panel, a program focused on football predictions, match previews, and post-game analysis, similar in to his earlier work on Soccer AM. The show aired weekly and featured discussions with pundits on and European fixtures, contributing to BT Sport's early lineup of sports programming. From 2006 to 2007, Lovejoy co-presented the motoring programme on Channel 5 for two series. Following his departure from in 2007, Lovejoy expanded into radio presenting with DJ roles at Xfm and a Sunday afternoon show at starting in 2005, which occasionally informed his sports commentary style in brief TV crossovers, such as promotional spots and panel discussions tied to football events. Lovejoy has made numerous guest appearances on television, including as a guest presenter on and panelist spots on shows like and , often leveraging his football expertise for sports-related segments. He also contributed to football specials, such as promotional advertisements for the that highlighted the game's history through time-travel themed narratives. In recent years, Lovejoy has taken on one-off television roles, including a 2024 appearance on ITV's This Morning reuniting with former Soccer AM co-host Helen Chamberlain for a retrospective discussion on the show's legacy, covering memorable moments and its impact on football broadcasting.

Other media work

Books

Tim Lovejoy has authored or co-authored several books that reflect his television persona, particularly his interests in football and lifestyle programming. His first notable publication, Lovejoy on Football: One Man's Passion for the Most Important Subject in the World, was released in 2007 by Century, an imprint of Random House. The book combines personal anecdotes from his time hosting Soccer AM, opinions on football culture, and reflections on fandom, drawing directly from his experiences in sports broadcasting. However, it received poor critical reception, with reviewers criticizing its superficial content, short chapters, and lack of insight; for instance, a When Saturday Comes review described it as "witless musing" padded with large fonts and irrelevant asides. In collaboration with his co-host , Lovejoy co-authored Lazy Brunch in 2008, published by Quadrille Publishing. This features relaxed weekend recipes emphasizing easy, indulgent brunches, aligning with the casual food segments from Lovejoy's earlier presenting work on shows. The book includes 60 recipes for dishes like pancakes and smoothies, presented in a light-hearted style that mirrors their on-screen banter. Lovejoy and Rimmer later extended this partnership with The Sunday Brunch Cookbook: 100 of Our Super Tasty, Really Easy, Best-Ever Recipes, published in 2019 by Ebury Press. Tied to their series , the book compiles fan-favorite recipes from the show, such as Korean sticky pork belly and sweet & sour crispy fish bites, alongside behind-the-scenes insights into the program's culinary segments. It emphasizes accessible, crowd-pleasing meals suitable for weekend gatherings, capturing the duo's signature humorous and approachable tone.

Podcast

Tim Lovejoy launched The Lovejoy Hour in 2017 as an independent venture, initially evolving from his earlier audio work into a platform for solo-hosted discussions and guest interviews. The format centers on eclectic explorations of diverse topics, including culture, sports, personal anecdotes, and broader societal issues, allowing Lovejoy to delve into subjects beyond his television persona. Episodes typically run 45-90 minutes, featuring in-depth conversations that blend curiosity-driven inquiry with light-hearted banter, often drawing on guests' expertise to unpack complex ideas in an accessible manner. Key episodes highlight the podcast's range, such as the discussion with author on his book Four Thousand Weeks, where Lovejoy examines themes of and life's finite nature. Other notable installments include explorations of true crime narratives, aligning with the show's interest in intriguing historical and social stories like the Stonewall Uprising or , as well as football-focused pilots and interviews, such as the 2020 episode "Disillusioned," which reflects on Lovejoy's evolving relationship with the sport, and a conversation with former co-host about football culture. These selections exemplify the podcast's commitment to varied storytelling, occasionally touching on sports but prioritizing intellectual breadth over specialization. The Lovejoy Hour is distributed across multiple platforms, including , Audioboom, , and , amassing 336 episodes by its conclusion in early 2023 and earning a 4.7-star rating from more than 750 listeners on Apple Podcasts. Its impact lies in fostering a dedicated appreciative of Lovejoy's conversational style, which contrasts his high-energy TV roles by emphasizing thoughtful, non-sports-centric dialogues that encourage personal reflection.

Personal life

Lovejoy was married to Jade Lovejoy from 2002 until their divorce in 2006. They have twin daughters, Grace and , born in 2002. He was in a relationship with English player from 2012 to 2016. They have a daughter, Jamie Jeane, born in May 2013. Lovejoy resides in . His older brother, James Lovejoy, died in 2004 at the age of 37 from .

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