Joel Defries

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Joel Defries
Born (1985-03-14) 14 March 1985 (age 39)
Hammersmith, London, England
NationalityBritish
Occupation(s)Television and radio presenter
Known forBlue Peter presenter

Joel Nirmalan Defries (born 14 March 1985) is a British-born presenter, who worked on the

C4
.

Career

Born in

Channel Z, before going on to host the music jukebox show Select Live. Defries presented a new New Zealand-based live music show called Live at Yours. He became a household name among young New Zealanders and saw a rapid rise in popularity. He also made a successful move into radio where he presented a Sunday morning show for the Edge called Joel's Take Out. He was a former presenter of Vodafone Select Live. Defries decided to return to the UK to take up other opportunities in radio and TV.[2]

On 5 September 2008, it was announced that he would replace

Andy Akinwolere and Helen Skelton, on 23 September 2008.[3]

He went to Turkey with the Blue Peter team filming the 2009 Summer Expedition. The 2009/10 series of Blue Peter returned on 22 September 2009. Joel announced on 29 November 2010 that he would be leaving the show on 14 December 2010.

In 2010 Joel learnt to fly a

hang glider for Blue Peter with Airways Airsports instructor Judy Leden MBE with the aim of flying with Lucy a peregrine falcon[4]

During 2009 Defries presented the 26 episodes of the

CBBC programme Keep Your Enemies Close, a children's game show that tests friends by wrenching them apart and forcing them to work with their rivals instead.[5]

Personal life

He went to sixth form at

Holocaust Survivor who was returning to Auschwitz for the first time.[7]

Defries is a supporter of Fulham F.C.[8]

References

  1. ^ GRO reference: April 1985, Vol. 12, Page 2490
  2. ^ "Joel Defries is so, like, 2007". Scoop. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  3. ^ Conlan, Tara (5 September 2008). "Blue Peter unveils new presenter". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  4. ^ "BBC - CBBC Programmes - Blue Peter - Episodes from 2010". www.bbc.co.uk. Archived from the original on 20 July 2010.
  5. ^ "BBC Press release". BBC. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
  6. ^ "Blue Peter Profile". BBC. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  7. ^ "Joel's Journey". BBC Press Office. Archived from the original on 25 January 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
  8. ^ BBC 606 show 21/02/2010 BBC Radio 5 Live, 21 February 2010