Mike Bushell

Mike presents the sport on BBC Breakfast TV on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and covers for Chris Hollins when he is away. He has also reported for the BBC from around the world, from Malaysia,to the United Arab Emirates, and at a number of World cups and Olympics. He has also presented programmes on history and entertainment, and was an actor and rock musician.

As well as reporting on sport, Mike has also lots of experience presenting the news on BBC South Today and reporting for the 6 'Oclock news on issues such as the Newbury by-pass road protests and the use of child jockeys in camel racing in the Middles East.

However if the mainstream sports don't float a persons boat, Mike's Bushell’s Best slots are hugely entertaining as after each Saturday morning bulletin, he puts on his shorts and profiles an alternative sport or activity that doesn't usually get the limelight.

The idea is that Mike represents the beginner with a view to getting people off the sofa and trying something new at a weekend. He's now tried over 125 sports or activities and the highlights include sailing up the Thames with Ben Ainslie, learning backhand with Serena Williams, rockitball rolling down a hill in a giant hamster ball, (known as zorbing), husky racing in Berkshire, joining the Indian Kabbaddi team at the Asian games in Doha, indoor sky diving, thundercat racing, bobsleighing, air-racing, ice cricket, polo, shinty, swamp soccer and shin kicking!

On Fridays, Mike looks at stories of dedication and sacrifice at grassroots sport - tales of unsung heroes, like the parents who give up their entire weekends ferrying their children to matches and training. Does that sound familiar?!

Mike's background was in acting, including four years in the National Youth Theatre. A degree in theatre and television followed, but while trying to make ends meet as an actor, he broke into journalism on a local newspaper in Winchester and the rest is history.

After a break from his journalism course (to tour Europe as lead singer in a rock band) he returned to newspapers in Derby and Windsor before joining the BBC in 1990 as a reporter with Radio Solent.

His big TV break came with a job on the Isle of Wight - and having always been a keen long distance runner, footballer, cricketer and supporter of Leeds United, his move into sport was almost inevitable.

As well presenting the sport on South Today, he had his own entertainment slot and fronted a 40-part history series to mark the Millennium.

Mike was one of the first faces on air when News 24 started in 1997 (now the BBC News channel), and still occasionally presents the sport on BBC News and BBC World News during the week.

Mike is married with three young daughters, which means gaining control of the remote to watch sport at home is one of the biggest challenges he faces!

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