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Paul Clifford Hendy (born 22 July 1966) is a British script-writer, novelist, director, producer and filmmaker. In his early career, he was a TV presenter hosting the BAFTA nominated Dear Mr Barker (BBC), Don’t Try This at Home (ITV), The Disney Club (ITV), and the final series of Wheel of Fortune (ITV). He was a regular reporter on ITV’s This Morning and hosted Stash the Cash.

Early career

Hendy was born in Dawley on 22 July 1966. Hendy's career started as a member of The National Youth Theatre of Great Britain, playing the part of Billy Casper in Kes in 1980. His first break into television came when he hosted ITV's Sunday morning flagship show The Disney Club. After leaving The Disney Club, Hendy went to the BBC and hosted the Saturday morning show Parallel 9 which was broadcast live from Pinewood Studios. He has also presented Disney Summer Holidays (ITV), For Amusement Only (BBC), Highly Sprung (BBC), Travel Bug (an Action Time Production for BBC) and three series of the BAFTA-nominated Dear Mr Barker (BBC).

In 2001, he took over from John Leslie as host of ITV1's game show Wheel of Fortune with Terri Seymour and ITV1's prime time Saturday night show Don't Try This at Home with Davina McCall, which ran for four series (1998–2001). He hosted the un-aired pilot of the UK version of the game show The Chair (BBC1), which was hosted by No. 1 tennis player John McEnroe at the helm (2002).

Hendy was a regular reporter for ITV's This Morning and a guest presenter on GMTV. He hosted Talking TV (BBC1), Walk Over History (Meridian) and The Dog Listener (Channel 5). He has also hosted Kicked Into Touch (Meridian) and Stash (ITV). He also hosted a cinema review show called The Box Office Boys (BFBS), and featured on an episode of Surprising Stars with Kate Thornton.

Film

In 2016, Hendy wrote, directed and produced the short film, The Last Laugh. The film won Best UK Film and Best UK Short at the Manchester Film Festival as well as many other International film awards including Best Comedy Drama at Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and Best Supporting Actor at Sydney Independent Film Festival.

In 2018, Hendy and his production company Evolution, optioned the film rights to Tim Whitnall’s Olivier award-winning play, Morecambe. The adaptation entitled Bring Me Sunshine is due to begin principal photography in 2022.

In 2023, Hendy directed and produced the short film, The Choice. The film was written by Tim Whitnall, starring Rita Simons and Alexander Macqueen. The film has won seven awards, including: "Best Horror" at Ignite Film Festival; "Best Director" at Los Angeles Independent Film Festival Awards; "Award of Excellence: Film Short" and "Award of Excellence: Leading Actress" at Accolade Global Film Competition; "Best of Show", "Best Direction", and "Best Leading Man" at Best Shorts Festival. It also received an honourable mention at Brighton Rocks International Film Festival.

Novels

In 2004, Hendy wrote the novel Diary of a C-List Celeb, a fictionalised account of his experiences in television and the entertainment industry. The novel was published by Bantam (Penguin Random House).

Davina McCall called the book "(b)loody genius, very funny and leg-crossingly embarrassing!" and Declan Donnelly (Ant and Dec) called it ‘Very funny ... and spookily close to the truth’.

In 2006, Hendy wrote the sequel, Who Killed Simon Peters? also published by Bantam (Penguin Random House).

Radio

On radio, Hendy has hosted his own late night phone-in show, three times a week on LBC (1996). He has also presented a series of one-off specials for BFBS in which he interviewed celebrities about their all-time favourite top ten records (2001).

Evolution Productions

In 2005, Hendy set up Evolution Productions with his wife, Emily Wood. It produces film and theatre in the UK and abroad.

Evolution's 2017/18 production of Peter Pan at The Marlowe Theatre in Canterbury was attended by over 100,000 theatre goers, a record for the venue. The British Theatre Guide called the show ‘one of the best productions in the country’.

Each year, Evolution produce 10 pantomimes around the UK with performers including: Stephen Mulhern, Duncan James, Shirley Ballas, Steve McFadden, Rita Simons, and George Takei.

During the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Evolution Productions produced a play, The Last Laugh, written and directed by Hendy,

Awards

Film awards

Filmography

Production

Self

Actor

References

1. "Hollywood Award for Local Star". J&PR Ltd. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
2. "Paul Hendy". Retrieved 26 September 2018.
3. "Paul Hendy – UKGameshows". www.ukgameshows.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
4. "Paul Hendy: Twelve years at the helm of Sheffield's Christmas panto – 'We aspire to a West End standard'". www.thestar.co.uk. 7 December 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
5. "Paul Hendy". BFI. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
6. "Dear Mr Barker – BBC One London – 30 October 1998 – BBC Genome". The Radio Times (3898): 118. 22 October 1998. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
7. "Don't Try This at Home! – UKGameshows". www.ukgameshows.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
8. "Disney Club Special (1992)". BFI. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
9. "Host – Paul Hendy – Wheel of Fortune (UK) Characters – ShareTV". sharetv.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
10. "Stash – UKGameshows". www.ukgameshows.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
11. "Series 15, Episode 10". Wheel of Fortune. 23 November 2001. ITV.
12. "Disney Club [23/01/94] (1994)". BFI. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
13. "Paul Hendy". IMDb. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
14. Wheel of Fortune UK Opening Titles 2001, 25 March 2009, retrieved 13 March 2019
15. "Box Office Boys – Movie Review Show". Vimeo. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
16. Jenkinson, Karl (17 July 2010), From "Loose Women", Kate Thornton in Hidden Camera Show, retrieved 13 March 2019
17. ^ "MANIFF 2017". Manchester Film Festival. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
18. "Olivier Awards Winners 2010 -Official London Theatre". Olivier Awards. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
19. "Film project for panto producer". Kent Online. 15 September 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
20. Mr Sunshine (teaser), 15 June 2018, retrieved 13 March 2019
21. "Mr Sunshine – Film". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
22. "Eric Morecambe's life story to be turned into feature film". British Comedy Guide. 30 July 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2019.
23. Hendy, Paul (2004). The diary of a C-list celeb. London: Bantam. ISBN 978-0553816259. OCLC 59262296.
24. The Diary Of A C-List Celeb. London: Transworld Digital. 30 September 2010. ISBN 9780553816259.
25. Hendy, Paul (2009). Who killed Simon Peters?. London: Bantam Books. ISBN 9780553816266. OCLC 276224247.
26. Trott, Lloyd (16 November 2017). Actors & performers yearbook 2018 : essential contacts for stage, screen and radio (Fourteenth ed.). London. ISBN 9781350030220. OCLC 1008757389.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
27. "We have had over 100,000 people come and see Peter Pan, that's a record breaker ???? massive thank you to all of you. – The Marlowe". The Marlowe. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
28. "Theatre review: Peter Pan at Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury". www.britishtheatreguide.info. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
29. "Popular TV host named as new panto star for Canterbury show". Kent Online. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
30. "Review: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Marlowe Theatre Canterbury". The Void Magazine. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
31. "Scott Maslen to Lead Marlowe Theatre's Aladdin". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
32. "Marlowe panto Gareth Gates". Kent Online. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
33. "Aladdin at Chatham's Central T". Kent Online. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
34. assemblyfestival.com https://assemblyfestival.com/whats-on/578-the-last-laugh/. Retrieved 3 October 2024. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
35. "The Last Laugh - A brand new play by Paul Hendy". thelastlaughplay.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
36. ^ IgniteFF. "Our Awards". Ignite Film Festival. Retrieved 3 October 2024.
37. "Winners March 2024 |". Retrieved 3 October 2024.
38. "Winners March 2024 |". Retrieved 3 October 2024.
39. ^ "Winners March 2024 |". Retrieved 3 October 2024.
40. "St Albans Film Festival". www.stalbansfilmfestival.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
41. "Winners August 2016 |". accoladecompetition.org. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
42. "June 2016 Winners". A home for your amazing films. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
43. "Winners September 2016 |". bestshorts.net. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
44. "WINNERS 2016 – Southampton International Film Festival". www.southamptonfilmfest.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
45. "Official Selections And Award Winners Edition Two – Discover Film". Discover Film. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
46. "Sydney Indie Film Festival 2016 – Short Films Award Winners » Sydney Indie Film Festival". sydneyindiefilmfestival.com. Retrieved 18 June 2018.

External links

• Paul Hendy at IMDb

• 1966 births
• Living people
• 21st-century British novelists
• British directors
• British male novelists
• British producers
• British television presenters
• National Youth Theatre members
• People from Dawley
• Television personalities from Shropshire