Celebrity ExpertsAndy (Handy Andy) Kane was transformed into television’s best known DIY man by sheer chance.
He was busy using his years of training and skills as a carpenter and joiner on a job at the home of a BBC designer when she invited him to take part in a new series.
Her producer was looking for a general handyman, to appear alongside Carol Smillie and a team of interior designers. Andy initially thought she wanted him to build the scenery!
The programme was BBC2’s top-rated Changing Rooms series, which later moved to BBC1 and was one of the channels most popular programmes, winning awards and always on the top of the viewing charts with Handy Andy as a permanent member of the team.
His down to earth approach and South London banter has led to him providing advice on basic tasks around the home in One to Three on Sky One. He also recorded two series of the popular BBC1 daytime show, Change That, where he turned designers’ ideas into reality in an around the country DIY Roadshow.
In A Close Guide To… on Discovery Home and Leisure, Andy dropped into the “homes” of the residents and showed them how to do typical DIY tasks, along with hints and tips.
Andy became the main presenter on the popular UK Style channel series of programmes Room Rivals, where he encouraged top designers to compete with each other transforming peoples homes, and Garden Rivals, doing exactly the same but this time with gardens.
Following a successful maths series on BBC2 for CBBC Education, Andy was chosen to present a new series of programmes called Weather, Place and People which involved Andy visiting Worldwide destinations with extreme weather conditions.
Andy presented a series of programmes for LIVING TV called How to Increase Your House Price by £10k. The series was so successful that it was commissioned for a second series and was also shown on BBC America.
Andy was the main DIY adviser for Sky Active, helping the public sort out their DIY problems and was chosen by the BBC to be one of only six main names and faces to promote their Raw Campaign which helps adults with reading and writing difficulties.
Other DIY Experts, Home Improvement, Building/Property Experts and After Dinner Speakers include Tommy Walsh from Ground Force and Martin Roberts from Homes Under the Hammer.
