{{short description|British TV presenter, producer and director}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use British English|date=March 2012}} {{Infobox person | name = Simon Groom | image = | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1950|8|12|df=y}} | birth_place = Chesterfield, Derbyshire, England | education = Herbert Strutt Grammar School, Derbyshire | alma_mater = University of Birmingham | birth_name = | television = ''Blue Peter'' (1978–1986) | spouse = | children = | parents = | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | known_for = | occupation = Television presenter<br>Journalist<br>Producer }}

'''Simon Groom''' (born 12 August 1950) is a British producer and director. He was a presenter of ''Blue Peter'' from 1978 to 1986.

==Early life== Groom was born in Chesterfield in Derbyshire,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.chesterfield.towntalk.co.uk/about/fame/|title=Chesterfield Hall of Fame|date=|website=www.chesterfield.towntalk.co.uk|language=en|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-date=10 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121210230942/http://www.chesterfield.towntalk.co.uk/about/fame|url-status=dead}}</ref> and was brought up on a farm in Dethick, which he later often visited for ''Blue Peter'' reports. He was educated at Herbert Strutt Grammar School in Belper, Derbyshire,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://strutts.org.uk/older.shtml|title=Strutts Community Project - Strutts School Reunion - 21st May|last=|first=|date=|work=Strutts.org.uk|accessdate=14 March 2016|archive-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003150429/http://strutts.org.uk/older.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> followed by the University of Birmingham.

==Career==

=== ''Blue Peter'' === Groom worked briefly as an English teacher, before becoming a disc jockey and joining ''Blue Peter'' in 1978. Groom's co-presenters on ''Blue Peter'' were Lesley Judd, John Noakes, Christopher Wenner, Tina Heath, Peter Duncan, Sarah Greene, Janet Ellis and Michael Sundin.

Groom became known among the programme's production team for his dry humour and ability to ad lib innuendo in his broadcasting. One such statement was at the end of a piece on a replacement door knocker at Durham Cathedral, declaring "what a beautiful pair of knockers". {{YouTube|mO3xMvLoQzs|time=10}}

=== Other work === After leaving ''Blue Peter'', Groom hosted a morning show on BBC Radio Bedfordshire. In 1992, he released a cover version of Elvis Presley's hit "Can't Help Falling in Love" on his own record label. Groom produced his first TV documentary, ''Angels & Devils'', a critically acclaimed biopic of film director Ken Russell, reviewed as 'Pick of the Day' in both ''The Daily Telegraph'' and ''The Guardian''. Groom also wrote, directed and produced ''A Steamy Affair: the Story of the Flying Scotsman'' for Channel 4. His other television documentaries include ''Bucking Mad'', the story of an English rodeo rider, and ''Full Circle: the Saving of Derby's Roundhouse'', both broadcast by the BBC.

Groom has also produced and presented documentaries for BBC Radio Four, including ''George Oliver: A Man For All Seasons'', the story of a Bedfordshire gamekeeper; ''Peak Park Pressures'' (about Britain's first national park); and ''Ferry Across the Mekong'': two Sony Award-nominated thirty minute programmes in which Groom makes a return trip to Cambodia. In 1979, he was one of the earliest Western journalists to enter the country, following the end of Pol Pot's regime.

Groom's documentary ''The Flying Scotsman: A Rail Romance'', was transmitted on BBC Two in March 2013. The 60 minute programme has since been repeated twice on the channel.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}

== Personal life == Groom has worked as an ambassador for the city of Derby, and in 2010 was given an honorary degree by the University of Derby in recognition of his contribution to broadcasting.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/bluepeter/presenters/groom.shtml Profile as a BBC presenter]

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Groom, Simon}} Category:1950 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Birmingham Category:British children's television presenters Category:English radio presenters Category:English television presenters Category:People from Chesterfield, Derbyshire Category:People educated at the Herbert Strutt School