11 Facts About Alistair Appleton

Alistair Appleton earned ten O-levels and three A-levels at St John's College, Portsmouth.

On graduating with an upper second class degree, Appleton left the UK for Poland, where he took to writing poetry and helped to edit a children's anthology, as well as teaching at the University of Gdansk.

Alistair Appleton later taught English in eastern Germany and worked as a translator and journalist for Deutsche Welle television.

Alistair Appleton broke into television with Deutsche Welle, and eventually became the frontman of the channel's youth current-affairs show Heat.

In 1999, Alistair Appleton returned to the UK, where he secured roles on Sky's Hot TV, Five's House Doctor, BBC Two's Rhona, the Travel Channel's Travel On, BBC One's Garden Invaders, Cash in the Attic, BBC Food's Stately Suppers and had an appearance as himself on the 2006 Doctor Who episode Army of Ghosts.

Alistair Appleton has hosted several television specials, including The Proms.

Alistair Appleton did some acting, including a role in Footballers' Wives, during 2002.

In early January 2007, Alistair Appleton appeared in BBC America promotions for the fourth series of Cash in the Attic, even though he did not appear in that series.

Alistair Appleton has hosted the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment's late night concert series The Night Shift at London's South Bank.

Alistair Appleton later became a proponent of Ashtanga, the decision made after an unhappy period in his 30s.

Alistair Appleton considered becoming a monk while in Thailand, but a friend convinced him not to take that step.