Tim J Morris is a very rare breed. His multi-skilled talents span almost every role in television production and he does them all well. He's a reporter, a presenter, a producer, a cameraman and a VT editor. His specialities include news, celebrity interviews, motoring journalism and travel writing.
Born on the 30th of September 1972, Timothy Jon Morris spent his childhood in the small Worcestershire village of Hunnington.
In his early life he grew up surrounded by cars, collected and traded by his father Alan Morris. This had a profound effect on him and inspired a passion for motoring that later helped to shape his career.
Tim's first break came when he was offered work as a cameraman and edit assistant by Optical Image Broadcast in 1989.
He progressed rapidly, making his first on-screen appearance in 1995, reporting news for L!VE TV and presenting programmes for the broadcaster's first regional affiliate, Birmingham L!VE TV.
Although he had presented and produced many shows by 1998, his first major role began when he joined ITV as a reporter for The West Country Tonight. Primarily covering Somerset and North Devon, he became known for his quirky style and wacky reports.
After completing his MA in Media Production at the University of Central England, Tim returned to programme making. In 2003 he began presenting 'The Circuit', a celebrity chat and entertainment show for Twenty Four 7 TV, before securing the role of lead presenter on 'The Fast Lane (TFL)' in 2008, a comedy car series on Motors TV.
Tim is well noted for his eccentricity, his comical scripting, and his characterisations during factual reports. These have often included impressions, dressing up for programme links and staying in character throughout themed features.
EARLY LIFE
Tim was born in Hunnington, Worcestershire, England, the son of Diane Christine (née Kemmings) and Alan Trevor-Morris. Both his father and his mother were driving instructors, so it came as little surprise to them that he could drive by the age of 8. His father also had a passion for expensive vehicles and traded cars regularly. Early experiences of spinning 'doughnuts' in high powered sports cars instilled a real passion for motoring in Tim.
Sadly his father died when Tim was 12 years old, missing the birth of Tim's sister Abigail by just three months. Tim was subsequently raised by his mother and his grandmother, making a sudden leap into adult life. After his father's death, Tim refused to sit quietly and rest, finding something to do every waking moment.
Unlike any of his school friends, his teenage years were spent stripping down and rebuilding engines in his uncle's garage. He also spent a lot of time analysing television programmes, writing comedy and developing his camera skills. Tim's mother bought him a camcorder with his father's life insurance money and he subsequently became very driven, channelling every ounce of energy into his goal of working in the broadcast industry.
Tim attended Hagley R.C. High School, in Worcestershire, excelling in English, Art and Vehicle Engineering. Despite this, he's often said that he had very little interest in school after his father died.
Inspired by the works of Douglas Adams, Ben Elton and Richard Curtis, he made his literary début at the age of 15, winning a W H Smith Young Writer Of The Year Award and a school literature award for his time-travel comedy 'Alf'.
At school he earned the nickname 'Floppy' due to a hairstyle that covered his eyes and made him miss a catch on the cricket field. Even in his early days, Tim was known for his wit and charm. Joking during an episode of the 'Circuit', he attributed much of his persuasive ability to repeatedly playing the character 'Face' from 'The A Team' as a child.
He began a work experience placement as a technical assistant for Optical Image Broadcast at the age of 16 and was subsequently offered his first paid contract.
Tim passed his driving test on his 17th birthday and left full-time education less than a year into studying for his A Levels. He later studied for further qualifications, including an NCTJ in Media Law and an MA in Media Production, which he passed with distinction.
During his early years, Tim subsidised his income by taking on a second job, working overnight as a 7.5t delivery driver. At the age of 18 he regularly lived on around 4 hours sleep which he admits started a trend of being a workaholic.
His quick humour and cavalier style proved to be quite appealing to the girls and by the time Tim left L!VE TV he'd developed a strong reputation for being 'a ladies man'.
CAREER _ OFF-CAMERA
Tim joined Optical Image Broadcast in 1989 after a period of work experience. His first significant Off-Camera work included shooting and editing inserts for programmes such as Pebble Mill At One, Rolf's Cartoon Time and Rosie And Jim.
In 1990 Tim joined the Light House Media Centre in Wolverhampton on a training course and shortly afterwards began free-lancing for the company as a camera operator, video tape editor, technician and an assistant producer. During his time with the company he produced and wrote a number of corporate productions, built models for animations, directed live mixed shoots and conducted interviews.
In 1994, he took his first free-lance Current Affairs assignments, shooting items for the BBC's regional news programme Midlands Today. Tim soon moved to L!VE TV as a Technician but rapidly developed his editorial production skills to become a VJ (Video Journalist). Although a junior member of the team, his creative flair and multi-skilled approach to news gathering attracted the attention of bosses at Midland Independent Newspapers and in 1995 Tim was offered one of the first positions at Birmingham L!VE TV as an on-screen VJ.
Off-Camera at L!VE, Tim continued to work behind the scenes between his own reports, shooting and editing items for other journalists. He was responsible for devising several of the station's regular shows, researching features and planning programme running orders. By amazing contrast, he also undertook technical duties including graphic design and gallery operation. Rigging outside broadcasts and operating satellite trucks were yet more strings to his bow.
Although Tim's role at ITV was primarily in-vision, he continued to shoot and edit for the main evening news programme, often working as a cameraman or VT editor with other journalists. He also performed the many duties associated with broadcast journalism, including researching stories, forward planning and bulletin production.
After leaving ITV in 2000, Tim briefly became involved in a production company with former L!VE TV colleagues Kim Sabido and Tim Barnes-Clay. The two Tim's drew on their previous working relationship as motoring producers on the Drive L!VE series to develop several new car show formats. After just three months however each had moved on to new contracts and the trio decided to wrap up the company due to individual commitments.
Tim and Kim Sabido once again joined forces in 2001 to launch a new venture. Initially operated on-line, Twenty Four 7 TV was one of the first serious web based TV channels, producing a range of interactive shows, including The Circuit, a celebrity chat show, Go Away, the station's travel programme and The Fast Lane car series.
Operating in a managerial capacity, Tim secured a satellite broadcast license from OfCom for Twenty Four 7 TV in 2006 and began negotiations with capacity providers to secure the launch of the station on the Sky / Virgin platforms. He also negotiated deals with financiers, equipment suppliers and telco's.
However a financial review of the station's business plan shortly before its launch in 2007 revealed that it would struggle to generate sufficient levels of interactive revenue in the worsening economic climate and the station was sold with the unanimous agreement of the board. With Tim's help the station launched on Sky later in the year under the name Luxe TV. As part of the deal Tim retained the rights to The Circuit, The Fast Lane and The Spy Guide brands.
Tim began writing car reviews in 1995 and has been a motoring journalist since. Following the success of The Fast Lane on Motors TV in 2008 Tim began writing reviews for the station's web site.
He continues to pen witty, off-beat reviews for the broadcaster and began writing a new 3D car series in April 2011 called 3 Drives (3D). He also announced in July that he had begun planning a new series of 'The Spy Guide' for 2012.
PRESENTING
Tim first appeared on our screens in 1995 as a VJ on L!VE TV and Birmingham L!VE TV. Besides reporting breaking news and conducting celebrity interviews, he presented the Drive L!VE motoring series. He also hosted the station's ghost hunt show Bizarre Birmingham with Midland psychic Philip Solomon.
Tim was noted at L!VE for his outrageous style and appeared in a number of wacky costumes during reports. This period saw the birth of his comedic style and Tim presented many zany reports. Drive L!VE tests included 'how many girls does it take to fill your boot', 'the perfect pulling machine – featuring the Batmobile', 'there's a gay talking car in my basement' and 'what to do when your car gets possessed by the Devil'!
He was arrested outside New Street railway station in 1996 after an irate Railtrack official threw himself on Tim's car bonnet because he refused to hand over a tape shot on the taxi rank.
He cites the arresting officer's words as his favourite L!VE TV quote: “Excuse me sir... I couldn't help noticing that you have a Railtrack official on your bonnet... Could you please step out of the car...”
After leaving L!VE in 1998, Tim joined ITV as a Reporter (more in the Reporting section). He appeared on screen daily in news packages, occasionally read bulletins and conducted live interviews for The West Country Tonight. He also represented the company at The North Somerset Show and various other events around the region. He left ITV West in 2000 to study for his MA and continued to free-lance alongside his studies.
Late in 2000 Tim began presenting the now-defunct Central Jobfinder programme on ITV 1, which featured different vocations every week and gave careers advice. He wrote all his own links and packages but soon decided to move on as the role gave very little scope for creativity under its incumbent producer.
In December 2000, Tim started Twenty Four 7 TV with former L!VE TV colleague Kim Sabido. The company created one of the first serious on-line TV Channels, featuring a mix of travel shows, car reviews and celebrity interviews. Tim returned easily to the role of motoring journalist in the spring of 2001 as presenter of the car show The Fast Lane (TFL), which initially aired on-line before being picked up by Motors TV in 2007.
2006 saw Tim joining armed forces for two special 30 minute programmes. In The Army took a candid look at military life, going beyond the headlines. The programmes looked at aspects of military life, ranging from danger on the front line in Basra, to adventure training in Cyprus and the support services offered to families at home.
During this period Tim also fronted the celebrity chat show The Circuit. Guests included John Barrowman, Billy Boyd, Ozzy Osbourne, Gavan O'Herlihy, Linda Thorson, and 70's star Carol Hawkins. The programme also featured many aspiring bands and wacky entertainment circuit reports. Classic scenes from the show include Tim getting exterminated by a seriously offended Dalek and the entire team being run out of town by a Garrison of miffed Stormtroopers!
The show was produced weekly from April 2001 until Twenty Four 7 TV was sold in 2007. The final episode ran in January 2008.
In 2007 Tim presented a short series of The Fast Lane with Kim Sabido and Jon Siddall that focussed on Drag Racing and American street racing culture. On 5th of October 2008, Motors TV aired a revamped series of The Fast Lane (TFL), presented by Tim, Kim and Dave F Williams. The duo adapted TFL into a comedy based car series, featuring themed tests and a regular challenge slot. The 2008 – 2009 series ran for 12 weeks and returned for a second season on the 13th January 2010.
TFL season 2 ran for 14 weeks, drawing around half a million digital viewers in the UK per episode. TFL was broadcast in 37 countries to over 15 million homes and ran in a number of languages.
Wacky features included Ghostbusting with a Hearse, which was shot at the Ancient Ram, supposedly the most haunted house in Britain, Lambo Wars with Darth Maul, Cars On Mars, a skit on the hit cop shows of the 70's and Whoops Mrs. Miggins, I sat on a Doodlebug, a 1930's comedy item filmed with a Jaguar SS100.
The Spy Guide was originally designed to be a travel programme with a sense of adventure... Backed by a comprehensive web site, it first ran on-line with Twenty Four 7 TV in 2004. Tim presented the series and wrote travel reports from the start, but after the sale of Twenty Four 7 TV in 2007 the guide found a new home within The Fast Lane as a regular challenge slot.
The 2008 version saw Tim and Dave F Williams racing against the clock to reach many European spy film locations in a Lotus, completing themed challenges along the way. The 'race' was originally aired within TFL, but Tim hosted a special one off, Spy Guide programme for Motors two months later.
REPORTING
Although Tim's experience of news gathering really began with BBC Pebble Mill, Birmingham in 1994, it wasn't until he joined L!VE TV in 1995 that he became an on-screen VJ.
Besides presenting a number of regular shows for Birmingham L!VE, he reported local and national news for the station. His news reports for L!VE included The Manchester Bombing, the murder of Nicola Dixon, the Lee Harvey murder and Birmingham's reaction on the day of Princess Dianna's death.
Celebrities that Tim interviewed at L!VE include John Pertwee, Sylvester McCoy, Rolf Harris, Charlton Heston, Oasis, Shaggy, and Louise Rednapp.
In 1998, Tim began reporting for ITV. He operated primarily as the Somerset VJ, but travelled extensively, covering a wide range of stories from around south west England for The West Country Tonight. Tim's comedic style made him the obvious choice for feature stories and light hearted closing items.
During his time with ITV West (formerly HTV) Tim covered a vast array of stories. He was taught how to drive a car on two wheels by stunt ace and world record holder Jacquie De Creed. He also set out to find a wild panther known as The Beast of Bodmin, took part in making the world's largest Shepard’s Pie and joined a World's Strongest Man contestant on a training session... As a weight!
His serious reports for ITV included the aid flights from RAF Lyneham to refugees in Albania, the arrival in Britain of Cosovan Asylum Seekers, the Bristol GM Food protests, the Somerset floods and the clearance of unexploded WW2 bombs from beaches in the Bristol Channel.
Celebrities interviewed by Tim during his time with ITV West include Kate Winslet, Samantha Bond, Sir Ian Botham, and Sir David Attenborough.
After leaving ITV Tim began studying for a Masters Degree at the University of Central England. working as a free-lance reporter around his studies. In 2000 he returned to ITV on a part – time contract as a reporter / presenter for Central Jobfinder. He also free-lanced for the BBC between 2000 and 2001, conducting radio interviews in Birmingham and packaging TV reports for East Midlands Today.
After completing his MA Tim set up Twenty Four 7 TV with former colleague Kim Sabido. In addition to fronting a number of shows, he turned his hand to print journalism and interactive web content.
Between 2001 and 2007 he wrote car tests, travel reports and entertainment reviews for Twenty Four 7 TV's on-line output. He also conducted a number of celebrity interviews and wrote extended accounts for the web. As editor, he was responsible for overseeing the channel's programmes, the company's on-line media and it's associated social sites.
He returned to motoring journalism full-time in 2007 when he began production of The Fast Lane (TFL), (Season 1) for Motors TV. Tim wrote all of his own material and the show links. He also wrote extended written car tests and in-depth travel reports on destinations featured in The Spy Guide challenge. A second season of TFL began on Motors TV on the13th January 2010 and ran for 14 weeks.
Tim continues to write regular car tests for the station's web site and works as a free-lance journalist when he's not presenting. He has a special interest in news stories from South West England, Wales and the Midlands, with extensive contacts in each region.
Tim's multi-skilled talents continue to entertain and inform audiences across a range of subjects. From breaking news, to motoring, travel, entertainment features, celebrity interviews, corporate and documentaries, he's always looking for new projects that push the boundaries.
As Tim says: “I love my work and I love getting involved with any project, or programme that gives me the opportunity to use my favourite TV quote”...
I've got an idea and it's as hot as my pants! - Rick Mayall – Lord Flashheart – Blackadder