Martin Popplewell

Martin Popplewell is a journalist and newsreader who has lived on a desert island.

Early life
Popplewell was born and went to school in Cambridge.

Popplewell was educated at University College London, from which he obtained a degree in zoology.

Before joining the BBC, Popplewell was a researcher for Alan Duncan MP at the House of Commons. He also worked for US Congressman Richard Gephardt in Washington DC and as a volunteer on President Bill Clinton's election campaign.

Journalism career
Popplewell started his career as a journalist on the BBC’s news trainee scheme. His break into TV came when he was just 15 years old: he saw the film The Blue Lagoon and decided he too wanted to live as a castaway on a completely uninhabited Pacific Island with just one woman for company. He returned to his teenage desert island to make a documentary The Real Castaway, which was transmitted on Boxing Day 2001 and won wide critical acclaim - being described by The Sunday Times as one of the must watch programmes over Christmas.

Popplewell has presented the news on Five, BBC News and Sky News. He also fronted the lifestyle magazine show Five News at Breakfast. The programme was a mix of showbiz news, lifestyle features and movie reviews. He has reported for ITN and worked as a political reporter for the BBC's On the Record.

Martin has also been heard covering various shows on LBC 97.3.

Interests
Popplewell is an experienced scuba diver and has written travel features on the subject for "The Times".

He was listed at number 76 in the Pride Power List 2011