Andrew Hayden-Smith
Andrew Hayden-Smith (born Andrew John Smith, 5 November 1983[1]) played Jake Simmonds in Rise of the Cybermen, The Age of Steel and Doomsday, as well as providing his voice for the online game Cyber Assault.
He was a well known CBBC presenter on weekday BBC One television, leaving the position on 7 July 2006, only a day before his last Doctor Who episode aired. He also took part in The Weakest Link: Doctor Who Special. He later played Mortan Hardak in the Big Finish Bernice Summerfield audio story Vesuvius Falling.
In 2013, he partnered up with Nicola Bryant in the Doctor Who edition of Pointless Celebrities, aired on 23 March. Later in the year, he appeared among various actors for Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty, which followed the 50th anniversary special on 23 November.
Career
Hailing from the North East of England (Gateshead, Tyne and Wear), upon entering the TV industry, he became a popular member of the on-air team from which he gained a long list of other TV presenting and acting credits. Hayden-Smith played Ben in the CBBC drama Byker Grove. Due to his popularity with viewers in this show, CBBC recruited him onto its presenting team.
Following his work on Doctor Who, he became a continuity announcer for ITV for a number of years.
Personal life
Hayden-Smith announced he was gay in February 2005 to the magazine Attitude, as the fact had become press knowledge and the publication felt it worthwhile to ask him for his input.[2] He gave another interview to the magazine in May 2006. In the latter interview he says, "I must have been five when I realised I was gay."[source needed] He also spoke about his role in Doctor Who. In another interview, he discussed how he was told by a mate to call up Russell and ask to be a supporting artist.[3]
