Andrew Hayden-Smith
Andrew Hayden-Smith (born Andrew John Smith 5 November 1983 in Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England) played Jake Simmonds in "Rise of the Cybermen," "The Age of Steel," and "Doomsday." He was a well known CBBC presenter on weekday BBC One television. He recently stood down from the role, his last day being 7 July 2006.
Background
Hayden-Smith is an actor and well-known and regular CBBC on-air presenter. Hailing from the North East of England, he has become a popular member of the on-air team and has 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 CBBC recruited him onto its presenting team.
During his time on CBBC, Hayden-Smith was once "gunged" (or "slimed" as it is known in the US) in the studio after a phone-in deciding which presenter should get gunged in honour of the gameshow Get Your Own Back. With 63% of the votes, Hayden-Smith had a bucket of pink gunge and a bucket of green gunge poured directly over his head.
Hayden-Smith announced he was gay in Attitude, February 2005. 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." He also spoke about his role in Doctor Who. In another interview in a gay newspaper, he claimed that his character of Jake Simmonds was originally intended to be gay, and that a gay kiss would be included in "The Age of Steel," but was written out.
