Neil Oliver

Neil Oliver (born 21 February 1967) is a British television presenter, archaeologist, historian and author. He has presented several documentary series on archaeology and history, including ''A History of Scotland'', ''Vikings'', and ''Coast''. He is also an author of popular history books and historical fiction.

He was the president of the National Trust for Scotland from 2017 to 2020.

Early life and education

Oliver was born in Renfrew and raised in Ayr and Dumfries where he attended Dumfries Academy and then the University of Glasgow. He obtained an MA (Hons) in archaeology and then worked as a freelance archaeologist, before training as a journalist.

Television career

Oliver first appeared on television in the 2002 BBC Two series ''Two Men in a Trench'', in which he and archaeologist Tony Pollard visited historic British battlefields. He was also a co-author of the two books accompanying the series. In 2006, he presented ''The Face of Britain'' for Channel 4 and ''Scotland's History: The Top Ten'' for the BBC. Early in his career he also appeared on ''The One Show'' and ''Time Team''.

Oliver was a co-presenter of the first series of ''Coast'' in 2005, and replaced Nicholas Crane as the show's main presenter for the second, third, fourth, and fifth series. He also presented '' Coast Australia'' (2013) and '' Coast New Zealand'' (2016).

From 2006 to 2018 Oliver presented a number of history documentaries for the BBC, including ''A History of Scotland'' (2008) and '' Sacred Wonders of Britain'' (2013). In 2012, he wrote and presented ''Vikings'', a three-part series on the Vikings.

In April 2021, Oliver was announced as a presenter for GB News. He hosts a weekly current affairs and interview programme on the channel.

Politics

In 2014, Oliver stated that he was "proud of Britain" ahead of the Scottish independence referendum, saying that "this kind of internecine squabbling puts my teeth on edge. I would rather that it would just go away — or that it had never happened" and that he "liked the status quo". When he was appointed President of the National Trust for Scotland, thousands signed petitions calling on him to resign. In 2020, Oliver reasserted his opposition to Scottish independence, describing the uncertainty caused by the prospect of a second referendum as a "cancerous presence" and saying that "I'm a British citizen, that's how I see myself. Not in an argumentative way, I don't see that I should have to cede my right to understand myself as I am to some politician."

Commenting on the British government's response to the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, Oliver said, "Lockdown is the biggest single mistake in world history". He also criticised the drive to vaccinate children in the UK against COVID-19, saying, "Never before in medical history has there been a proposal to vaccinate children against a disease that poses them no measurable harm. Added to this is the undeniable fact these vaccines for COVID are experimental, in that no data is available concerning long term effects." He likened the fight against government anti-COVID measures to the fight against Nazi Germany, saying, "there's another battle of Britain being fought now. It's being fought by a minority outgunned and shouted down by those who would accept freedom handed to them by MPs on condition that they do as they are told. That's not freedom. That is tyranny."

Oliver's opposition to coronavirus restrictions led to him leaving the unionist campaign group These Islands. Tom Holland, an advisory board member of These Islands, said that Oliver's "current focus was not compatible with our own".

On GB News, Oliver spoke on the subject of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, saying "I'll be honest. I don't know what's happening in Ukraine. I don't understand it either" and "I do know that I don't trust Putin, or our government, or Europe's governments, or the governments of North America either. I certainly don't trust any of them to tell the truth".

Personal life

Oliver lives in Stirling with his wife, three children and two Irish Wolfhounds. He is a patron of the Association of Lighthouse Keepers.

In November 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by the University of Abertay Dundee. having previously received an honorary degree from the University of Glasgow in 2015.

Works

Television

Books

* ''The Story of the World in 100 Moments'' (2021)
* ''Wisdom of the Ancients'' (2020)
* ''The Story of the British Isles in 100 Places'' (2018)
* ''Master of Shadows'' (2015)
* ''Vikings'' (2012)
* ''A History of Ancient Britain'' (2011)
* ''A History of Scotland'' (2009)
* ''Amazing Tales for Making Men Out of Boys'' (2008)
* ''Coast from the Air'' (2007)
* ''Not Forgotten'' (2006)
* ''Castles and Forts'' (with Simon Adams and Tony Pollard) (2006)
* ''Two Men in a Trench II: Uncovering the Secrets of British Battlefields'' (with Tony Pollard) (2003)
* ''Two Men in a Trench: Battlefield Archaeology – The Key to Unlocking the Past'' (with Tony Pollard) (2002)

References

External links

*

"My schooldays"
at Scotsman.com
*
*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliver, Neil
1967 births
Living people
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
People educated at Dumfries Academy
People from South Ayrshire
Scottish archaeologists
Scottish television presenters
GB News newsreaders and journalists