Nick Hewer: The Businessman Who Became a British TV Favourite

Introduction

Nick Hewer is a British television presenter, former public relations consultant, businessman, and author. He became famous through BBC’s The Apprentice, where he worked as Lord Alan Sugar’s trusted adviser.

But television wasn’t his first career. Far from it.

He spent decades working in business. He built a successful PR company. Then, at an age when many people consider retirement, he became a familiar face on British television.

His dry humour caught attention. So did his sharp observations.

He later presented Channel 4’s Countdown for almost a decade, building another chapter in a career that had already taken him across the business world.

Even in 2026, his public work continues.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Full name	Nicholas Radbourn Hewer
Known as	Nick Hewer
Date of birth	17 February 1944
Age	82 years old (2026)
Birthplace	Swindon, Wiltshire, England
Nationality	British
Profession	Former PR consultant, television presenter, businessman, author
Famous for	The Apprentice, Countdown
Education	Clongowes Wood College
University	Offered a place at Trinity College Dublin but did not attend
Father	John David Radbourn Hewer
Mother	Mary Patricia Hewer
Former wife	Margo Spindler
Children	Two, James and Kate
Long-term partner	Catherine McAllister
Notable book	My Alphabet: A Life from A to Z
Major TV debut	The Apprentice (2005)
Current public role	President of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists
Net worth	Not publicly verified

Early Life and Childhood

Nick Hewer was born on 17 February 1944 in Swindon, Wiltshire.

His childhood was fairly traditional. His family valued education and professional work.

His father was a veterinary surgeon. His grandfather had also worked in veterinary medicine.

The family had strong Irish connections.

Although he was born in England, Ireland became an important part of his early life. His parents had met while studying in Dublin.

He grew up with four siblings.

His childhood home was in Swindon’s Old Town area. Later, he travelled to Ireland for his education.

That move shaped his younger years.

Long before television fame, his family background had given him a connection to both English and Irish life.

Family Background and Parents

His father, John David Radbourn Hewer, worked as a veterinary surgeon.

He was associated with Hewer, Spriggs and Wilson, a veterinary practice in Swindon.

His mother was Mary Patricia Hewer, née Jamison.

Her family had roots in Northern Ireland.

His parents met in Dublin during their student years. They later raised five children.

Nick was the second eldest.

Family-history research identifies his siblings as David, Fergus, Stella, and Annabelle.

His maternal grandfather, Oswald Jamison, was a Belfast businessman who served as High Sheriff of Belfast in 1926.

These details became better known after Nick appeared on the BBC genealogy programme Who Do You Think You Are? in 2013.

The programme traced parts of his Irish and English ancestry.

Education and School Years

He attended Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare, Ireland.

It is a well-known Jesuit boarding school.

He completed his schooling in 1962.

He later secured a place to study law at Trinity College Dublin.

But there was a problem.

His family could not afford the university costs. So he never took up the place.

It was a disappointing moment.

He discussed that missed opportunity in later interviews, explaining how family circumstances changed his plans.

Instead of studying law, he moved to London.

A new career was waiting.

Starting His Career in Public Relations

He arrived in London during the 1960s.

He was around 20 years old.

His first major professional step was joining a public relations consultancy as a trainee.

At first, he was learning.

He needed to understand clients, journalists, business decisions, and public communication.

But he moved up quickly.

Within approximately six years, he had reached board level.

He later bought the business and became its sole shareholder.

That changed his career.

He was no longer simply working for another company. He was running his own operation.

His work involved managing business reputations, dealing with the press, and helping organisations explain their activities.

It wasn’t glamorous television work.

Yet it taught him valuable lessons about commercial decisions and public behaviour.

Those lessons later proved useful on The Apprentice.

His Long Business Relationship with Alan Sugar

A major opportunity arrived in 1983.

His PR company began working with Amstrad, the electronics business founded by Alan Sugar.

The relationship lasted for many years.

Hewer handled publicity and media relations connected to Amstrad and Sugar’s business interests.

Amstrad was growing quickly during this period.

The company became associated with affordable consumer electronics and home computers.

Publicity mattered.

Product launches attracted journalists, customers, and business attention.

Hewer helped handle that pressure.

He was involved in publicity for important Amstrad product launches, including the company’s computer business during the 1980s.

His responsibilities grew over time.

The professional relationship also became a longstanding friendship.

Their connection eventually led to something unexpected: television.

Selling His PR Business

By the late 1990s, he had spent decades working in public relations.

He decided to sell his company.

The sale took place in 1998.

He stepped away from full-time PR work and spent time in south-west France with his partner, Catherine.

He had interests outside business.

Travel was one. Vintage tractors were another.

He particularly enjoyed his Massey Ferguson 35 tractor.

At that stage, he expected a quieter life.

But Alan Sugar had another idea.

And that changed everything.

Becoming Famous on The Apprentice

In 2005, he joined the British version of The Apprentice.

The BBC programme featured business candidates competing through demanding commercial tasks.

Alan Sugar judged their performances.

Hewer joined as one of his advisers.

He initially worked alongside Margaret Mountford.

Their job was simple to explain.

They watched candidates complete business challenges.

Then they reported their observations to Sugar.

But the work itself was demanding.

They needed to check behaviour, teamwork, decisions, and mistakes.

Hewer became known for his serious expressions, dry comments, and sharp assessments.

Sometimes, one look said enough.

Viewers enjoyed those reactions.

His experience in business gave him a strong understanding of the pressures candidates faced.

Margaret Mountford left her regular adviser role in 2009.

Karren Brady joined as the other regular adviser from 2010.

Hewer remained with the programme through its tenth series in 2014.

Why Did He Leave the Show?

He announced his departure in December 2014.

He was 70 years old.

The long filming days had become tiring.

He explained that following candidates through demanding tasks required considerable stamina.

He felt the time was right.

His departure ended ten series as a regular adviser.

Claude Littner later replaced him.

Even after leaving, his connection with the programme remained strong.

His Years Hosting Countdown

Another big opportunity had arrived before he left The Apprentice.

In November 2011, Channel 4 announced him as the new presenter of Countdown.

He replaced Jeff Stelling.

His first episode aired on 9 January 2012.

The programme was already a British television institution.

It combined words, numbers, and quick thinking.

Hewer worked alongside Rachel Riley and Susie Dent.

Rachel handled the numbers games. Susie contributed her knowledge of words and language.

His presenting style was calm.

He often added dry humour.

He spoke naturally with contestants and guests, helping the programme maintain its familiar atmosphere.

The role was different from The Apprentice.

There were no angry boardroom scenes. No business candidates fighting for investment.

But viewers still recognised his personality.

Why Did He Leave Countdown?

He announced his decision to leave in December 2020.

The COVID-19 lockdown had given him time to reconsider his future plans.

After almost ten years in the presenter’s chair, he wanted to spend more time enjoying life away from regular filming.

His final episode aired on 25 June 2021.

Anne Robinson succeeded him.

Her first episode aired on 28 June 2021.

His years on Countdown remain one of the best-known parts of his television career.

Other Television Appearances

His television work went beyond business competitions and quiz shows.

He appeared in several documentaries, travel programmes, and entertainment series.

Some notable appearances include:

• Around the World in 80 Days (2009): A charity travel programme supporting BBC Children in Need.
• The Farm Fixer (2012): A programme helping farming businesses in Northern Ireland examine their commercial problems.
• The Town That Never Retired (2012): A factual programme with Margaret Mountford.
• Who Do You Think You Are? (2013): A documentary examining his family history.
• We All Pay Your Benefits (2013): A documentary series examining life on benefits.
• Nick and Margaret: Too Many Immigrants? (2014): A factual programme examining immigration and public attitudes.
• Nick and Margaret: The Trouble with Our Trains (2015): A programme about Britain’s railway services.
• The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer (2018): A charity celebrity baking appearance.
• Pilgrimage: The Road to the Scottish Isles (2022): A BBC programme featuring participants with different beliefs.

He also made guest appearances on other British television programmes.

These projects showed a wider range of interests.

Business remained important. Yet he was willing to try very different formats.

Marriage, Former Wife and Children

His personal life has attracted public interest.

Still, he has generally kept family matters private.

He married Margo Spindler in 1973.

The couple had two children.

Their names are James and Kate.

The marriage ended in divorce in 1985.

In a 2012 interview with The Observer, Hewer accepted responsibility for the breakdown of his marriage.

He explained that he had devoted too much time to his professional life.

It was a personal admission.

He recognised that his working habits had affected his relationship.

His comments offered an unusually open account of the costs of his earlier career.

Who Is His Long-Term Partner?

His long-term partner is Catherine McAllister.

She trained as a speech and language therapist.

Their relationship has been discussed in interviews and in information published by the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

Catherine also shares a connection with the professional field he later supported.

There is no independently confirmed public record establishing a later marriage between them.

For that reason, she is best described as his long-term partner.

Where Has He Lived?

He has spent different periods of his life in England and France.

Following the sale of his PR company, he enjoyed time in south-west France.

Later, he lived in Northamptonshire with Catherine.

In 2024, reports said the couple had placed their Northamptonshire country property on the market.

They reportedly wanted to move closer to family in Buckinghamshire.

However, the completion of that move has not been publicly confirmed.

His current exact residence is not established by reliable public information.

Net Worth and Sources of Income

His successful business career has led to considerable public interest in his wealth.

He owned a public relations business. He later sold that company.

He also worked in television for many years.

Other professional activities included writing and public appearances.

Some publications have suggested large estimates of his fortune.

However, there is no independently verified figure for his personal net worth in 2026.

His actual assets and liabilities are not publicly established.

So any specific number should be treated as an estimate, not a confirmed fact.

His Autobiography

He published his autobiography in 2018.

The book is called My Alphabet: A Life from A to Z.

It was published by Simon & Schuster.

The memoir follows an A-to-Z structure.

It covers his childhood, professional experiences, travel, television career, and personal memories.

Readers also learn about his working relationship with Alan Sugar.

The book offers a more personal account of his life than a short television profile.

It shows how many different experiences came before his fame.

Charity Work and Public Causes

Charitable work has remained important throughout his later career.

He has supported several organisations.

These include Hope and Homes for Children, Street Child Sierra Leone, and Pancreatic Cancer Action.

His involvement is not limited to appearing at events.

He has visited projects and supported public awareness campaigns.

Hope and Homes for Children

He has served as a patron of Hope and Homes for Children for many years.

The charity works to help children grow up in safe family environments instead of institutions.

Hewer has supported its work through public campaigning and personal involvement.

In March 2026, he wrote an article for the organisation discussing concerns surrounding overseas orphanages and the separation of children from their families.

The article showed his continued interest in the charity’s work.

Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists

He became president of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists in April 2019.

The organisation supports professionals who help people with communication and swallowing difficulties.

His work includes raising public awareness of those services.

The college continues to identify him as its president in its published leadership information.

This remains an important public responsibility.

Honours and Recognition

His achievements have also received recognition from universities.

In 2014, Ulster University awarded him an honorary Doctor of Science degree for his contribution to business development.

In 2019, Plymouth Marjon University recognised his support for speech and language therapy through an honorary degree.

These honours recognised his work beyond television entertainment.

His public career has included business, education-related programmes, and charitable activities.

Hobbies and Interests

He has often spoken about his interest in travel.

In 2008, he participated in the Mongol Rally.

He travelled in an old Renault 4 as part of a charity adventure towards Mongolia.

The journey helped raise money for Hope and Homes for Children.

He also enjoys vintage tractors.

That may surprise some viewers.

During his years away from full-time PR work, he spent time enjoying rural life in France.

He has also shown an interest in collecting traditional hats from places he has visited.

These activities reveal a relaxed side of a man often remembered for his stern television expressions.

Latest News and Activities in 2026

In 2026, he remains connected to public life despite retiring from regular television presenting.

Two activities stand out.

Return to The Apprentice

On 16 April 2026, he returned for the twentieth-series final of The Apprentice.

Margaret Mountford also appeared.

The former advisers joined the programme’s anniversary-era finale to offer their experience and advice.

It was a special appearance.

He did not resume his former position as a permanent adviser.

The appearance brought a familiar figure back to the programme that had introduced him to a national television audience in 2005.

Continuing His Charity Work

On 10 March 2026, Hope and Homes for Children published an article written by him.

The article discussed concerns about overseas orphanage funding and the importance of supporting family-based care.

He also continues to be listed as president of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists.

For now, these activities show that his public career continues, even without a regular television presenting contract.

Career Timeline

Year	Career or life event
1944	Born in Swindon, England
1962	Completed his education at Clongowes Wood College
1960s	Started his public relations career in London
1973	Married Margo Spindler
1983	Began working with Amstrad
1985	Divorced from Margo Spindler
1998	Sold his PR business
2005	Joined The Apprentice
2008	Participated in the Mongol Rally
2012	Became Countdown presenter
2013	Appeared on Who Do You Think You Are?
2014	Left The Apprentice
2018	Published My Alphabet
2019	Became president of the RCSLT
2021	Left Countdown
2022	Appeared in Pilgrimage
2026	Returned for The Apprentice final and continued charity work

Final Thought

Nick Hewer had already built a successful career before television came calling.

Then life changed.

At an age when many professionals are thinking about retirement, he became known to millions of viewers.

First came The Apprentice. Then came Countdown.

His experience in business helped him handle both programmes with a distinctive sense of humour.

But his story does not end with television.

His book, charity involvement, and continuing public activities tell us more about the person behind that familiar expression.

His career followed an unusual route.

And that’s what makes his story interesting.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is Nick Hewer?

Nick Hewer is a British former PR consultant, television presenter, businessman, and author. He is best known for The Apprentice and Countdown.

2. How old is he in 2026?

He is 82 years old. He was born on 17 February 1944 in Swindon, England.

3. Who was his wife?

He married Margo Spindler in 1973. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1985.

4. Does he have children?

Yes. He has two children, James and Kate, from his marriage to Margo Spindler.

5. Who is his current partner?

His publicly documented long-term partner is Catherine McAllister, who trained as a speech and language therapist.

6. Why did he leave The Apprentice?

He left in 2014 after ten series. He explained that the demanding filming schedule required more stamina than he wanted to commit.

7. When did he leave Countdown?

His final episode aired on 25 June 2021. Anne Robinson became the new presenter on 28 June 2021.

8. What is his net worth?

His exact net worth is not publicly verified. He earned money through his PR business, television career, and other professional activities.