Tim Spanton

Education

Born in 1957, he was educated at Churcher"s College, Petersfield, Hampshire, Guildford College, Surrey, and Highbury College, Portsmouth.

Career

He passed a one-year pre-entry journalism course at Highbury College, Portsmouth, before completing his indentures on the Sharman newspaper group"s Ely Standard and Cambridgeshire Times. He worked on the Doncaster Evening Post and The News, Portsmouth, before joining the News of the World in 1987. In 1997 he joined The Sun where he has become well known for his stunts.

In 2002 Spanton was in charge of launching The Sun"s first Page 3 Idol contest.

Female readers were invited to send in topless photographs of themselves. In 2005 Spanton walked from Hyde Park, London, to Edinburgh, covering 449 miles in 21 days to support the Live 8 series of concerts.

The walk was recognised by Live 8 organiser Bob Geldof who flew in a helicopter to meet Spanton when the journalist reached South Clifton, N ottinghamshire, on Day Seven of his walk. The British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, invited Spanton to his home near Edinburgh and later wrote an article for The Sun in which he praised Spanton"s efforts and those of other supporters of Live 8(2).

In 2006 Spanton walked 592 miles from London to Frankfurt in 66 days to arrive at the venue of England"s first game in the 2006 football World Cup.

The number 66 was chosen to remind readers of England"s World Cup-winning year of 1966. Spanton is also a keen amateur chess player.

Achievements

• Junior Journalist Of The Year, Sharman Group, 1977. Junior Journalist Of The Year (shared with two others), Sharman Group, 1978. Mind mental health charity, 1999. Global Excellence, News Corporation (parent company of The Sun), finalist, 2004. Global Excellence, News Corporation, winner, 2005.