Andrew Biggs | |
|---|---|
 Biggs in 2013 | |
| Born | 12 September 1962 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation | Writer, TV host, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Has written several books, appeared daily on Thai television's Channel 3, and runs his own language school |
Andrew Biggs (born 12 September 1962) is an Australian author and television personality in Thailand, and entrepreneur. He has written several books, appeared daily on Thai Channel 3, and runs his own language school.
Biggs first came to Thailand in 1989. With Nation Multimedia Group, he created Nation Junior Magazine for high-schoolers. He hosted the country's first English talk-back radio program in 1995. Two years later he had the best-selling book in Thailand (Thailand in My Eyes; เมืองไทยในสายตาผม) and followed it up with a book called How To Speak English Like A Farang (Westerner) (วิธีพูดภาษาอังกฤษเหมือนฝรั่ง) which has sold 200,000 copies.
For nine years he hosted the morning TV program Talk of the Town and for three years he hosted Weekend News (เรื่องเล่าเสาร์อาทิตย์) on the weekends on Channel 3. He often co-hosts programs with conservative, wheelchair-using Thai journalist Krisana Lalai, in which they both argue with each other. [ citation needed ]
Biggs completed a bachelor's degree in the Thai language at Ramkhamhaeng University in 2002.
In 2004 he appeared in the movie SARS Wars , portraying himself.
In 2005 he received the prestigious Phetch Siam Award for excellence in using the Thai language – the first Westerner to receive the award.
In July 2007 on Thai Language Day, the Thai Government's Ministry of Culture awarded him Excellent User of the Thai Language. It was the first time the award had been given to a foreigner, and it attracted a lot of attention.
In 2008 Thais voted him one of the "coolest" bald men, alongside actor Bruce Willis and Thai journalist Sutthichai Yoon. [1] In November 2008 he ran the Bangkok Marathon and wrote about it in the Bangkok Post.
He hosted the daily "English Minute" TV program on Channel 3 as well as various news and educational radio shows. He writes columns for the Bangkok Post newspaper, Filmax magazine and Kom Chad Leuk newspaper. [2] [3] [4]
In 2013 he was named one of the Global 50 by Australia Unlimited, recognizing Australian expatriates making substantial contributions to local societies. [5]
In 2015 he starred in a Thai TV comedy series "The Digital Monk" playing the role of a monk. He also hosts radio shows on FM106 and FM96. [6] [7] In 2019 Biggs played King Herod in Opera Siam's performances of Jesus Christ Superstar at the Thai Cultural Centre. [8]
Andrew Biggs has written a number of books in the Thai language. Here is the list of titles translated from Thai (obtained from Double Nine Publishers and Khroo Chang Publishers, the latter of which is his own publishing company):
Farang is a Persian word that originally referred to the Franks and later came to refer to White Europeans in general. The word "Farang" is a cognate and originates from Old French: "franc".
Mongkut was the fourth monarch of Siam (Thailand) under the House of Chakri, titled Rama IV. He ruled from 1851 to 1868. His full title in Thai is Phra Bat Somdet Phra Menthora Ramathibodi Sri Sinthara Mahamakut Phra Mongkut Phra Siam Deva Mahamakut Wittaya Maharaj.
Luk khrueng is a colloquial Thai term referring to a person whose parents are of different nationalities. In a narrow sense, luk khrueng means people of mixed Thai and foreign origin; a person of mixed Thai and Chinese origin is called luk chin, rather than luk khrueng.
The Bangkok Post is an English-language daily newspaper published in Bangkok, Thailand. It is published in broadsheet and digital formats. The first issue was sold on 1 August 1946. It had four pages and cost one baht, a considerable amount at the time when a baht was a paper note. It is Thailand's second oldest newspaper. The daily circulation of the Bangkok Post is 110,000, 80 percent of which is distributed in Bangkok and the remainder nationwide.
Asia-Pacific International University is a private Christian university located in Saraburi, Thailand. Its main campus is in the rural town of Muak Lek, Saraburi Province and the nursing school is located on the grounds of Bangkok Adventist Hospital in downtown Bangkok. It is the only tertiary education institution serving the Southeast Asia Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists. Asia-Pacific International University was formerly called Mission College until mid-2009 when it was granted university status. It is a part of the Seventh-day Adventist education system, the world's second largest Christian school system.
The Nation is an English-language daily digital newspaper founded in 1971, published in Bangkok, Thailand. It is one of two English-language dailies in Bangkok, the other being the Bangkok Post. On June 28, 2019, it published its final broadsheet edition leaving only its online edition.
SARS Wars is a 2004 Thai action fantasy comedy horror film directed and co-written by Taweewat Wantha.
The University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) is a private non-profit higher education institution in Bangkok, Thailand. The university's origin dates back to 1940, with the foundation of the College of Commerce in Bangkok. In 1984, the college was granted full university status under its present name.
Pamorn Martdee also known as Pamorn Luuk Hill-Martdee is a former Thai of Australian descent muay Thai kickboxer, promoter of Origins Fight Promotions and the founder and director of Champions Gym in Perth. He is also the chairman of WBC Muaythai in Australia. Martdee was born in Subiaco, Western Australia. He was the WPMF welterweight Australian champion at age 17 and was ranked the number one contender in Australia to win the WBC Muay Thai national title in 2007.
David McMillan is a British-Australian former drug smuggler who is best known for being the only Westerner on record as having successfully escaped Bangkok's Klong Prem prison. His exploits were detailed in several books and in the 2011 Australian telemovie Underbelly Files: The Man Who Got Away.
Stamford International University Thailand (STIU) is a private for-profit international university with an enrollment of over 4,000 students.
Mom Luang Sirichalerm Svasti, who is usually known by his nickname McDang, is a Thai food expert, chef, and writer.
Jonas Anderson is a Swedish singer known in Thailand for singing lookthung or Thai country/folk music. He has released five solo albums so far (2012) and three duet albums with fellow non-Thai lookthung singer, Christy Gibson. Since then he has released a number of independent and collaborative singles.
Guy Grossi is an Australian chef and media personality. He owns several restaurants in Melbourne.
Saiyok Pumpanmuang, formerly known as Saiyoknoi Sakchainarong, is a Thai welterweight kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter.
Enconcept E-Academy(Thai: th:โรงเรียนเอ็นคอนเส็ปท์ อี แอคเคเดมี่) is an English language tutorial school under the Office of the Private Education Commission, Ministry of Education, Thailand. Its main office is located at LearnBalance Building, Bangkok, Thailand.
Mathias Gallo Cassarino also known as Mathias 7MuayThaigym is an Italian Muay Thai fighter who is the former WPMF World Champion 135 lbs, WBC International Champion 135 lbs, and WMC "Muay Thai Against Drugs" Champion, Max Muay Thai 62 kg Silver Tournament Champion. October 2019 ranked number 2 at Lumpinee 140 lb. division
Puttichai Kasetsin, better known as Push is a Thai actor, model, DJ and TV host. He gained popularity in his acting career after starring in Ugly Duckling: Perfect Match, I Wanna Be Sup'tar, and U-Prince Series: Handsome Cowboy.
Krisana Lalai is the President of Friendly Design for All Foundation, a human rights worker and a famous journalist and TV host in Thailand. As a founder of Friendly Design for All Foundation, Krisana has strong desire to encourage equal rights for everyone especially for persons with disabilities and unprivileged people in Thailand. The Friendly Design for All Foundation works closely together with Thai government, Public and Private sectors to campaign and support Friendly Design in practical terms. As a TV host, he broadcasts Friendly Design programs to raise awareness of equal rights on accessibility and promote Friendly Design.
Anutin Charnvirakul is a Thai politician. As of 2020, he is a Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and is also the Minister of Public Health. Notably, he is the prominent public figure in charge of managing the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand.
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