David Richard Bull (born 9 May 1969) is an English television presenter,politician,and former medical doctor. He served as Reform UK's Deputy Leader from 2021 to 2023 and as Co-Deputy Leader,alongside Ben Habib,from 2023 to 2024.[1] He was previously a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for North West England from 2019 to 2020.
Bull had his licence to practise temporarily restored in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom (his licence to practise had previously ceased in 2009 and 2017).[4] He is currently not licensed to practice medicine in the UK.
Media career
In 1995,Bull auditioned to be a guest commentator for The Sky Travel Guide on Sky Travel. Of the auditioning process Bull recalled,"I had to read autocue,I had to interview someone,and I had to handle a live show...you can't beat that sort of experience." Bull was awarded the position on Sky Travel,giving advice for the holiday health feature to those travelling abroad,and beginning his career as a television commentator and presenter.[5]
Bull joined the long-running children's news programme Newsround as a presenter and producer of segments regarding children's health. Whilst on Newsround,Bull became a regular on Saturday morning shows for CBBC including The Weather Show,Saturday Aardvark,K Club and Bitesize Debate specials. He also hosted,in his role as a doctor,Why Me? and Call the Doctor. Bull then became the sole presenter of Tell Me About It! for New Zealand's C4 TV station. Aimed at young people,the five-instalment programme tackled issues including eating disorders,parental divorces and teen drug use and alcoholism.
In 1998,Bull published his first book,Cool and Celibate?:Sex and No Sex,arguing the benefits of abstinence in teenagers. Bull followed this with What Every Girl Should Know:An A to Z of Health-From Allergies to Zits! in 1999.[6]
Bull joined the BBC's Watchdog in 1999. While on Watchdog,he also appeared on Holiday,Let's Get Healthy,The Really Useful Show,Daily Live and This Morning. He then hosted Watchdog Healthcheck,a weekly,half-hour health programme running from 2001 to 2002.
Bull made his American television debut in 2010 as a contributor on the daytime talk show The Rachael Ray Show. In 2012,Bull started hosting for Food Network's series Sugar Dome which is broadcast in the US,Canada,Asia and the UK.[7] He has also co-presented Coast vs Country on Channel 4.
In 2019,after he and a number of Brexit Party MEPs appeared on The Richie Allen Show,the anti-racist advocacy group Hope not Hate reported on the far-right and antisemitic contents of the show.[8]
In 2022,Bull joined TalkTV as the co-host of its Weekend Breakfast Show.[9]
Political career
In December 2006,Bull was selected to fight the parliamentary seat of Brighton Pavilion at the 2010 general election for the Conservative Party,after being placed on the party's A-List earlier that year. He withdrew his candidacy in June 2009 and was replaced by Charlotte Vere.[10] Denying rumours that he quit after falling out with party leadership,Bull cited the increased workload accompanying his recent appointment to head up a Conservative policy review on sexual health with Shadow Health Minister Anne Milton.[11][12]
On 11 March 2021,Bull was made deputy leader of Reform UK.[17]
In March 2021,Bull was announced as the Reform UK candidate for the City and East constituency in the 2021 London Assembly election.[18] He came fifth with 9,060 votes (4.1%).[19][20] Bull was also the second-placed candidate on the Londonwide list,though neither he nor his party were successful in winning any seats.[21]
In 2000,Bull founded a creative branding company,Incredibull.[22] He sold his interest in the business in 2017.
Bull is a supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust,the British Red Cross,Cancer Research and The Duke of Edinburgh's Award and has worked with young people in schools on behalf of the organisation.[23][failed verification]
Personal life
Bull is gay. In 2007 he appeared at the Brighton Pride Parade for which he designed and wore a t-shirt with the slogan "I've come out... I'm a Tory",saying it was acceptable to be gay and a Conservative.[11]
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