Spencer Kelly

Spencer Kelly
Spencer Kelly in 2015
Born
Spencer John Bignell

(1973-07-05) 5 July 1973 (age 53)
Bishopstoke, England
Education
Alma materChurchill College, Cambridge
OccupationTelevision presenter
Years active2003-
TelevisionClick
Children2
Websitewww.spencerkelly.com

Spencer Kelly (/ˈspɛnsər/ ⓘ SPEN-sər; born Spencer John Bignell; 5 July 1973) is a British Television presenter from Bishopstoke, England. He is known for presenting the BBC's technology programme, Click, between January 2006 and March 2025.

Early life

Kelly, then Bignell, grew up in Bishopstoke, near Eastleigh in Hampshire, and attended Wyvern Secondary School in neighbouring Fair Oak, then Barton Peveril College in Eastleigh.[citation needed] He obtained a double first in Computer Science from Churchill College, Cambridge.

Career

Radio

Kelly was first involved in broadcasting at Radio Glen at Southampton University, and he went on to run Cambridge University Radio.[citation needed] After graduating, he got a job as a traffic presenter, going by the name of "Commander Kelly in the Flying Eye" on the local radio station for Portsmouth and Southampton, Ocean FM.[citation needed] He later became the station's breakfast show host, a position he held for six years.

BBC (pre-Click)

Kelly joined the BBC in 2003 as one of five iPresenters (interactive presenters). The team pioneered new forms of interactive broadcasting, using the web, digital television and digital radio. This included interactive LiveChats, which were live interviews with celebrities, streamed across the web, in which the audience had the opportunity to ask live questions to the guests.

Click

Kelly began reporting for BBC World's Click Online show for two and a half years and appeared on Five's The Gadget Show. He became the presenter of the renamed Click series in January 2006, taking over from Stephen Cole. He held the position until the show's end in March 2025.

Public speaking

Spencer has delivered keynotes on technology topics such as cybersecurity, AI and sustainability and has hosted technology-related panels and roadshows.

Honours

He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Technology by Coventry University.

References

  1. ↑ "Spencer Kelly: How access to technology at school shaped my entire life". BBC Teach. Retrieved 22 March 2026.
  2. ↑ "BBC News Channel - Click - Spencer Kelly". BBC. Retrieved 27 June 2026.
  3. ↑ "BBC News - Meet the Click team". news.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
  4. 1 2 "2012-Spencer Kelly - Coventry University". alumni.coventry.ac.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  5. ↑ "Spencer Kelly". www.speakerscorner.co.uk. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  6. ↑ "The only technology news that I never wanted to have to bring you. From me and @LaraLewington, thank you so much for having us". X. @Spenley. 16 October 2024.
  7. ↑ "Book Spencer Kelly | Presenter | Contact agent". JLA. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  8. ↑ "Spencer Kelly". BBC Online. Retrieved 10 August 2013.