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Sam Nixon (born 21 March 1986) is an English singer and television presenter. He came third on the Pop Idol television series in 2003 and is now one half of the duo Sam & Mark, with the other being Mark Rhodes.

  Early life

He was born in Monk Bretton, Barnsley, England. Nixon was originally a catering student from Barnsley College in South Yorkshire. He attended Holgate School, Barnsley from 1997 to 2002 and is still living in Barnsley.

  First television appearance

Nixon's first television appearance was on popular children's game show Fun House presented by Pat Sharp. Nixon and fellow contestant Rosie Feast didn't manage to answer the final question to win the grand prize.

  Sam & Mark

After coming in third on the Pop Idol television series in 2003, he formed a duo with Mark Rhodes, called Sam & Mark. Sam & Mark had a #1 UK chart hit with their cover of The Beatles tune "With a Little Help from My Friends". Their second single "The Sun Has Come Your Way" debuted in the UK top 40 at #19, but they were dropped from their record deal after this release.

  Television presenter

Nixon began a television presenting career, co-hosting Top of the Pops Reloaded. He then formed a presentational double-act on the BAFTA winning CBBC show Level Up, with Mark Rhodes, from 3 April 2006 until 1 September 2006. He worked on the children's Saturday morning show, TMi, on BBC Two, which started on 17 September 2006.^[1] The series finished on 7 February 2007. Sam returned to television at the beginning of the Easter holidays 2007 in a show called Do Something Different which he presents with Rhodes and Ayesha Asantewaa to attempt to get 1 million children to "try something new". Sam (along with Mark Rhodes) is the presenter of TMi Friday on the CBBC Channel. Sam and Mark are now hosting Sam and Mark's Big Friday Wind-Up, which features mainly trivia, as well as playing a prank on families.

  Personal Life

Due to marry Fiance Anne Foy a former CBBC presenter in December 2012.

  Mason (band)

Nixon also performs in a band called Mason. Mason performed their first gig on 2 June 2007 at the "Burn down the Disco" night at The Arches in Barnsley, supported by popular local band MUNICH, and also headlined a local mini music festival at Darton, Barnsley a month later. They continue to perform local gigs as and when Sam's TV schedule allows.

  Other appearances

Sam and Mark took part in two episodes of Hole in the Wall airing on 11 October 2008 and 14 November 2009 and were contestants on a celebrity version of TV show Total Wipeout which aired on 2 January 2010.^[2]

He took part in Dancing on Ice on ITV1 and was voted out on 26 February 2012, but was pleased that he beat Mark in the competition, as Mark beat him in Pop Idol.

  Filmography

  Pop Idol 2 Performances

• Top 50: "Walking In Memphis" by (Marc Cohn)
• Wildcards: "Over My Shoulder" (Mike + The Mechanics)
• Top 12: "Handbags & Gladrags" (Rod Stewart)
• Top 10: "True Colours" (Cyndi Lauper)
• Top 8: "I Want Love" (Elton John)
• Top 7: "Blame It On The Boogie" (Jackson 5)
• Top 6: "With A Little Help From My Friends" (The Beatles)
• Top 5: "Mr. Bojangles" (Sammy Davis Jr.)
• Top 4: "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town" (Bruce Springsteen)
• Top 4: "I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday" (Wizzard)
• Top 3: "Always" (Bon Jovi)
• Top 3: "Maggie May" (Rod Stewart)

  Discography

Singles

• With A Little Help From My Friends - Sam & Mark (March 2004)
• The Sun Has Come Your Way - Sam & Mark (May 2004)

  See also

• Sam and Mark
• Mark Rhodes

  References

  External links

• Sam and Mark's official website