Martyn Parker

"As a presenter who helped launch the channel, it’s fantastic to be part of the continuing journey of Create & Craft"

Martyn has worked in live shopping TV since it arrived in the UK in 1995, initially in IT and then as a popular presenter.

Educated at Shakespeare's school (King Edward VI Grammar School for Boys, Stratford-Upon-Avon), he left at 16 with ‘not many’ O-Levels.

After various jobs in photography and sales, at the age of 24, Martyn joined the RAF. As a Communications Systems Analyst specialising in Russian and Morse code, Martyn spent 9 years based in Lincolnshire with detachments to GCHQ and a tour in the Falkland Islands.

In 1995, Martyn moved into television shopping, joining QVC to design, develop and manage their automated ordering service. He joined Ideal World in March 2000 for a similar role with the In First ordering system, continuing to become head of Information Technology.

Martyn loves the TV shopping business and, in February 2002, he "stepped across" to become a presenter on Ideal World and the then pre-recorded channel, Create & Craft. In 2004, he was the presenter of the very first ‘live’ show on Create & Craft and has been part of the family ever since.

He lives near Peterborough with his wife, Sarah-Jane. A keen 'Tweeter', Martyn also enjoys technology, watching sport, and travelling with his wife.