Underwood, who began working for CBBC in 1999 and hosted the game show Jungle Run for three years, said he was blindsided by the dismissal. In a social media post, he recounted that a new presenter boss called him in for a meeting close to his contract renewal. According to Underwood, the boss told him: 'Michael, you are just coming up to your three years at CBBC. I think you've had a great run up to this point, but now I think it's time for you to move on.' Underwood said he was 'gobsmacked' and not expecting the firing. He then went to a higher boss, who said he knew nothing about it and told him to leave the matter with him. Underwood said he 'can't remember what he said' after that, but he 'got up, walked out of the office, and thought, "I've just been fired".'
Underwood's career at CBBC began in 1999, but according to multiple reports, he left the channel in 2002 to become a continuity presenter on CITV. During his time at CBBC, he hosted the kids' game show Jungle Run for three years. He said he loved working at CBBC and had many friends there, making it fun to go to work every day. 'I didn't wanna go to ITV,' he said.
I didn't wanna go to ITV.
After being fired, Underwood turned to his fellow presenter and future wife, Angellica Bell, for advice. According to Underwood, Bell suggested he go to ITV, saying: 'Well, look, if the BBC don't want you, why don't you go to ITV?' He said ITV offered twice the money he was earning at CBBC, which made the decision easier. Underwood went on to work as a continuity presenter on CITV.
Several questions remain about the circumstances of Underwood's departure. Why did the new presenter boss decide to fire him? Did the higher boss intervene or reverse the firing? Underwood himself did not provide details on whether the higher boss followed up. It is also unclear if he accepted the ITV offer immediately or how his career transition unfolded after that.
I loved working at CBBC. It’s where I started out. I had so many friends there; it was fun going to work every single day. Why would I want to leave?
We had two bosses – there was a boss in charge of the presenters and a boss in charge of the whole channel.
Now, the presenter boss changed, and he wanted meetings with all the presenters, which wasn’t unusual. Also, I was close to contract renewal, so that’s normally when they call you in, talk about more money, more responsibility, that type of thing.
I was not expecting it at all.
can’t remember what he said
got up, walked out of the office, and thought, “I’ve just been fired”.
The first thing I did was I went upstairs to the big boss, who I’d known for a number of years, and I said, “I think I’ve just been fired.” And he went, “What do you mean? I know nothing about this. Leave it with me.” So I did.
offered twice the money, plus th