Art Attack star Neil Buchanan is unrecognisable 31 years after the creative show made its TV debut.

Neil, now 65, encouraged children across the country to get crafty for 17 years on the CITV show.

The children's presenter was such a hit that the programme scooped its first BAFTA TV award in 1993.

He said it was his "proudest moment" when the show won the prestigious awards.

"For an ordinary lad from Liverpool, it doesn’t get much better than that!" he said at the time.

Neil was known for his bright red jumper and for his catchphrase "Try it yourself!".

Neil Buchanan looks very different from his days on Art Attack
He was best known for his bright red jumper and 'try it yourself' catchphrase

After he left, the gig was taken over by Jassa Ahluwalia in 2011 and then Lloyd Warbey in 2013.

But it seemed that no one could fill Neil's shoes and the show was cancelled.

The programme inspired a similar art show on BBC SMart, which was hosted by Mark Speight, who tragically took his own life.

Before Art Attack, Neil hosted the British version of the room-raiding game show Finders Keepers in 1991.

He made his TV debut on No.73 on Saturday mornings and then later presented children's morning show Motormouth.

Before Neil made the big time with the PVA glue-fuelled programme his passion was music.

He formed rock group Marseilles in Liverpool in 1976 where he went on to be a supporting act for Whitesnake, Judas Priest and more.

Before he worked in TV he was in a heavy metal band
Art Attack won two BAFTAs, which Neil called his proudest moments

During an appearance on Celebrity Juice in 2012, Neil said his music had to take the backseat when he moved into the world of TV.

In 2011 he helped to launch a children's art competition on ITV's Daybreak.

The 65-year-old, who is an artist in his spare time, launched his own charity Christmas card collection.

He also enjoys a spot of photography and shares a selection of wildlife shots.

Neil married his wife Nicola in 1989 and the pair had two children together.

The couple were pictured together at a red carpet event for The Wind in the Willows press night at the London Palladium in 2017.

In September 2020 there was a rumour flying around that Neil was the mysterious street artist Banksy.

He married his wife Nicola and the pair have two children together

The artist's identity still remains unknown to the public, but it was suggested on Twitter that it was Neil.

On Twitter one fan wrote: "Just heard that it’s rumoured Neil Buchanan is Banksy.

"If true, it’s the funniest sh** ever. Aintree’s finest… This is straight in the believe without question category," they wrote.

Pointing out the star's love of making 'big art' outside, where arial shots would capture Neil making scenes from a variety of materials and objects, one fan wrote: "Neil Buchanan WAS known for his big outdoor pieces utilising multimedia props and items to craft uncanny replicas."

The statement reads: "We have been inundated with enquiries over the weekend regarding the current social media story.

"Unfortunately this website does not have the infrastructure to answer all these enquiries individually, however, we can confirm that there is no truth in the rumour whatsoever."

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