Oliver Skeete's Biography

Early Life

Oliver Skeete trained as a motor mechanic and returned to Barbados, although it was not long before he was back in London.

Showjumping

Oliver Skeete only started show jumping when in his mid-thirties, and has not competed at the very top level of the sport.

Skeete along with Peter Holt wrote an autobiography entitled, 'Jumping the Odds: Memoirs of a Rastafarian Showjumper'.

According to the publicity, the book describes how Oliver Skeete "progressed from a wild life of partying and petty crime in the backstreets of London to being Britain's first black showjumper, even though he did not begin to ride until he was 35 years old."

TV and Film

Oliver Skeete had a small part as a concierge in the James Bond film, Die Another Day (2002).

From April 2005 Oliver Skeete became a contestant in ITV's Celebrity Wrestling. Other participants included Annabel Croft, James Hewitt, Kate Lawler, Leilani Dowding, Victoria Silvstedt, Michelle Heaton and Jeff Brazier.

Celebrity wrestling was, however, canned.

Oliver Skeete sang in programme 2 in Channel 5's The All Star Talent Show, but came last.

Family

Oliver Skeete and his wife Gemma have six children.