Harvey Voices

As the face of BBC World's Fast Track, AKHTAR KHAN joins the channel's weekly global round-up of travel news for both the leisure and business sectors.

In addition to fronting Fast Track, AKHTAR is news presenter on the BBC's domestic 24-hour rolling news channel, News 24, as well as ITN News and GMTV. As well as being the face of travel AKHTAR has developed a new role for himself as an awards presenter at events such as WTTC and WTA (Barbados/London/Turks & Caicos Islands) as well as acting as a moderator and facilitator at major events within the travel and tourism industry. That AKHTAR should have chosen a life in TV is very odd. Initially, banking was his bag, but AKHTAR jumped ship, turned his back on monetary delights and opted instead for the excitement of the small screen, interviewing the likes of RIDLEY SCOTT, JOHN MALKOVICH, BRITNEY SPEARS, TOM HANKS and MADONNA. AKHTAR started his TV career as Entertainment Correspondent with EUROPEAN BUSINESS NEWS (now CNBC), in 1995. He ran live reports from the ACADEMY AWARDS, the CANNES FILM FESTIVAL and MTV EUROPE’S MUSIC AWARDS. He provided website and studio reviews of movies and presented and produced feature length specials from HOLLYWOOD and NEW YORK. He later moved to PEARSON TV as on-screen Film Critic. As on-screen entertainment/arts correspondent with SKY NEWS (part of Newscorp and sister channel to Fox News in US), he’s covered every possible arts angle from film to music to opera, to literature, to visual arts, whilst earning some celebrity status – if not infamy – himself along the way. First the tabloids branded him a “love rat” for dumping MISS WORLD YUKTA MOOKHEY (by email), next JAMES IVORY unceremoniously threw him off his property, then JERRY HALL seduced him, HALLE BERRY discussed her boobs with him, and UMA THURMAN asked “Are those eyes real?” To cap it all, when he sang “Do You Really Want to Hurt Me” with BOY GEORGE, Boy George said “yes please”. Other interviewees include celebrities and personalities such as Madonna, Barry White, Charlton Heston, Jonny Depp and Tom Cruise to name but a few. AKHTAR has fronted live daytime shows on BBC 1 like City Hospital, with MATTHEW KELLY and KATE HUMBLE. Akhtar’s skills as an informal, approachable interviewer come to the fore in a show that focuses on the anecdotal, human interest stories that underpin day-to-day life in two of the capital’s busiest hospitals. Although AKHTAR lives in London, his position as presenter of Fast Track sees him traveling the world frequently for business and pleasure (61 countries and counting). He lists his hobbies as playing polo, adrenaline junkie (white water rafting, bungee, parachuting), skiing, soccer, tennis, fitness fanatic, love of the outdoors, cooking, movies and current affairs. AKHTAR is member of BAFTA (British Film Academy) plus various other charitable institutions and bodies. He is also currently enrolled on an acting course at Central Drama School in London. AKHTAR is also an Ambassador for The Prince’s Trust.