The presenter of the much loved children’s television programme, Art Attack, has entered a 90 day rehabilitation program to combat his addiction to inhaling PVA vapour. Neil Buchanan, who presented Art Attack from 1990 – 2007, entered London’s top rehab facility this week under his own free will. Buchanan had been out of the public spotlight since he ended his relationship with the beloved arts and craft television programme back in 2007.
Friends and celebrities have taken to social media outlets to show their support for the man who made the use of ‘sticky tape’ a legitimate tool for artistic expression. Wayne Rooney tweeted “I have always admired his resourcefulness. Give him any household item and he will make it into a work of art by throwing it around your back garden.” Ant and Dec tweeted together “A true pioneer in the arts and crafts industry, wishing him all the best.”
Buchanan’s demons were well known with producers and workers behind the scenes on Art Attack for some years now. One worker, who wished to remain anonymous, said “A lot of the creativity that he conjured up was from PVA glue. I feel that the show enabled his addiction to the stuff. There was never a day on set that he didn’t have at least a pint of it waiting on his desk when arrived to work. I think some of the producers of the show encouraged it. It was through this substance abuse that he came up with the idea of the talking head. This should have been a warning sign but it’s hard to question someone with such status and power. Buchanan was the boss when we were filming. If anyone questioned his lifestyle choices, they were instantly shown the door. Fame is an ugly monster and it’s an all too familiar story.”
Buchanan is expected to remain out of the public spotlight until he completes the rehab program, after which it is expected he will begin writing his autobiography, tentatively titled, ‘Art Attack: When the Sticky Tape Can Not be Unstuck’.