Introduction
Martin Noel Galgani Fitzpatrick (born 13 December 1967) is an Irish veterinary surgeon. He is best known for his multiple appearances on UK television.
Originally from Ireland, he moved to Guildford, Surrey in 1993, where he is currently the managing director of Fitzpatrick Referrals, a veterinary hospital in Eashing, Surrey.
Academic achievements
Fitzpatrick obtained his Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from University College, Dublin in 1990.. In November 2014 he was awarded the UCD Alumni Award for veterinary medicine in recognition of his pioneering work. He was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Surrey for the advancement of animal health. Noel is an Assistant Professor at the University of Florida School of Veterinary Medicine. He is a Professor and founding member of Orthopaedics in the School of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Surrey.
He holds a London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (LAMDA) qualification.
Private practice
His private referral practice is Fitzpatrick Referrals, in Eashing, Surrey. It was opened in 2008 and focuses on small animal neurology and orthopaedics. It has undergone an expansion in 2014, when an oncology service opened. The practice was the filming location of the BBC television documentary The Bionic Vet (2010) and the Channel 4 series The Supervet, as well as several others.
Acting career
He has starred in two episodes of ITV's Heartbeat; as vet Andrew Lawrence, first broadcast in November 2002 and as sheep rustler Gabriel broadcast in January 2000. He appeared in an episode of the BBC medical drama Casualty (2005), around the same time he appeared in the documentary TV series Wildlife SOS, causing the BBC to receive complaints that the latter show included an actor who was pretending to be a vet. He has appeared in ITV series London's Burning (2001), and two episodes of ITV's The Bill.
Fitzpatrick's first film appearance was in horror film The Devil's Tattoo (2003). Fitzpatrick took the lead role in the film Live for the Moment (2004) in which he starred as Dr David Fowler. He has also starred as Inspector Beckett in the film Framed (2008).
The Bionic Vet (2010)
The 2010 BBC documentary television series The Bionic Vet followed the work of vet Noel Fitzpatrick and his team at Fitzpatrick Referrals. The series saw Fitzpatrick develop new methods and techniques to help pets with unique problems. This notably documents Fitzpatrick receiving a Guiness World Record for implanting two bionic legs into a cat.
The Supervet (2014 - present)
Fitzpatrick and his practice became the focus of the Channel 4 television series The Supervet in 2014, producing seven series as of 2016.