Christopher was born on the Isle of Wight. He graduated with a BA Hons degree in human geography in 2004 and a Masters in television journalism in 2005 (he was tutored by former BBC TV News correspondent Barnie Choudhury).
…Nove, Charles
Charles was born in London and lived in Glasgow from an early age. He is the son of the Soviet historian Alexander Nove.
…Cadzow, Alma
Alma joined the BBC in London in 1964 as a studio manager. She was then known as Alma Bickerton. She later took advantage of the BBC’s attachment system, which allowed staff to gain up to six months experience working in areas that interested them. She spent time as an announcer at BBC Radio 3 in the 1970s, where, she tells us, “her Scots accent provoked protests from the more reactionary listeners”.
…Speake, Michael
Michael was born in Shrewsbury. His first broadcasting experience was with pirate radio and later, BBC Radio including being the Midland link for Family Favourites.
…Aldred, Ian
Ian was born in Manchester in 1949. He trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He was on an attachment to BBC Presentation as a continuity announcer for BBC One and BBC Two (1985 – 1987) and was senior presentation announcer, BBC Scotland (c. 1995). He made several appearances as a newsreader in Rab C. Nesbitt (BBC Two, 1994, 1996 and 1998). He also appeared on BBC Radio 4 narrating Seven Days in March (1979) and as a contributor to Naked Radio (1984) and Kailyard Blues (1998) – all produced by BBC Scotland.
…Smith, Alister
Alister was a continuity announcer in the presentation department at BBC Scotland (April 1981 – December 1989); starting in radio before moving to television, then back to radio again.
Speaking to us in February 2006, Alister recalled his radio days at BBC Scotland: “In radio, the pace was more relaxed and the work far more varied than the TV side. Apart from straight continuity announcing I often presented Leisure Trail, a programme for outdoor enthusiasts broadcast on Saturday mornings and produced by the late Murdoch McPherson. Then, for a good while, I had my own show called The Light Programme – easy-listening music and chat for Friday afternoons with many interesting guests from the world of music and entertainment. There was also Alister Smith’s Christmas Lights – broadcast early on Christmas morning and featuring young local musicians of all ages.
“At the same time I was also the person behind Leslie McQueen, Tom Ferrie’s charismatically camp visitor to the late chart show that went out Mondays to Thursdays on BBC Radio Scotland between 10pm and midnight. Much to my surprise, Tom’s teenage audience quickly embraced this gay little baker from Rutherglen until he soon became a regular guest: with his accordion, his trumpet and those awful renditions of country and western songs accompanied and sung excruciatingly. Furthermore, Lesley was a prominent feature of Tom Ferrie’s Christmas and New Year specials, as illustrated by Tom and Leslie’s New Year Party etc.
“In a different domain, presenting orchestral concerts for BBC Radio 3 was another of my many privileges, taken along with all the additional things I was allowed to do at BBC Scotland, made my entire time there highly satisfying and eminently enjoyable. Wouldn’t have missed it for the world!
“After leaving the BBC, I went into commercial radio as head of production at CentreSound 96.7 in Stirling (now Central FM), where I was ever so fortunate to have as my boss Mr Colin Lamont – aka Scottie McClue – surely one of the most affable men you will ever meet. But commercial radio was not my bag. Thus I drifted into tertiary education and IT where I remained until retirement.”
Fleming, Arlene
Arlene Fleming was born around 1965 in Paisley, in the west of Scotland.
…Austin, Craig
Craig Austin combines roles as a broadcaster, writer and producer. He started his media career in radio and moved on to television, dipping his toes in ink along the way.
Craig is from Uddingston, on the outskirts of Glasgow, and is the youngest of four boys. He started a career in medical laboratory sciences but after three years he returned to student life to study media. He does miss the white coat though!
It was during his final year as a student that he got his first professional broadcasting gigs, writing and presenting travel and traffic reports on a number of Scotland’s radio stations, as well as doing commercial voiceovers. A short spell hosting his own shows on Radio Tay in Dundee followed, before Craig found himself in Carlisle, working as an announcer, presenter and producer for Border Television.
…Phillips, John
John was a Border TV continuity announcer and newsreader (1990 – 1995). He has also worked as a freelance continuity announcer for BBC Scotland TV in Glasgow (1997 – TBC). John has presented for Radio Borders and combines his broadcasting work with a full-time job as a mathematics lecturer.
Gower, Mike
Mike started his broadcasting career as a radio presenter on Radio Forth in 1974. In 1979, he joined BBC Scotland as a continuity announcer. The following year, he moved over to STV where he was a continuity announcer, newsreader and sub-editor, until 1990. Mike then moved into production for STV, working as a producer/director until 1999, when he went freelance.
Mike also lectures at Napier University and Glasgow Metropolitan College.
Christie, Bob
Bob started off as an announcer with Scottish TV. He later joined the BBC Scotland announcing team in the mid-1970s and clocked up more than 25 years’ service before he retired in 2000. Like most of the other announcers of his generation, he regularly read the Scottish News summaries in-vision until 1988. In his last few years with the BBC, Bob tended to work on radio rather than TV.
Robertson, Morag
Formerly Morag Irvine. Morag currently works as a continuity announcer/director on BBC One Scotland. The role previously also covered BBC Two Scotland but that channel was replaced by the network version of BBC Two, just prior to the launch of the BBC Scotland channel. Although the dedicated Scottish content channel has its own team of announcers, some BBC One Scotland voices can also be heard on the BBC Scotland channel.
Gray, Harry
Harry was a BBC Radio Scotland announcer who did an occasional stint as a TV announcer in the 1970s.
He has since passed away (date unknown).
Copland, Jane
Jane was a continuity announcer with BBC Scotland TV (1986) and could also be seen reading the news in-vision at lunchtime. She then moved to Channel 4, where she worked on the announcing rota in the late-1980s and during the 1990s. In more recent times, as well as being the voice of Orange, Jane also provides continuity announcements for UKTV History.
O’Hara, James
James was a graduate of Manchester and Aberdeen universities. He joined BBC Scotland as a radio/TV announcer in 1977, having spent a number of years at Grampian TV as a presenter/announcer.
…Maclean, Carole
Carole was a Border TV announcer and newsreader (mid-1990s). She then moved to BBC Scotland TV, taking on a continuity director/announcer role there. She also lectures in media at Ayr.
Roddick, Gordon
Gordon was an announcer on Scottish Television (1961 – 1973). He then became a transmission controller. He left STV in 1992 to join BBC Scotland, where he was a radio announcer and newsreader. Gordon also sat in the television announcer’s chair at BBC Scotland on a few occasions. He left BBC Scotland in 2000.
Jamieson, Paul
Paul worked as a continuity announcer/director for BBC Scotland (2000 – December 2002) before moving to London to become a member of the ITV 1 network announcing team. His voice was also heard occasionally on ITV 2. Paul has also worked for several radio stations, including The Eagle, Star and BBC Radio Scotland.
Currie, Tony
Mr STV for a generation of ‘pres’ enthusiasts. His distinctive, well modulated voice now graces BBC Scotland, on television and radio. Tony was one of STV’s in-vision announcers (April 1976 – 1987). He left shortly before the company dropped regular in-vision continuity. He started with BBC Scotland in 1997.
…Matheson, Rob
Rob was a continuity director/announcer with BBC Scotland (1995 – July 2008), covering TV and radio. He was also involved in managing the transition from analogue to digital transmission systems. Currently, Rob is a news presenter and reporter for BBC Scotland TV and radio.
He has also worked as a freelance reporter at Westsound FM and presented for QFM. Other posts include: reporter for Stirling Sports Agency, Glasgow; reporter for Slough, Windsor and Eton Observer; reporter/financial editor for Drapers Record business-to-business magazine.
Ross, Pam
Pam is a former BBC Scotland Tv announcer.
Lauder, Victoria
Victoria currently works as a continuity announcer/director on BBC One Scotland. The role previously also covered BBC Two Scotland but that channel was replaced by the network version of BBC Two, just prior to the launch of the BBC Scotland channel. Although the dedicated Scottish content channel has its own team of announcers, some BBC One Scotland voices can also be heard on the BBC Scotland channel.
She previously worked in radio, on Q96.
Currie, Maura
Born Maura McManus in Paisley, Currie holds degrees in Chemical Engineering from Strathclyde University and radio journalism from UWS.
…Logan, Robert
Robert was a BBC Scotland TV announcer (early 1980s – early 1990s). He was also a Conservative councillor so consequently never read the television news summaries – nor did he ever namecheck at closedown. After he left the BBC, Robert became STV’s compliance officer. He passed away in the late-1990s.
McDougall, Gillean
Gillean was a BBC Scotland TV announcer (April 1987 – April 2015) – 28 years introducing programmes on BBC One Scotland and BBC Two Scotland – surely making her one of the longest-serving announcers in Scotland? She had worked at the BBC since 1980 – previous roles: PA to chief producer, opera, BBC Radio 3 (April 1980 – April 1983); continuity announcer and newsreader, BBC Radio Scotland (April 1983 – April 1987); continuity announcer, BBC Radio 3 (April 1986 – April 1987).
In July 2015, Gillean embarked upon creative writing studies at the University of Glasgow. In September 2017, she was awarded an MLitt (Distinction) in creative writing. In October 2017 she began a doctorate course in creative writing.
Davy, Joanne
Joanne currently works as a continuity announcer/director on BBC One Scotland. The role previously also covered BBC Two Scotland but that channel was replaced by the network version of BBC Two, just prior to the launch of the BBC Scotland channel. Although the dedicated Scottish content channel has its own team of announcers, some BBC One Scotland voices can also be heard on the BBC Scotland channel.
Macintyre, Colin
Colin is a freelance announcer, and former continuity director/announcer with BBC Scotland. He works full-time for national air traffic control at Glasgow Airport.
Cairney, Alison
Alison is currently working as an announcer with BBC TV Scotland. She was a BBC network announcer in 1989.
Findlay, David
David was a BBC Radio Scotland announcer who did an occasional stint as a TV announcer in the 1970s.
He has since passed away (date unknown).
Easton, Peter
Peter currently works as a continuity announcer/director on BBC One Scotland. The role previously also covered BBC Two Scotland but that channel was replaced by the network version of BBC Two, just prior to the launch of the BBC Scotland channel. Although the dedicated Scottish content channel has its own team of announcers, some BBC One Scotland voices can also be heard on the BBC Scotland channel.
Patterson, Pamela
Pamela is a former BBC Scotland TV announcer.
Marquis, Mary
Mary is best known as the long-serving presenter of various regional news magazine programmes on BBC Scotland. She was also a familiar face on ITV screens as a continuity announcer on Border TV.
Cunningham, Andrea
Previously Andrea McNeill. Andrea currently works as a continuity announcer/director on BBC One Scotland.
…McDowell, Andrea
Scottish voice who served an attachment as a BBC TV network announcer (1989). She was also a BBC World Service TV announcer (1992). She worked briefly as an announcer for ITV Carlton in London (1993). She has also worked as an announcer with BSB, Living TV, BBC Scotland and Channel 5.
…Barth, Anne-Marie
Anne-Marie currently works as a continuity announcer/director on BBC One Scotland. The role previously also covered BBC Two Scotland but that channel was replaced by the network version of BBC Two, just prior to the launch of the BBC Scotland channel. Although the dedicated Scottish content channel has its own team of announcers, some BBC One Scotland voices can also be heard on the BBC Scotland channel.
Purdon, Iain
Iain joined BBC Scotland in May 1973, initially working for BBC Radio 4. He was a regular continuity voice on BBC One Scotland between 1974 and 1978 and was one of the pioneers of the practice of linking the entire mixture of network and Scottish programmes from Scotland. Early teething troubles included chopping off part of the prime-time Les Dawson show one Saturday night and transmitting a rehearsal of his next programme junction in its place. There was one viewer phone call – expressing thanks!
Iain moved to the new BBC Radio Scotland in 1978 to head up its announcer team. In 1982 he took up a post with BBC Radio 2. Since 1995 he has been working with the BBC World Service as a newsreader.
In his spare time, Iain plays bass guitar in a vintage rock ‘n’ roll band.
Tibbetts, Pam
Formerly Pam Rennison. Pam was presentation editor for BBC Scotland, responsible for day-to-day presentation services on all of the BBC’s local radio and television services there.
…Kynoch, Douglas
Douglas was born in Aberdeen. He was teaching English in Germany when he heard about a new ITV station opening in Aberdeen.
…Ashe, Anna-Maria
Anna-Maria Ashe was a continuity announcer at BBC Scotland, TVS and Grampian Television in the mid-1980s. She also presented lunchtime news bulletins in-vision during her time with BBC Scotland (1986). She later moved to the TVS nightly news magazine Coast to Coast where she did a stint at presenting/newsreading for the Southampton edition, before moving to the Maidstone programme.
Anna-Maria was replaced at Maidstone by Liz Wickham when she moved to LWT as the main anchor of LWT News and LWT News Weekend. She was one of the main presenters on the London Tonight programme on ITV until February 2004.
Mitchell, Ken
Ken was a presenter with Scotland’s Radio Clyde and Scot FM. He later moved to BBC Scotland TV, taking up a continuity director/announcer post. Ken currently covers BBC One Scotland. The role previously also covered BBC Two Scotland but that channel was replaced by the network version of BBC Two, just prior to the launch of the BBC Scotland channel. Although the dedicated Scottish content channel has its own team of announcers, some BBC One Scotland voices can also be heard on the BBC Scotland channel.
Hutton, Alasdair
Alasdair was born in London, during the bombing which destroyed his home. His mother gathered up what was left, including him, and returned to Scotland.
…Brock, Douglas
Douglas is a former BBC Scotland TV announcer.
Stephen, Mark
Mark was a BBC Scotland TV announcer (early 1980s – early 1990s). He had a particularly warm, distinctive voice and made the occasional off-the-cuff remark which meant he stood out from the crowd a little – at least amongst people who appreciate these things.
…Monteath, Alec
Alec was born in Doune, Perthshire. He was an actor, who later worked as an announcer for Scottish TV (1964 – 1969) and also for BBC Scotland TV.
…Gourd, Peter
Peter was a children’s producer at Super Channel. He worked behind the microphone as a BBC TV network announcer in the late-1990s and was later head of presentation, BBC Scotland, based in Glasgow.
Gillies, James
In the 1970s, James trained at the Royal Scottish Conservatoire. He taught speech and drama at Bankhead Academy (July 1978 – June 1980) and was head of speech and drama at Mintlaw Academy (July 1980 – May 1986).
In May 1986, James moved into freelance voiceover work, with clients including radio stations in Scotland and the north of England and video production companies. In August 1991, he moved to the BBC as a continuity announcer/director, working on BBC One Scotland, BBC Two Scotland and BBC Alba. He became a familiar voice on TV and radio, where he also narrated programmes, read the news and even got to read the shipping forecast.
He left the BBC in 2013 to focus on the performance side of voice work – in particular, storytelling. He has since recorded many audio books, for clients on both sides of the Atlantic.
Bruce, Ken
Yes, the BBC Radio 2 favourite was once a BBC Scotland announcer. Ken started off doing the Scottish opt outs on BBC Radio 4 in the mid-1970s and later became a staff announcer. He mostly worked on radio, but his warm, rich, friendly voice was heard from time-to-time behind the BBC One Scotland globe.
Scott, Anne
Anne was a Grampian TV reporter, newsreader and co-presenter of North Tonight in the 1990s. She then joined BBC Scotland as a TV continuity director/announcer. She also announced and read the news on BBC Radio Scotland (until c. 2006).
Stuart, Arlene
Arlene was a popular Grampian in-vision announcer (1980s and early 1990s). She moved to the BBC Scotland TV as a continuity director/announcer. She later presented the mid-morning show on Forth 2. Arlene continued with television work as presenter of The River – a Grampian programme which followed the River Dee from its source to the sea traversing Braemar, Lochnagar, Balmoral, Glen Tanar and Banchory. She has also guest-presented for Scottish Passport.
Harvey, Amanda
Amanda currently works as a continuity announcer/director on BBC One Scotland. The role previously also covered BBC Two Scotland but that channel was replaced by the network version of BBC Two, just prior to the launch of the BBC Scotland channel. Although the dedicated Scottish content channel has its own team of announcers, some BBC One Scotland voices can also be heard on the BBC Scotland channel.
McKenna, Cameron
Cameron’s broadcasting career began in 1990, as a presenter with Eastend Radio. During his career, Cameron has interviewed a number of big name celebrities including Dame Shirley Bassey, Nichelle Nichols (communications officer Lieutenant Uhura, Star Trek), Paul Young, Darius, the stars of Star Wars and Marty Pellow to name but a few. Cameron has also worked alongside Dirty Dozen actor Tom Busby.
Other radio credits include: co-presenter of the 96.3 QFM breakfast show with Gary Marshall.
Cameron worked (freelance) for Scottish Television as an announcer (dates TBC); his voice was also heard in the Grampian TV region for a number of years prior to its rebranding as STV. He is currently a continuity announcer with BBC Scotland TV.
Campbell, Kirsty
Kirsty currently works as a continuity announcer/director on BBC One Scotland. The role previously also covered BBC Two Scotland but that channel was replaced by the network version of BBC Two, just prior to the launch of the BBC Scotland channel. Although the dedicated Scottish content channel has its own team of announcers, some BBC One Scotland voices can also be heard on the BBC Scotland channel.
Kirsty previously worked on radio, at Q96.