Michael is a former Granada Television continuity announcer. He continued with his acting career after leaving the announcer’s chair.
Haslam, Pete
Pete joined the Yorkshire Television announcing team in November 1999; he went part-time in late-2000. Based at the northern transmission centre in Leeds, his voice was also heard in the Tyne Tees, Border and Granada regions. Pete also became the voice of all Granada Media Group trailers for Granada, Yorkshire, Tyne Tees, Border, Anglia, Meridian and LWT. Pete’s voice was also heard on the ITV Night Network; he would pre-record the announcements on tape in Leeds; the tape was then despatched to LWT in the overnight van for transmission that particular weekend.
By January 2006, Pete was the last professional announcer in Leeds and he was still voicing regional trailers on a freelance basis.
Pete spoke to Showreel in January 2006 about other projects: “Since leaving YTV full-time, I’ve appeared in several radio plays, alongside Maggie and, in one, with Redvers. I’m currently working on a pilot radio thriller series Into the Shadows as writer, producer and actor, and I’m still around, doing the occasional bit of presenting for music-based radio stations.
“I’ve been in radio since the mid-1970s, starting at Radio City (Nottingham Hospital Radio). After much hard work, I managed to get the green light to form Millside Hospital Radio at the King’s Mill Hospital, Sutton-in-Ashfield, near Mansfield, in October 1989. Joined Viking FM shortly after that, as commercial producer/writer/voiceover. Also worked on air on YRN’s (Yorkshire Radio Network) Classic Gold AM service.
“I can still be heard throughout the country and abroad, on various commercial radio stations, as voiceover. I also write and voice radio commercials for the Lincs FM Group (in fact I was the first voiceover on air at Lincs FM, on their first ad break on day one, in 1992). Well known for versatility when it comes to commercials, all sorts of voices, from old men (and old women!!!) through to wacky, character sound-a-likes and singers, which keeps me active!!! (It’s also very useful when it comes to radio plays!!!)”
Murray-Henderson, Don
Don was Granada Television’s chief announcer (1960s – early 1970s). He was killed in a car accident in January 1971.
Moore, Ray
Ray was born in Liverpool. On leaving school his first job was at Liverpool docks.
…Brittain, Andrew
Andrew was an announcer with Granada from the late-1980s until the late-1990s. He was also the voice of Stars in Their Eyes. He was a daytime newsreader and also a reporter for Granada Reports. In the 1990s, Andrew also narrated some of the later World in Action documentaries. He also did voiceover work for radio commercials and corporate clients.
Oliver, Nick
Nick was an occasional announcer for Yorkshire Television, although his full-time role was at the transmission control desk at the Granada Media Group’s northern transmission centre, serving YTV, Tyne Tees, Border and Granada.
James, Graham
Graham was a well-known Granada TV in-vision announcer (1970s/1980s). He later moved to Meridian in Southampton and was an announcer on that station, HTV West and Anglia TV until October 2002.
Pope, Jim
Jim’s professional journey commenced in radio before transitioning to television during the 1960s, where he presented continuity links for HTV West.
…Preedy, Bob
Until October 2002, Bob was one of the main announcers at Yorkshire Television at Granada Media Group’s northern transmission centre in Leeds. His voice was therefore also heard on Border, Granada and Tyne Tees Television.
…Brown, Malcolm
Malcolm trained as an announcer on HTV West in the late-1960s and early 1970s before moving to Granada in 1972. He stayed with the company until 1982 when he moved south to join franchise winners TVS. Malcolm made the very first announcement on TVS on 1st January 1982, and remained as a voice-only announcer after in-vision continuity was dispensed with in the mid-1980s. He also acted as MC for TVS’ final programme Goodbye to All That.
Malcolm was later heard reading letters out on BBC Radio 4’s Feedback. He also spent time as a disc jockey on London’s easy-listening radio station Magic FM.
Foster, Charles
Every station has an announcer that everyone remembers and actor Charles Foster performs that role for Granada Television, where he was one of the main in-vision announcers throughout the 1970s and 1980s. One of the old school, the avuncular Foster had great warmth and a terrific on-screen presence. As well as announcing for Granada, Foster also narrated several schools programmes for the company, as well as being the voiceover man on game shows such as Connections.
…McKenzie, John
John is a former in-vision announcer with Granada TV. He also announced for Carlton Television (London) (May 2000 – October 2002). He went on to study to be a journalist.