Jim is a former actor. He joined Tyne Tees Television as an announcer (1959) and later took up the same role at ATV (Midlands) (1961). He left to join BBC Birmingham’s Midlands Today as a presenter. In 1964, a meeting with the Spinners gave him his long-term interest in folk music which led him to join BBC Radio 2 in 1969 as a presenter.
Last, John
John started in continuity announcing as a freelancer for ITV 2 (January 2005 – 2007). He also worked as part of the Channel 5 continuity team (mid-2006 – early 2008).
As of late-2008, John was announcing for Virgin 1. His acting career was also taking off, with appearances in various short films behind him, such as Hammered, written by Noel Clarke (Doctor Who and Kidulthood). He also stars in the feature film, Do Elephants Pray?.
John has a BA (Hons) in media performance from the University of Salford.
Mitchley, Richard
Richard is a narrator and actor, who has been freelancing as an announcer with S4C (early 1990s – TBC). Has also worked as an announcer at Channel 4 (dates TBC).
Vickery, David
David is an experienced television announcer and voiceover artist. He was one of the initial presenters of Late Night Late on TVS. He has worked as an announcer on many TV channels, including Meridian, LWT, Carlton (London), BBC One, BBC Two, Channel 4, Discovery Channel and Biography Channel.
…Macann, Peter
Peter was born in Tehran, Iran. His father, as a Colonel in the Indian Army, was Consul in Ahwaz at the time. Peter spent the first four years of his life in India, before arriving in the UK in 1948.
…Bell, Graham
Graham Bell was born in London. He was an actor who appeared in rep in Oxford, Old Vic, Newcastle and Stratford East.
…Lavers, Paul
Paul was born in Bristol. He is an actor and has appeared in many stage plays, including Les Blancs at London’s National Theatre (2016); he toured with Alan Ayckbourn’s Bedroom Farce (2016).
…Youens, Bernard
Bernard (Bunny) Youens, was a continuity announcer at Granada for four years in the early 1960s before joining Coronation Street in 1964 as the loveable layabout, Stan Ogden – one half of the famous double act with wife Hilda. Bernard stayed with his Coronation Street role in spite of serious health problems. Sadly, he died in August 1984.
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.
…White, Eoin
Eoin was a continuity announcer on RTÉ 2 in the early 1980s, before moving to RTÉ One. He remained in a TV announcing role until the late-1980s/early 1990s. He was also an actor.
Benson, John
John was born in 1928 (date unknown). He was one of ITV’s legendary, long-serving announcers.
…Leeming, Jan
Jan was born Janet Atkins in Woolwich, south east London. In 1959 she joined the BBC, initially working in the Programme Correspondence Section, and then as a junior secretary in the Science Unit at Broadcasting House.
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