Lynn was a Grampian Television in-vision continuity announcer (1971 – 1979). Her son, Paul, recalls that she first applied for the job after she was dared to by her husband. Sadly, she died in 1982 at the age of 44.
Mills, Ric
Ric is a freelance announcer with Channel 4 (c. 2000 – present). He has worked full-time with E4 since its launch.
Lawrence, Sally
Sally was a BBC TV network announcer (1992 – TBC). Later, she moved to a similar role at Channel 4.
Symon, Jim
Jim is a well-known Scottish radio and television broadcaster. He was an in-vision announcer for Scottish Television (1983 – TBC). He later freelanced as an out-of-vision announcer for both Scottish TV and Grampian TV (dates TBC). He combined this work with the position of transmission controller for SMG’s (Scottish Media Group) television division – a post which he left in 2000.
Jim’s voice is well known to viewers across the UK as he’s voiced several television advertisements. He was also chosen to be the voice of a new, talking version of the ever-popular Action Man toy.
Since leaving the core staff at SMG, Jim has returned to radio. He has presented the late-night music programme on Westsound Radio based in Ayr; he later presented on radio station Clyde 2.
He still occasionally presented for Scottish and Grampian TV.
Cavendish, Kay
Kay was a BBC TV in-vision announcer in 1939 and a BBC Radio announcer in 1940. She was also a famous stage, radio and TV pianist.
Kay died on 21st January 2000.
Evans, Su
Su was a long-serving ATV (Midlands) and Central TV in-vision continuity announcer. She went on to become a regular regional weather presenter on ITV Central and ITV Wales. She also freelanced as an out-of-vision announcer for Central after it became part of the Carlton group (late-1990s – 2001. Su also did relief announcing on Southern Television in the 1970s.
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.
Lines, Verity
Verity was a continuity announcer and newsreader with Anglia TV (1980s – early 1990s). She left to get married and is now known as Verity Spencer.
…Tucker, Tegwen
In October 2007, Tegwen took up a position as the sole announcer for BBC Four. She also works as an actress and voiceover artist, doing corporate voice work and providing voices for popular children’s TV show, Fireman Sam.
De Stains, Ian
Ian was born in Yorkshire. He was a student of RADA in 1968, alongside Leigh Lawson, David Bradley, Timothy Dalton and Jonathan Meades.
…Benson, John
John was born in 1928 (date unknown). He was one of ITV’s legendary, long-serving announcers.
…Bacon, John
Probably Anglia Television’s best-known newscaster, Bacon began his stint at the About Anglia newsdesk – and as a continuity announcer – in 1964. He stayed with the company until the mid to late-1980s. He often shared this duty with colleague Caroline Raison. After retiring, Bacon moved to sunnier climes – Greece.