John was born in Aberystwyth. He attended the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth in the late-1940s and early 1950s, studying English and French.
…Barbour, Sharon
Sharon was brought up in New Zealand. She went to the Australian Film and TV School and worked as a reporter and presenter across Australia and New Zealand.
Her UK broadcasting career began at BBC Radio Humberside. She then joined BBC Radio 4’s File on 4, based in Manchester and the BBC’s Special Documentaries Unit where she worked on stories all around the world.
She later moved to Newcastle and read the Night Network News for BBC Radios Newcastle, Cumbria and Cleveland. Next stop was BBC News 24 where she performed a reporting role.
Sharon went on to present Look North for BBC North East/Cumbria. She’s currently a health correspondent with BBC network news.
Burns, Andrew
Andrew was a continuity announcer and newsreader with Border TV (1989 – 1996). He was also responsible for Border’s on-screen image and on-air promotions. He moved into television management in 1996, and was one of the owners, and the chief operating officer of Film24, a channel all about film.
Heath, Tina
Tina is a former actress and Blue Peter presenter (BBC One, 1979 – 1980).
…Russell, Drew
Drew was a lively Scotsman who was Anglia’s first chief announcer. Russell was the first announcer to be seen on Anglia and he also presented the company’s first programme, Introducing Anglia. He took his turn at reading the daily local news headlines, along with Colin Bower and Newman Sanders.
Drew, who also worked for Scottish Television during the 1960s, has now, sadly, passed away.
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.
Matthews, Lisa
Lisa was a presenter with Swansea Sound, where she worked on the late show. She then joined BBC Wales TV presentation, where she worked as a continuity director/announcer (1997 – TBC). From late-1999, she combined this with presentation for BBC Radio Wales. She fronted After Midnight – a pop video-based show on BBC Choice Wales. She also appeared in-vision on BBC 2W, presenting weather forecasts.
Ní Ghallchóir, Bernadette
Bernadette was a presenter and continuity announcer on Irish television. She hosted the Irish language show Buntús Cainte in the 1960s. She is probably best remembered for hosting the 1971 Eurovision Song Contest from the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin. Her involvement with Eurovision continued, when in 1973 she hosted National Song Contest.
Bernadette was one of a team of three continuity announcers at the launch of RTÉ 2 in 1978. Raymond Maxwell and Roisin Harkin accompanied Bernadette on opening night.
Bernadette retired from television in the 1980s.
Haigh, Peter
Mayclem, Liam
Liam is a former continuity announcer and news reporter for Channel Television (1989 – 1994). He also reported for the religious news magazine programme Link-Up and produced the station’s Weekend Diary. He later became the channel’s youth features reporter and producer.
Liam moved to the US to host Tomorrow’s World America and a music show, Audiofile, both of which are broadcast across the States on techtv. He later became head of arts and entertainment for KRON TV – an independent television station in San Francisco.
…Lewis, Bruce
Bruce was a presenter and news reporter for TWW.
Pearson, Terry
Terry was a full-time on-air announcer with Central (later Carlton) Television in Birmingham (1988 – 2000). He went freelance as an actor/presenter, working on various theatre, television and corporate projects. Terry also ran a website (until 2014) – Quadbod Media Memorabilia – specialising in original UK quad film posters.