John was born in Prestwick. After a BBC course in broadcasting, his first TV appearance was as a continuity announcer on ABC Television (early 1960s), the weekend contractor for the north of England and the Midlands.
…Darval, John
John was one of the original team of announcers at Channel 5 when it launched in March 1997. He was responsible for the Sunset Beach cult craze on Channel 5 daytime. John operated Beaver the puppet on Milkshake, where he was also known as John the Voice, when the childrens’ strand launched in September 1997.
John left Channel 5 in 2002, although he still provided relief cover occasionally. He later worked for Smooth Radio in the West Midlands and BFBS TV continuity and transmission control.
Grey, Monica
Monica was an actress.
…Mackenzie, Gary
Gary is a former ILR presenter with CBC, Red Dragon Radio and Touch radio in Cardiff. He then moved to BBC Wales TV, where he took on a continuity director/announcer role (1997 – TBC). He also presented some editions of the daily Livetime programme for BBC Radio Wales.
Gordon, Nigel
Nigel was a continuity announcer on RTÉ One from c. 1996 until TBC. He stills works with RTÉ, within the television promotions department.
Ngqobougwana, Vuyiswa
Vuyiswa was a Channel 4 announcer (1995 – TBC). She also announced on E4.
Phoenix, Nicola
Nicola has a soft Northern Irish accent. She was a BBC TV network announcer (mid-2000s).
Layzell, Alastair
Alastair is a former Channel Television in-vision continuity announcer (1970s and 1980s). He went on to start his own independent production TV company in 1988 after leaving Channel Television. Since then he has produced and directed hundreds of documentaries which have been aired by networks worldwide. He is also active in island life – he co-founded Save Jersey’s Heritage in 1990 and has been Chairman of The National Air Pageant since 1997. He is a former deputy of Jersey and stood again in the senatorial elections of 2003.
Ballantine, Pamela
Pamela’s broadcasting career started off in radio: she read the news on Downtown Radio in the early 1980s. She also presented on BBC Radio Ulster. Pamela’s first appearance on Ulster Television – as a continuity announcer – was in 1984. As part of the announcer’s role, she also read the news.
She left the announcing team around the start of the new franchise period in 1993 and went on to co-anchor the station’s main news programme. She presented the lifestyle and leisure programme UTV Life (1999 – 2009). In May 2009, Pamela returned to UTV’s continuity department, after seventeen years. As well as the announcing role, she was also a relief weather presenter. A year later, her staff contract with the station was not renewed. Press reports claimed UTV had told Ballantine that her role was no longer available and had offered her freelance work which she later accepted.
Pamela continues to freelance at the station and act in an ambassador role. Since 2016, she has presented the new incarnation of UTV Life.
Currie, Maura
Maura was a BBC Scotland TV announcer, covering BBC One Scotland and BBC Two Scotland. She is now head of presentation at BBC Scotland. She’s a former head of news at Paisley’s QFM.
Wanless, Neville
Neville was born in Wallsend-on-Tyne. He began his working life as a financial director in his father’s engineering company. He did National Service and was stationed in Germany in the Royal Horse Artillery.
…Thomas, Linda
Linda was a BBC Radio 2 announcer (1981 – 1982) and a BBC TV network announcer (1982 – 1983). She also worked as a Channel 4 and TVS announcer (late-1980s). She voiced BBC TV programme trails (1988).