Michael was born in Edinburgh in 1911. He was a film actor, who later moved into television announcing with Associated Rediffusion (1955 – 1956), when it started broadcasting to the London area.
…Edmunds, John
John was born in Aberystwyth. He attended the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth in the late-1940s and early 1950s, studying English and French.
…Bolgar, Peter
Peter was born in 1936. He attended the Royal College of Music, where he met his future wife, actress Angela Piper, who played Jennifer in BBC Radio 4’s The Archers (1963 – 2022).
…Farnham, Jane
Jane started out as ‘Pippa Horn’, the travel and breakfast co-presenter at Red Dragon FM in Cardiff. Whilst working on the breakfast show she was approached by HTV Wales to present Time Out, a holiday programme based in Wales. She then went on to present her own drivetime show at Medway FM in Kent, which also involved producing features and organising competitions and roadshows.
In 1998, Jane started work at Metro Networks presenting travel reports for the Chris Evans breakfast show on Virgin FM and she also landed a job on the continuity sofa at ITV 2.
In May 2000, she started working for Earth and Space at NOW – a pioneering convergence channel broadcasting to Asia and worldwide on the web. The work involved anchoring live science programmes, interviewing guest scientists, writing web pages and occasionally working on location for special reports.
During 2001, Jane worked in Holland and Athens for five weeks at a time directing and presenting travel programmes for a new broadband/linear channel called Viewing 4 Leisure.
In 2002, she worked with Ant and Dec on ITV 1 as a regional presenter on Record of the Year.
In 2004, Jane filmed kids show X-perimental for BBC One. Working as the science reporter, it was Jane’s responsibility to get the science across in an unpatronising, no-nonsense, yet easily understood manner.
Also in 2004, Jane worked as a studio/location presenter for TV Travel Shop, which involved a shoot in America filming Go Florida.
Jane has also worked as a continuity announcer on Channel 5 and Challenge (dates TBC).
Jane is currently a freelance presenter.
She has also worked at Price Drop TV, where she had to talk and sell non-stop for three hours at a time. She has guest-presented on QVC. She is also a children’s presenter for British Forces TV.
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.
Fraser, Kate
Kate was a long-serving Grampian in-vision continuity announcer and local news bulletin presenter. She later joined the STV continuity team in Glasgow and her voice was heard not only on STV, but also in the old Grampian TV area.
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.
White, Geraint
Geraint’s professional career began in IT (July 1994 – March 1999), with various roles in support of IBM mainframe and AS/400 systems. He then moved into broadcasting, with a continuity director/announcer role at BBC Wales TV (March 1999 – December 2014). He was initially BBC Wales staff; he left in November 2007 and returned as a freelance announcer in September 2008.
He joined South Wales Police, as a constable (November 2007 – 2013). After finishing up at the BBC in late-2014, he pursued a career with South Wales Police. He became a chief inspector in December 2017 and, as of March 2019, is based in Swansea.
Geraint’s was the first voice on BBC 2W on 5th November 2001.
Jacobs, Paul
Paul was a continuity announcer on Channel 5 (March 1997 – TBC). Paul is also a racing commentator.
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.
Lamont, Colin
Colin was a freelance continuity announcer for Scottish TV, Grampian and Border. He went on to set up Centre Radio in Stirling and became cult Scottish shock jock, Scottie McClue.
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.