Trueman, Brian

Brian was born in Manchester. In 1946, he made his acting debut in Plover Patrol for BBC Radio in Manchester.

In 1951, he appeared on stage for the Urmston Amateur Operatic Society (now the Urmston Musical Theatre), playing the role of Big Ben in a production of Merrie England.

He directed Doris Speed (later Annie Walker in Coronation Street) in his final year at Manchester University, as part of the drama group.

When he got his Equity card, his two sponsors were Violet Carson (Ena Sharples in Coronation Street) and Ewan MacCall.

Radio credits include:

• Children’s Hour (BBC Home Service, 1950 – 1961);
• The Great Horse (BBC Home Service, 1954);
• Talkabout (BBC Home Service North);
• The Clitheroe Kid (BBC Light Programme, 1960 – 1964 and 1966, BBC Radio 2, 1969 and 1972, BBC Radio 4, 1970 – 1971);
• Hereward the Wake (BBC Home Service, 1961);
• Junior Time (BBC Home Service, 1961);
• Morning Story (BBC Light Programme, 1962, 1965 and 1967);
• Castle on the Border (BBC Home Service, 1962);
• The Big Pond (BBC Home Service, 1962);
• The Peter Goodwright Show (BBC Light Programme, 1963 – 1964);
• Thirty Minutes Worth (BBC Light Programme, 1963);
• The White Company (BBC Home Service, 1965);
• Life with Lord Charles (BBC Light Programme, 1967);
• Royal Brides (BBC Radio 4, 1969);
• Les Dawson as Our Les (BBC Radio 2, 1971 and 1973);
• No Drink, No Drink for Me (BBC Radio 4, 1973);
• The Triumphant Failure (BBC Radio 4, 1974);
• Celebration (BBC Radio 4, 1974);
• Mary Barton (BBC Radio 4, 1975);
• From the Grass Roots (BBC Radio 4, 1976);
• Bestseller (BBC Radio 4, 1976);
• The Show with Ten Legs (BBC Radio 2, 1976);
• Kaleidoscope (BBC Radio 4, 1977);
• 4th Dimension (BBC Radio 4, 1977);
• Comedy Parade (BBC Radio 2, 1977);
• Sunday (BBC Radio 4, 1977 – 1979);
• Cat’s Whiskers (BBC Radio 4, 1988);
• Servants of the Empire (BBC Radio 4, 1992 – 1993);
• Terra Lengy (BBC Radio 4, 1992);
• The British Bulldog (BBC Radio 4, 1993);
• Short Story (BBC Radio 4, 1995);
• All There with My Cough Drops: the Story of Jimmy Clitheroe (BBC Radio 7, 2008).

After two years national service, he began acting again. His credits include:

• The Critical Point (BBC Television, 1957);
• Radio announcer, Coronation Street (1964);
• Master of ceremonies, For the Love of Albert (1977);
• TV interviewer, Brookside (Channel 4, 1983);
• Aladdin and the Forty Thieves (BBC One, 1984);
• Voice, Truckers (1992);
• Voice, The Treacle People (1996 – 1997);
• Voice, Franny’s Feet (2005).

He did a week as a relief announcer at Granada TV.

In 1957, he joined Granada TV in Manchester, as a regular newsreader.

He had heard from his brother-in-law that they were looking for a part-time newsreader. He went to see Barrie Heads (editor) and David Plowright (assistant editor), who asked him to sit behind the desk and read some news. A day later he was doing it live.

For many years, he appeared on local programming, including It’s Trueman (he also produced, c. 1969), Scene at 6.30 and Granada Reports.

He also had a spell hosting Granada’s film review show, Cinema, taking over from Michael Parkinson and Clive James. He left the company in 1976.

He presented the BBC’s long-running children’s film quiz Screen Test (BBC One, 1979 – 1983), taking over from original host Michael Rodd.

He also presented the following BBC programmes:

• People to People (BBC Two, 1977);
• Brass Tacks (BBC Two, 1977 and 1979);
• Roots of England (BBC Two 1978 and 1980 – 1982);
• What’s Your Poison? (BBC Two 1979 and BBC One, 1981);
• Roots of Mann (BBC Two, 1979);
• Lost for Words (BBC Two, 1979 – 1981);
• Open University (BBC Two, 1982).

During the 1970s and 1980s, Brian worked extensively with the animation studio Cosgrove Hall. He wrote and/or narrated on many much-loved children’s series, including:

• Chorlton and the Wheelies (1976 – 1979);
• Jamie and the Magic Torch (1976 – 1979);
• Cockleshell Bay (1980 – 1986);
• DangerMouse (1981 – 1992 and 2015);
• The Wind in the Willows (1984 – 1988);
• Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (1984 – 2003);
• Alias the Jester (1985);
• Creepy Crawlies (1987 – 1988);
• Count Duckula (1988 – 1993);
• A Tale of Two Toads (1989);
• Oh! Mr Toad (1989 – 1990).

He was also a writer on:

• The Adventures of Spot (BBC One, 1988 – 1993);
• Budgie the Little Helecopter (1994 – 1996)
• Postman Pat (1996);
• The Treacle People (1996 – 1997);
• Jungle Junction (2011 – 2012);
• HeroGliffix (2020).

He had two sons: Ben and Jonathan.

On 2nd September 2024, Ben announced via X/Twitter that his father had died, aged 92.

Personal information

Clips of Brian on The TV Room

Brian may be featured in video/audio clips on our other websites. Click the links below to display a listing (a 404 error will appear if no clips are found):

Rewind | Clean Feed

Online presence

Acknowledgements