Eynon, Malcolm

Malcolm was born in 1947.  He joined the BBC in 1974 and for 27 years was a regular voice as a network announcer on BBC One and BBC Two before taking redundancy in October 2001.

His last announcement was into the BBC News at Six (BBC One) on 30th October 2001.

Malcolm also appeared in-vision as a newsreader for BBC Norwich (1980) and BBC Bristol (1981), and as a newsreader in the drama Campaign (1988).

In July 2009 Malcolm wrote an article in the BBC Prospero newspaper for ex-BBC staff about a Presentation reunion:

A summer outing was held recently for a group of TV Presentation staff spanning a full 50 years.  Some 60 former and current announcers, network directors, trails producers and other transmission staff had a day out on the two splendid Routemaster buses that are often talked about on the Wogan show.

This special event was open to all who joined TV Pres before the advent of computerised transmission.  Many have now retired or moved to other jobs, while others are still in their posts, working for Red Bee Media which took over the TV ‘playout’ role in 2005.

Senior member on the day was Bruce Goddard, former presentation editor, who joined the department a full 50 years ago.  As he travelled on the bus in June 2009, he explained that in June 1959 he had been on his initial training course at Lime Grove.

The idea for the outing came about in January, at the funeral of former television announcer Andy Cartledge.  Andy’s death just before Christmas was completely unexpected.   He was 67-years-old.  His colleagues decided that a reunion was long overdue, and a few days later, current announcer Matthew Jackson and myself put the wheels in motion.

The Routemasters are owned by four bus enthusiasts best known on Radio 2 – but they have all worked for TV Pres over the years.  Ken Bruce, Alan Dedicoat, Steve Madden and Charles Nove bought their first bus some four years ago, just for fun and now have a private hire business.

The fifth partner in the business is David Sheppard who worked until recently at BBC Radio Berkshire, but now has moved to BBC Radio Devon.

I had no problem contacting the bus owners; as their most regular driver I’m constantly in touch, taking the buses out for weddings and other outings on average twice-a-week.  The buses themselves thrive on it; 45-years-old they may be, with literally millions of miles on the clock, but the Routemasters were built to last.

Charles, Steve and Ken also hold the bus driver’s PCV licence and drive when their busy lives allow.  On the day of the reunion, the buses made their first pick-up at London’s Broadcasting House, where they also took part in a photoshoot for the Wogan TOGS’ calendar.

Then after a sprint along the A40 they swept majestically through the main gates of Television Centre where more climbed aboard, before setting off for the picturesque riverside settings of Runnymede and Windsor.

Malcolm Eynon.

When the old Presentation studios were demolished, Malcolm saw that the old Pres A studio sign was going to be thrown out. He asked if he could have it. He still has it.

Malcolm’s son Duff appeared on CBBC’s Xchange (2000), playing various characters, including Hotdog and Dangerous Dog.

Correspondence

Paul R. Jackson corresponded with Malcolm in August 2017, after bumping into him at Sir Terry Wogan’s memorial service at Westminster Abbey, where he was driving a special vintage bus to the reception.

“My birth name was Eynon. I added ‘Garrett’ when I got married in 1996 (divorced since then, so I’m just Eynon again).

“I joined the department in 1974 (November, I think, but not sure) and called myself ‘Malcolm Eynon’ on air until 1996 (“from all of us here, a very good night”…wait for the clock to get to 4 seconds before the top…hit button…drum roll, National Anthem).

“I cheerfully remained an announcer from 1974 until 2001 because I enjoyed it. For any kind of promotion, I would have needed to move to the directing side, which I didn’t want to do.

“I did a few months as a network and trails director but I preferred announcing. I did that attachment in Norwich that you mention (was already on staff at TVC) and also a few relief shifts in Bristol.”

Any anecdotes from your announcing days?

“After closedown one night in Bristol, I was tired, left the building and jumped into my car, to drive straight home to Sussex. I got dangerously tired on the M4, so stopped at some services.

“The only bit open was the lorry and coach drivers’ section. So in I went, bought a big, hot sausage roll and a strong coffee, sat there feeling ever-so-butch with the lorry drivers.

“Then realised I was getting some funny looks. I had omitted to remove my TV make-up. I scarpered, as quickly as possible!

“When I was training a new announcer (no names), he was ‘self-op’ for the schools sequence, pressed the wrong button and said ‘shit’ on an open mic. I saved him by writing a long piece, praising his efforts and pointing out the pressures and pitfalls of the job.

“He is still at the mic to this day, but not necessarily at the BBC. Another of my trainees (female) was running Showcable, made an operational error and said ‘f**k’ on an open mic. It went unnoticed, I think, probably because nobody was watching or listening!”

So what have you been doing since leaving the BBC?

“I qualified as a professional driver 25 years ago, in order to drive a 53-seater coach for my son’s band. I worked for the bus company started by Steve Madden and three other ex-Radio 2 colleagues when they bought a bus.

“For many years I have driven Routemasters and became their transport manager for three years but then wanted to move to Gloucestershire, where I live now, very happily!

“I’ve done a small amount of freelance voice stuff and was a company manager for pantomimes for ten years working for Qdos and UK Productions.

“I ran companies that included, among others, Ron Moody, Su Pollard, Tupele Dorgu, Anne Charleston and Lisa Riley. All very interesting and good fun.”

Personal information

Clips of Malcolm on The TV Room

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Online presence

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