Mitchell, Leslie

Leslie was a BBC radio announcer (1934 – 1936) and was the first BBC TV in-vision announcer, based at Alexandra Palace (1936 – 1938).  During the war, he was a regular narrator for the British Movietone News newsreel, shown in cinemas across the UK.  When BBC Television opened up again after World War II, he was preoccupied with prospects in the film business.  He became an interviewer on BBC TV’s Picture Parade (1946 and 1948 – 1951) and also presented Come Dancing (1950).

Leslie defected to ITV in 1955, to join Associated-Rediffusion Television in London, where he became chief announcer.  Such was his legendary status, that A-R TV’s striking station clock was later nicknamed ‘Mitch’.

Leslie’s autobiography, Leslie Mitchell Reporting was published by Hutchinson in 1981.

Leslie died aged 80.

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Clips of Leslie on The TV Room

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