Speake, Michael

Michael was born in Shrewsbury. His first broadcasting experience was with pirate radio and later, BBC Radio including being the Midland link for Family Favourites.

He moved into television as an in-vision announcer for ATV in the Midlands in the early 1970s. By the mid-1970s, he had moved to ‘the opposition’, announcing on network BBC TV, and for BBC Scotland and BBC Northern Ireland.

However, he is best known as an in-vision announcer at Anglia TV (1975 – 1989 and 1999 – 2000). He appeared with BC the puppet cat, reading viewers’ birthday cards. He published BC and the Magic Book in 1986.

Michael also presented a Sunday programme on BBC Radio Norfolk. He enjoyed cinema, and after leaving Anglia in 1989, he became more involved in that side of things by working at the Odeon cinema and latterly with other independent operators. He was well-known around Norwich and used to judge the Hy’s Girl of the Week before the club closed in 2004.

Michael died after a short illness. According to press articles at the time, he was 68. However, based on the DOB we have on record for Michael, he would’ve been 64.

Anglia TV colleague Helen McDermott, recalled a hidden side: “The great thing about Michael was that he could laugh at himself. He was a brilliant straight man. He was very talented but never boasted about it at all.

“He was a skilful watch repairer and often, while I was ironing waiting for the next programme break, he would be busy with a loupe mending a broken timepiece or a television.”

Personal information

Clips of Michael on The TV Room

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Online presence

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