• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
Showreel

Showreel

  • Lists
  • A – Z
  • Showcase Yourself
  • On This Day
  • Advanced Search
  • Clean Feed
  • Rewind
  • Studio A
  • TX
  • Webfax

Hobley, McDonald

PICTURED: McDonald Hobley.
Posted on 22nd May 2019
By The Showreel Team
Last updated on 29th July 2019
Filed under Talent Profiles

McDonald was born in Stanley, Falkland Islands. He began his acting career in repertory theatre, under the stage names Val Blanchard and Robert Blanchard, using his mother’s maiden name. He toured before World War II in J. B. Priestley’s Time and the Conways. During the war, he served with the Royal Artillery and was involved in an ultimately abandoned plot to abduct Adolf Hitler and bring him to Britain. He also served in Ceylon with the British Forces Broadcasting Service and after being demobbed, he was selected as one of the post-war trio of BBC TV in-vision announcers. He appeared on screen from May 1946 until 1956 and was known as MacHobley. He once introduced the politician Sir Stafford Cripps as “Sir Stifford Crapps”.

He presented a number of programmes for the BBC, including: Kaleidoscope (1948); For Deaf Children (17th August 1953 – 1955); Come Dancing (1959); Whistle Stop; Does the Team Think? (1961); It’s a Knockout (1966); and nostalgia show As We Recall (1972). He also hosted a one-off show called Afternoon Hostesses Tea-Party (20th December 1955) with Vera McKechnie, Pauline Tooth and Nan Winton amongst the contributors.

He left his BBC announcing role to join Granada TV as one of their first announcers and presenters (1956). On its first night of broadcasting, Granada paid tribute to the BBC and it was fitting that a well-known BBC announcer was with Granada for its opening celebrations. The occasion merited a front page spot in the TV Times.

He appeared in BBC TV’s It Ain’t Half Hot Mum and The Goodies. On 5th November 1986, he reappeared as an in-vision announcer on BBC Two, to celebrate TV50, the 50th anniversary of BBC Television.

Mcdonald Hobley
Mcdonald Hobley
Mcdonald Hobley
Mcdonald Hobley

During 1966, he returned to radio, fronting the Coffee Break Show on the pirate station Wonderful Radio London. He was the long-running chairman of BBC Radio 4’s Does the Team Think? (1957 – 1976) and appeared on BBC Radio 2’s On the Air (1986). He also had a long association with the theatre, touring with many productions around the UK; he appeared in London’s West End in the farce No Sex Please, We’re British. Just before his death, he returned to the Falklands for a Channel 4 broadcast about the then British South Atlantic Dependencies. In July 1987, he was rehearsing the world premiere of Anthony Marriott and Bob Grant’s play Home Is Where Your Clothes Are, produced by David Tudor. He had extreme difficulty learning his lines, which was unusual, and David Tudor had to release him from his contract. A few days later, he died of a brain tumour.

Related

 

Personal information

Related

Date of birth: 9th June 1917
Date of death: 30th July 1987
Age: 70
Honours: not applicable

Related


Clips of McDonald on The TV Room

McDonald 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

Related


Online presence

Related

Facebook
X/Twitter
YouTube
Instagram
Pinterest
Personal Website

Related


Acknowledgements

Related

No acknowledgements.

Related

Reader Interactions

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Sidebar

Profile Status: Complete
Lists: Announcers: BBC Network, Announcers: ITV - Granada TV, Children's Presenters: BBC Network (UK), Presenters: BBC Network (UK), Presenters: ITV - Granada TV
Broadcaster/Channel: BBC, BBC One Network, BBC TV Service (Defunct), BBC Two Network, ITV Granada, ITV Network Limited/ITV plc
Job Role: Actor, Continuity Announcer, Presenter
Programme Genre: Children's, Entertainment, Non-Programme: Continuity

Queries and Profile Updates

If you have a query about any of the content on this site, you can get in touch with us via our Contact page.

That mechanism can also be used if you have a profile page on the site and wish to have it updated.

We cannot provide contact details for the on-air talent featured on the website.

Pres Café Forum



Join in the discussion about TV presentation and branding.

TV Pres Updates



The latest updates from a number of presentation-related websites.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy

About This Site · Contact Us · FAQ · Privacy Policy · Terms and Conditions

Unless otherwise indicated material featured on this site is © 2025 The TV Room.

Established in 1999, The TV Room is not affiliated with any broadcaster, production company or design/marketing/talent agency.

Back to top

 

Loading Comments...