Fleming, Arlene

Arlene Fleming was born around 1965 in Paisley, in the west of Scotland.

She trained at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama – now incorporated into the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, part of the University of Glasgow – graduating with a BA in Dramatic Studies.

Her early professional life was spent on the stage, touring the country as an actress and earning a West End credit with a production of Michael Frayn’s Noises Off in London.

The transition into broadcasting followed naturally from there, and she went on to build an impressive portfolio as a continuity announcer across both radio and television – working for BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Scotland TV, Channel 4, Radio 4, and BBC network television on BBC One and BBC Two, from around 1995 to 1997.

She also worked on Rapido with Antoine de Caunes.

A deliberate step back from broadcasting then followed, as Arlene chose to prioritise her family, raising three children and running an alternative health practice for a number of years.

Her return to public life brought with it a new professional dimension too: she took up teaching, working across private, state and further education establishments and serving as artist in residence at Cheam School in Hampshire.

Arlene joined BBC Radio 4 as a newsreader and announcer before leaving in May 2015. She returned to the role in May 2018, and after a further ten-month absence, was back on air again from 5th July 2022.

Beyond her broadcasting work, Arlene is a practising visual artist who exhibits locally, and she has developed a parallel interest in the workings of the mind – running courses in mindfulness and bringing the same thoughtful approach to that pursuit as she does to all her creative endeavours.

Personal information

Clips of Arlene on The TV Room

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Online presence

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