Straker, Richard

Richard Straker was born in November 1943.

In 1963, he joined the BBC as a studio manager in news and current affairs.

He served as studio producer on BBC Radio 4’s The World at One and PM, where he was occasionally asked to read foreign correspondents’ reports – receiving two guineas rather than the standard three, owing to his staff status.

Richard was a BBC Radio 4 announcer from October 1969 to January 1970 and produced The Happiest Days of Their Lives (BBC Radio 4, 1971).

He subsequently moved to BBC Television Presentation, where his distinctive voice became familiar to millions as a BBC TV network announcer from 1971 to 1995 – serving as senior announcer during the final decade.

He also voiced presentation trails for BBC Television from 1971 to approximately 1977.

Richard undertook Christmas Day duty on five occasions: 1979, 1987, 1988, 1989 and 1993.

He provided commentary on Men of the Year from London’s Savoy Hotel (BBC One, 6th November 1980).

In 1987, Richard appeared on BBC One’s daytime series Open Air to give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at continuity and explain what happened when Phillip Schofield wasn’t in the ‘broom cupboard’.

His later responsibilities as a BBC media trainer and producer/director recruiting new voices frequently kept him away from the microphone.

Richard was also heard introducing several BBC Television regional programmes:

• Spotlight (BBC One South c. 1991 – 1992);
• North West Tonight (BBC One North, 1993);
• Points West (BBC West, 1995 – 1997);
• Look North (BBC One North, 1995).

In 1985, Richard became the BBC media and interview techniques consultant for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, training ambassadors, ministers, high commissioners and other heads of mission for all world postings.

He has since expanded this media coaching to include national and international industry board members, Government Ministers, RTÉ (Ireland), lawyers, authors and head teachers, amongst others.

His core skill areas encompass interviewer and interviewee techniques, presentation, scripting and speech training, and public appearance confidence building.

Richard is an Associate of the Newbury Group.

He is now retired.

Personal information

Clips of Richard on The TV Room

Richard 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

Online presence

Acknowledgements