Burn, Christine

Christine was born in Birmingham. She attended the Birmingham School of Speech and Drama (1961 – 1963) and the Lucie Clayton Modelling School (spring 1964).

She did a three-year teacher training course at the City of Birmingham College of Education (1964 – 1967) and went on a work study course of Greek theatre in Athens (1966).

She taught for ILEA and Richmond Education Authority (1967 – 1970 and 1972) and acted with the Argylle Theatre for Youth in Birkenhead (1970) and with Stan Stennett Productions in South Wales (1970 – 1971).

In the summer of 1971, she worked as a TV presenter in Amsterdam on programmes for tourists. She also did a stint as a teacher/actress at the Greenwich Theatre for Youth (1972).

In 1973, Christine joined Grampian Television in northern Scotland as an announcer/news presenter. She also presented Meditation, Job Look, How Did That Go Again? and Mathman.

Later that year, she joined BBC North West in Manchester as an announcer/news presenter. She left in 1981.

In July 1975, Christine got an attachment to BBC Presentation in London and became the only female BBC TV network announcer on the team. She stayed until January 1976.

She also voiced presentation trails for BBC Television (1975 – 1976) and later returned as a freelance holiday relief announcer (1977 – 1979), with the only other female member of the team, Jenni Bale, who was on attachment.

She worked as an announcer/news presenter on BBC Radio 4 North and was a freelance announcer and children’s presenter at BFBS in the UK and Germany (1973 – 1985).

Christine set up the Lunchbox Theatre Company, writing and performing historical plays for museums and schools. She has recorded over 1,000 commercials and telephone prompts, working with brand leaders such as Cadbury, BT, Reebok, ICI, Rolls Royce and Marks and Spencer.

Christine runs presentation skills courses and works for Firework Factory Poetry as a performance specialist.

She is married to a TV cameraman at ITV Granada and has two children.

Television credits include:

• Music Is My First Love (BBC One, 1977);
• Ken Dodd’s Christmas Laughter Show (BBC One North West region, 1977);
• Look North West;
• Grimm’s Fairy Tales.

Radio credits include:

• Reader on Short Stories (BBC Radio Manchester, 1976 – 1978);
• Sons and Lovers (BBC Radio 4, BBC Manchester, 1977);
• Sunday Spin (BBC Radio Manchester);
• Sunday Half-Hour (BBC Radio 2, 1979);
• Sunday (BBC Radio 4).

Theatre credits include:

• The Cherry Orchard;
• Julius Caesar;
• Twelfth Night;
• The Importance of Being Earnest;
• Something Unspoken;
• Cinderella;
• Hells Bells.

Correspondence

Paul R. Jackson corresponded with Christine in June 1987 about her career.

“I made my debut at BBC North West on Princess Anne’s wedding day – 14th November 1973. I worked with Stuart Hall on North West Tonight – great fun!

“I became one of the first women announcers allowed into an all-male department at BBC TV Centre, announcing on both BBC One and BBC Two (network). There were 18 male voices and me!  They treated me like Queen Bee and I was very happy at TC.

“In 1976, BBC North West asked me to return, so reluctantly I left London, but continued to freelance for them at holiday times.

“I am now working as an actress and for an agent, The Voice Box, as a freelance voiceover on commercials and documentary films.

“In January 1987, I founded my own small theatre company and wrote a play about life in the cotton mills in the 19th century. It was directed by a London director who works for the Royal Shakespeare Company – Ben Benison (Vision On).

“I am now writing another play about the history of silk, which will be performed by The Lunchbox and Theatre Company.

“I am also running a campaign to encourage children to wear rear seat belts when travelling by car called Belt Up in the Back, with Greater Manchester Police (1986 – 1987). It was featured on the BBC TV News and John Craven’s Newsround (27th May 1987).”

Personal information

Clips of Christine on The TV Room

Christine 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):

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Online presence

Acknowledgements